We Inspire
We light a fire in young people… by training them to see opportunities that others miss, giving them the confidence to view themselves as entrepreneurs not employees and job creators instead of job seekers. We do it by delivering a best-in-class leadership and entrepreneurship program.
We Invest
We go all in … by providing a full life-cycle of support to the most promising entrepreneurs, start-ups, and small businesses. We do it through tailored coaching, skills building, expert mentorship, seed funding, and facilitating connections within and across industries.
We Transform
We go big … by positioning young entrepreneurs to tackle tough problems in key sectors and channeling their talent into innovative, private sector-led solutions. We do this through the Kosmos Innovation Center’s distinctive focus on commercial solutions and local knowledge.
Ghana
Established in 2016, Kosmos Innovation Center Ghana is helping to breathe new life into agriculture, transforming it into an engine of growth and job creation.
Mauritania
Launched in 2018, the Kosmos Innovation Center Mauritania is helping young, entrepreneurial Mauritanians develop the skills to turn ideas into reality.
Senegal
Kosmos Innovation Center Senegal is helping young business leaders in Senegal develop the technical skills needed to grow successful and sustainable businesses.
Kosmos Innovation Center
The Kosmos Innovation Center (KIC) invests in young entrepreneurs and small businesses who have big ideas and want to see their country grow.
FAQ Friday: Why language could drive business success 💼
Earlier this week (July 7th) it was #WorldKiswahiliLanguageDay and we celebrate it with any of those 150m people in East and Central Africa who speak it. For young entrepreneurs across Africa, the language we speak - whether it's Kiswahili, Wolof, Akan, French or English - signifies embracing a significant part of our identity. Although often overlooked, language is actually a meaningful foundation in small businesses, especially in everyday life.
Because it serves as a vehicle to connect worlds together, it is exactly the reason why it could make or break success. Language is not only a cultural heritage but also an economic bridge; you could consider it as the operating system of business. It also matters more than we initially think it does. Why?
Language ensures smooth internal operations. It creates a clear executive communication, guaranteeing that every employee is on the same page and working towards the same direction.
Language carries a huge weight in everyday interaction, making it all the more important especially in customer service, where we build rapport and quality relationships with customers.
Language, specifically native or local, makes brands feel more familiar to local customers. It helps them sound less distant, shaping customer trust and loyalty. You've probably experienced the frustration of reading communications in a language that isn't your native tongue - your customers may well feel the same.
Language, more importantly native language, is not just a means of communication. It is also a part of who we are. In business, it is a means of showing your character as an entrepreneur and what you value.
After all, business doesn’t just become successful from being fluent in formal language, it also becomes successful from being fluent in the language of its customers and from understanding the culture and challenges that lead from that.
