By Talkmore Gandiwa
Confederation of Zimbabwe Industries in partnership with Venture Capital Fund has today launched the Start-up Entrepreneurship Ecosystem Forum (SEEF), which seeks to strengthen collaboration among innovation stakeholders, improve access to finance, and create a structured pathway for start-ups to scale into sustainable businesses capable of contributing to national economic growth.
The initiative brings together government, industry, financial institutions, academia and entrepreneurs under a unified platform designed to coordinate fragmented efforts and accelerate commercialization of innovation across sectors.
This comes after the country has been driving innovation in a tight monetary environment, with entrepreneurs increasingly relying on creativity, partnerships and alternative funding mechanisms to sustain operations. Limited liquidity and constrained access to traditional bank financing have forced startups to operate in isolation, often struggling to transition from idea stage to scalable enterprises.
Despite these challenges, Zimbabwe has witnessed growing entrepreneurial activity in agriculture, manufacturing, fintech and creative industries, highlighting resilience within the private sector but also exposing the need for a coordinated ecosystem.
Speaking at the launch, Deputy Minister of Finance and Economic Development Kudakwashe Mnangagwa said this venture will drive collaboration, policy alignment and commercialization of innovation while addressing fragmentation within the start-up ecosystem. He noted that although multiple institutions are supporting entrepreneurs, efforts remain disconnected, resulting in limited impact on industrial growth and economic transformation.
Mnangagwa said individual initiatives were being implemented with good intentions, but lack of coordination had created silos that undermine collective progress. He stressed that collaboration was increasingly critical given global economic uncertainties, geopolitical shifts and rising operational costs affecting businesses across sectors.
“A lot of individual efforts are being put towards a larger national vision, but the problem is we are all working in different silos and not working together,” he said. “This is the best time for anyone willing to collaborate within their ecosystem, because global issues affect everyone, from fuel prices to supply chain disruptions, and these realities demand collective solutions.”
He emphasized that innovation should not be confined to technology but should span agriculture, manufacturing, arts and services, where new ideas and production methods are emerging. Mnangagwa highlighted ongoing projects involving new stock feeds and organic fertilizers, noting that such innovations require collaboration between entrepreneurs, academia and financiers to reach commercialization.
VCCZ CEO Tinotenda Kambasha said the partnership with industry was aimed at shifting the innovation process from isolated micro-level initiatives to industry-driven solutions. He observed that entrepreneurs often develop products without understanding the challenges faced by large industries, resulting in limited adoption.
“We should be going to industry and asking what problems exist, and then build solutions around those needs,” he said. “At the moment there is no ecosystem that connects innovation, finance and industry in a structured way.”
kambasha also pointed to the need for clear definitions of start-ups, entrepreneurs and SMEs within Zimbabwe’s highly in formalized economy. He said the absence of classification creates ambiguity in policy formulation and funding support, making it difficult to target appropriate beneficiaries.
Government, he added, has already laid groundwork through decentralization and innovation hubs established at universities across provinces. These hubs, he said, should serve as identification and incubation centres where entrepreneurs can refine ideas into viable prototypes before accessing venture capital financing.
He noted that venture capital funding plays a critical role in supporting early-stage innovation, acknowledging that some projects may fail but successful ventures would sustain funding cycles and drive industrial development. He urged investors and cash-rich individuals to channel resources into scalable enterprises capable of expanding economic activity.
Industry representatives said the forum will also create a centralized platform to map entrepreneurship initiatives, track progress and identify collaboration opportunities. The platform will generate data on start-up activity, provide visibility for emerging businesses and attract regional and international investors.
CZI CEO Sekai Kuvarika said entrepreneurship development contributes to supply chain strengthening and market sophistication. “By supporting start-ups, businesses can build resilient value chains while creating pipelines of bankable enterprises capable of supporting industrial growth.”
The forum will operate as a working platform rather than a once-off event, with participants contributing to policy discussions and implementation strategies. Stakeholders expressed optimism that collaboration between government, industry and financiers will transform isolated entrepreneurial initiatives into a cohesive ecosystem.
Kuvarika said the initiative comes at a critical time when Zimbabwe is seeking to diversify its economy, promote value addition and create employment. “A coordinated start-up ecosystem is expected to enhance innovation, improve access to finance and accelerate commercialization of local solutions.”
The launch marks the beginning of a long-term journey toward building a collaborative entrepreneurship culture, with stakeholders agreeing that collective action will be key to unlocking Zimbabwe’s innovation potential and driving sustainable economic growth.
