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Uzapoint Empowerment Program.
Uzapoint is committing $100,000 to support 1,000 SMEs across Africa with free business management software, training, and digital transformation support for one year.
Corporate commitment
Removing the technology barrier for ambitious African SMEs
Uzapoint is committing $100,000 to support 1,000 SMEs across Africa with free business management software, training, and digital transformation support for one year.
- Uzapoint commitment
- $100,000
- SMEs supported
- 1,000 SMEs
- Program support
- 12 months
Across Africa, millions of small businesses wake up every day with the ambition to grow, create jobs, and support their communities. Yet many operate without the systems, visibility, and business tools needed to make informed decisions, manage finances, track inventory, remain compliant, and access opportunities for growth.
For many business owners, technology is viewed as an expense they can postpone. In today's business environment, the right systems are no longer a luxury. They are a necessity for survival and sustainable growth.
That is why Uzapoint is committing $100,000 through the Uzapoint SME Empowerment Program to support 1,000 SMEs across Africa with free access to business management software, training, onboarding, and business support over the next 12 months.
Why the program exists
The systems gap holding promising businesses back
SMEs are the backbone of Africa. They account for more than 90% of businesses and nearly 80% of employment across the continent.
At least 50% do not make it past their fifth year. Many still rely on notebooks, spreadsheets, manual stock counts, and memory to manage critical operations.
Having supported thousands of SMEs across Africa, Uzapoint has witnessed how the right systems transform businesses. Through this program, Uzapoint is covering software, onboarding, training, and support for qualifying SMEs during their first year.
- Financial visibility
- Proper record keeping
- Inventory controls
- Reliable business reports
- Access to financing
- Tax compliance readiness
- Insurance against disasters
What selected SMEs receive
Hybrid onboarding
Physical and/or online group onboarding sessions, including training and data-entry guidance.
Dedicated support
Free, intimate remote customer support throughout the first year.
Webinars and workshops
Access to practical sessions covering accounting, tax, savings, investments, and business growth.
Ecosystem opportunities
Subsidized Uzapoint value-added services and selected opportunities from ecosystem partners.
Core business management features
- Point of sale checkout, selling, and receipting
- Quotation and invoicing
- Inventory management
- Procurement management
- Expense management
- Accounts management
- AI-powered insights and reports
- Profit and Loss Statement
Subsidized integrations may include e-commerce, bulk SMS, mobile money, tax integrations, sender IDs, and other third-party integration requirements. Any item or requirement not explicitly included in the sponsored offering may attract a separate cost.
- Internet access at the business premises
- Hardware and accessories such as computers, tablets, printers, and tax machines
Uzapoint has partnered with financial institutions to help businesses invest in additional requirements upfront through feasible and affordable payment plans.
A focused rollout designed for meaningful impact
As much as we would love to support every SME across every industry, delivering meaningful impact requires focus. The initial rollout therefore serves selected industries so every participating business receives a high-quality and consistent experience.
These sectors represent a significant portion of Africa's SME ecosystem, create jobs, face common operational and compliance challenges, and can benefit significantly from digital transformation and business management systems.
This focus enables tailored onboarding, training, support, and impact measurement while creating a strong foundation for expansion into additional industries.
01Fashion and Apparel
02Beauty and Cosmetics
03Home and Decor
04Electronics and Gadgets
05Bookstores and Educational Materials
06Gifts and Crafts
07Health and Wellness
08Furniture and Home Appliances
Ten strategic markets, 100 SMEs per country
The program is a pan-African initiative focused initially on markets where Uzapoint has customers, local market knowledge, and the operational capacity to provide onboarding, training, customer support, and program oversight.
The phased approach supports localized delivery, consistent onboarding, effective monitoring, strong success stories, and a scalable model that can expand into more African markets and industries as additional partners come on board.
