In a bid to bolster the entrepreneurial spirit, the Zambian operations of Pan-African creative agency, X3M Ideas has launched a national competition to showcase, promote, and offer funding to start-ups and MSMEs.
The competition tagged ‘X-Pitchathon’, which began on August 29, 2023, in Lusaka, was part of the activities earmarked to mark the 15th anniversary of X3M Ideas’ operations in Zambia.
In a statement, the firm said that X-Pitchathon was created to strengthen the capacity of business owners to access platforms, funding, and other resources they need to develop and market their innovations and ventures.
“The competition is expected to create opportunities for networking and recognition. To qualify for the competition, all participants are required to be Zambians, not less than 18 years old, with a start-up or an early-stage business. In addition, all participants should have a working business model, prototype, or minimum viable product,” the statement read.
The Managing Director of X3M Ideas Zambia, Adenike Odutola, said, “X-Pitchathon was created as a tech solution to solve some of the lingering challenges associated with owning businesses in Africa, particularly Zambia. Like many young entrepreneurs across the continent, many Zambian business owners lack access to funding opportunities, value-driven partnerships, and investor networks. At X3M Ideas Zambia, we believe that this competition is a giant step towards building a stronger economy in Africa.”
Also, the founder and Chief Executive Officer of X3M Ideas, Steve Babaeko, said, “At X3M Ideas, we are very committed to helping start-ups, MSMEs, and innovators find their X by connecting them to opportunities, potential investors, and resources for growth. X-Pitchathon is a brilliant opportunity for new and emerging brands to find their unique voices and visibility in the African market.”
