HUB Un Jour Nouveau
HUB Un Jour Nouveau is a platform that empowers entrepreneurs through training, coaching and support that is tailored to their individual needs.
ABOUT THE HUB UN JOUR NOUVEAU
In DR Congo, the economic environment is not an easy place to start a company. As a result the services and products offered by entrepreneurs are often inadequate, inaccessible or expensive.
Research from South Africa shows that roughly 80 percent of startups fail five years after their creation. While these rates remain high, it is widely accepted that incubation programs can significantly increase a startup’s chance of surviving and thriving beyond five years.
This is why the HUB Un Jour Nouveau (HUB UJN) was established. It is an enterprise development program that offers support to entrepreneurs. Support includes: accommodation for startups, legal advice, entrepreneurship coaching and training, networking opportunities and financial assistance.
The goal of the HUB UJN is to help small-to-medium enterprises in need of growth by equipping them with the tools and knowledge they need to be sustainable and more profitable.
The HUB UJN offers entrepreneurs a set of services tailored to their needs starting from:
Pre-incubation (verification of the viability of the project)
Incubation (setting up a business model)
Acceleration (networking and financial support)
SPIRITUAL FOUNDATION
We offer entrepreneurship coaching and training to those looking to start businesses by basing our training on what the Word of God teaches on integrity and service. Everything we share is grounded in the Word.
This has changed the perspective of many entrepreneurs who once prioritized financial gain over service to their community. Some entrepreneurs have said they were transformed by learning that true gain comes through selfless service and as a result, most of them have not only joined the HUB, but the church as well.
IMPACT
Provide a protected environment for existing small businesses to continually grow and flourish
Reduced the unemployment rate through the businesses created by entrepreneurs trained and coached at the UJN incubator
Established UJN and DRC as a leader in the entrepreneurship space amongst government institutions, business associations, donor organizations, financial institutions and investors
Entrepreneurs become financially independent and are able to meet the needs of their families and loved ones
Participation in the economic emergence of the DRC
INFLUENCE
127 startups have already benefited from the HUB’s coaching
51% success rate among the startups
22% of the startups are owned by women
12 startups have already accessed funding through our support
TESTIMONIALS
“I was born in 2001 in Goma and while growing up, I wanted to stand out and make a difference in the field of information and communication technology. I was raised by a single mother after losing my father while still very young. Despite financial hardships, I managed to be a student at the Institut Supérieur de Gestion et Informatique in the department of Computer Management.
Since I felt that I was not learning as much as I should learn, I enrolled in the Cryptnail Coding Academy that was launched by the HUB UJN to develop my skills and gain knowledge in programming. I am already creating my own company that will specialize in the development of mobile, web and desktop apps to contribute to the digitization of the city of Goma and the whole of DRC. The HUB UJN has given me a different view of things and is equipping me to achieve my dreams.”
— Kalombo Kayembe Jenny
“I am 19 years old and the founder of the company W-Trans (Waste Transformation) which specializes in the transformation of plastic waste into paving blocks.
When I was asked three years ago who I would be in life, I would always answer, ‘Just a leader.’ Today, through my passion and determination, it is not only a wish but a reality. I am part of those who are revolutionizing the recycling sector in the city of Goma by transforming waste and polluting plastics into products that everyone wants.
A friend of mine, working in the same sector, has a motto that reads, ‘There is gold in your garbage.’ In less than 3 years, starting everything from scratch, I credit my growing success to the HUB UJN that has been escorting me every step of the way. They are helping me by making my dreams come true.”
— Benjamin Koko
FREQUENTLY ASKED HUB UN JOUR NOUVEAU QUESTIONS
What are the requirements to join the HUB UJN? +
The entrepreneurial project goes through several stages to determine if it can be profitable and viable before testing its business model and writing a business plan.
How do you define success at the HUB UJN? +
We have created a space in which our young people feel supported. Our success is defined by the success of the startups. When our projects grow, when we see an increase in sales, when we are creating jobs and positively impacting the country, that is how we define success.
What are the difficulties you face, especially since you are a young HUB? +
The business model of an incubator requires full coverage of operational costs in the first two years. This means that we have a small team that does a lot of work.