Kenya
Target: 100 SMEs
Tanzania
Target: 100 SMEs
Uganda
Target: 100 SMEs
Zambia
Target: 100 SMEs
Rwanda
Target: 100 SMEs
South Africa
Target: 100 SMEs
Ethiopia
Target: 100 SMEs
Ghana
Target: 100 SMEs
Nigeria
Target: 100 SMEs
Ivory Coast
Target: 100 SMEs
Practical learning, real conversations, stronger business communities
How the program works
- 1
Fill in the registration form.
- 2
Applicants are shortlisted against the evaluation criteria.
- 3
Shortlisted applicants proceed through due diligence.
- 4
The 100 most qualified and compelling businesses are selected per country.
- 5
Selected SMEs attend a pre-program online onboarding webinar.
- 6
Each cohort of 25 businesses completes a one-week physical and/or online workshop.
- 7
Post-workshop engagement continues through technical support and ecosystem opportunities.
A ripple effect beyond software
The program is about creating stronger businesses, stronger entrepreneurs, stronger communities, and ultimately a stronger Africa. When SMEs succeed, employees, suppliers, families, financial institutions, governments, and entire economies benefit.
SMEs equipped to survive and grow
Participating businesses gain systems, training, and support to build stronger foundations, make better decisions, and become digitized, data-driven, and growth-oriented.
Indirect jobs supported
If each supported business sustains or creates an average of ten jobs through its supply-chain ecosystem, the initiative can positively affect more than 10,000 livelihoods.
Potential annual economic activity
If participating SMEs collectively generate at least $10 million monthly, the program can strengthen jobs, taxes, local purchasing power, supply chains, and community resilience.
Businesses with stronger records
Better financial records, compliance, reliable business data, and greater financial discipline improve readiness for loans, investment, insurance, and other financial services.
Financial education
Helping entrepreneurs become stronger leaders and wealth creators
- Business management
- Financial literacy
- Cash-flow management
- Budgeting
- Record keeping
- Access to finance
- Profitability improvement
- Wealth creation
- Savings and investments
We are investing in entrepreneurs, jobs, communities, financial inclusion, and the future of Africa.
Because when SMEs thrive, Africa thrives.
Supporting SMEs is bigger than one company
The challenges facing SMEs cannot be solved by software alone. They require collaboration between technology providers, financial institutions, development organizations, governments, insurers, telcos, and ecosystem partners.
Partner with the programWho we want to collaborate with
- Banks and financial institutions
- Development Finance Institutions
- NGOs and foundations
- Government agencies
- Insurance providers
- Telecommunications companies
- Fintechs
- Business membership organizations
- SME support agencies and associations
What we can achieve together
- Reach more SMEs
- Improve financial inclusion
- Increase business formalization
- Create more jobs
- Improve access to financing
- Strengthen African economies
Stronger SMEs advance sustainable development
Africa's progress towards the Sustainable Development Goals depends significantly on the strength of its small and medium-sized businesses.
By helping SMEs digitise operations, improve profitability, access financial services, create jobs, develop skills, and participate in the digital economy, Uzapoint contributes to a more inclusive and sustainable future.
Our strongest alignment is with SDGs 1, 4, 5, 8, 9, 10, 12, and 17. Across these goals, our technology, programmes, partnerships, and financial ecosystem help African entrepreneurs build enterprises that endure, grow, and create lasting impact.
SDG 1 · No PovertyEnding poverty through sustainable enterprise growth
We help entrepreneurs build stronger, more profitable, and more resilient businesses that protect livelihoods and create employment.
Long-term impactWhen an SME becomes more sustainable, the benefits extend to employees, suppliers, customers, and dependants, creating a wider economic ripple effect.
How Uzapoint contributes
- Improve profitability and business sustainability
- Support income generation for owners, employees, agents, and resellers
- Create pathways to self-employment and entrepreneurship
- Connect businesses to financing, insurance, and growth opportunities
- Strengthen enterprises that support families and communities
SDG 4 · Quality EducationEquipping entrepreneurs and young professionals with practical skills
Uzapoint combines technology with business education through the Academy, Graduate Trainee Program, reseller training, onboarding, workshops, and financial literacy partnerships.
Long-term impactThese programmes close the gap between formal education and practical workplace or entrepreneurial skills, improving employability and business success.
