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.
Making cybersecurity in West Africa their business goal has paid dividends for Raddo Technologies - read about their cutting edge work here:
kosmosinnovationcenter.com/raddo-technologies/
FAQ Friday: What extra challenges do young female entrepreneurs face and how can we all be better allies?
This week feels particularly impactful for women starting their own businesses. International Widows' Day is on 23rd June, and Wednesday is the International Day of Women in Diplomacy, just two reminders that the world still places additional burdens on women navigating spaces where the rules were written without them in mind.
For young female entrepreneurs across Ghana, Senegal, and Mauritania, those burdens are real and specific.
What challenges are we talking about?
Access to finance remains the biggest structural barrier, women are consistently offered smaller loans on more difficult terms, or they simply don't opt to try and get credit because they perceive judgement against them. Add to that cultural expectations around family and caregiving that don't disappear just because you've launched a business. Then there's visibility: networks, mentors, and investors still skew heavily male, meaning women often build with less support and fewer open doors.
For widows, those challenges compound sharply. Property rights, inheritance, and social stigma can all strip away the stability that entrepreneurship requires.
So how do you become an ally?
→ If you're a mentor, actively seek out female founders, don't wait for them to come to you.
→ If you're an investor or partner, interrogate whether your processes have hidden barriers. Kosmos Innovation Center works hard to ensure that we are supporting as many female entrepreneurs as we can.
→ If you're a fellow entrepreneur, share networks, make introductions, and amplify publicly.
The best allies don't just believe in gender equality. They behave like it's an active issue for them too.