How Uzapoint contributes
- Train SME owners in business, finance, marketing, tax, technology, and leadership
- Provide practical digital skills for entrepreneurs
- Offer graduate trainees structured workplace experience and mentorship
- Equip resellers and agents with implementation and customer-support skills
- Deliver specialised training with ecosystem partners
SDG 5 · Gender EqualityExpanding opportunities for women entrepreneurs
We help women entrepreneurs formalise and grow through better access to technology, financial records, training, payments, and financing opportunities.
Long-term impactDigitally empowered women can grow their incomes, create jobs, strengthen household financial security, and contribute more fully to local economies.
How Uzapoint contributes
- Support women-owned and women-led SMEs
- Improve access to digital business tools
- Build reliable financial records that strengthen financing applications
- Provide training, mentorship, and ecosystem opportunities
- Create employment and reseller opportunities for women
SDG 8 · Decent Work and Economic GrowthPowering SME growth and employment creation
This goal is most directly connected to our mission. We equip SMEs with the infrastructure to operate efficiently, grow sustainably, and create jobs.
Long-term impactStronger SMEs create stable employment, increase local economic activity, strengthen supply chains, and contribute to inclusive growth.
How Uzapoint contributes
- Increase productivity and operational efficiency
- Support business formalisation and professional management
- Create direct and indirect employment
- Create income through reseller and agent programmes
- Prepare young people through the Graduate Trainee Program
- Expand access to working capital and financial services
SDG 9 · Industry, Innovation and InfrastructureBuilding digital infrastructure for African SMEs
Our platform integrates business management, payments, tax compliance, artificial intelligence, analytics, and financial services in one ecosystem.
Long-term impactAccessible, sophisticated technology narrows the digital divide between SMEs and larger enterprises.
How Uzapoint contributes
- Digitise core business operations
- Provide cloud-based infrastructure to SMEs
- Turn business data into actionable AI recommendations
- Integrate banks, payments, tax systems, and digital services
- Enable multi-branch and multi-country operations
- Generate alternative data that supports financial inclusion
SDG 10 · Reduced InequalitiesExpanding access to technology and financial opportunities
We make enterprise-grade tools and opportunities more accessible to informal traders, young entrepreneurs, and businesses outside major commercial centres.
Long-term impactUzapoint levels the playing field by widening access to tools, data, markets, and financial services.
How Uzapoint contributes
- Make enterprise technology accessible to SMEs
- Support underserved and emerging markets
- Offer flexible packages for different growth stages
- Help SMEs build credible business profiles
- Connect businesses to lenders, insurers, and payment providers
- Reduce the cost of digitisation through partnerships
SDG 12 · Responsible Consumption and ProductionHelping businesses reduce waste and use resources efficiently
Inventory, procurement, production, expiry, batch, and reporting capabilities show businesses how resources move through their operations.
Long-term impactBetter visibility helps SMEs reduce waste, control costs, and operate more responsibly while improving profitability.
How Uzapoint contributes
- Reduce overstocking and unnecessary purchasing
- Identify slow-moving and obsolete inventory
- Support batch and expiry-date management
- Reduce spoilage and product wastage
- Improve production planning and material use
- Reduce paper dependence through digital records
SDG 17 · Partnerships for the GoalsScaling impact through strategic collaboration
Our impact model connects banks, payment providers, technology companies, development organisations, educators, governments, and professional-service providers.
Long-term impactPartnerships let us deliver more comprehensive support than technology alone while expanding reach and measurable development outcomes.
How Uzapoint contributes
- Deliver SME workshops, financing, payments, and digital banking with banks
- Expand digital commerce with payment networks and fintechs
- Connect tax, insurance, HR, logistics, and accounting services
- Scale youth programmes with development partners
- Support the Graduate Trainee Program with GDI
- Build entrepreneurial capability with education partners
Official goal icons are used in accordance with the United Nations SDG communications guidelines. The content of this page has not been approved by the United Nations and does not reflect the views of the United Nations, its officials, or its Member States.