Ecosystem development
Startup and entrepreneurship programs, from first idea to funding.
How:
- Incubation, acceleration and bootcamps
- Startup competitions and hackathons
- Access to capital and investors
Works withOrik CapitalInnovation Center
The implementation partner for innovation in Africa.
We design and deliver startup, digital transformation, entrepreneurship and specialized consulting programs in Guinea-Bissau, the Portuguese-speaking countries, West Africa and across the continent.
Implementation partner of the World Bank, UNDP, AfDB, GIZ and the Mastercard Foundation, among others.
Institutions that trusted us
- UNUnited Nations
- UNDPUnited Nations Development Programme
- World BankWorld Bank Group
- WFPWorld Food Programme
- AfDBAfrican Development Bank
- IsDBIslamic Development Bank
- GIZDeutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit
- MastercardFoundation
- CanadaCanada Fund for Local Initiatives
- U.S. Dept. of StateBureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs
- WinrockInternational
- CAREInternational
- SWISSAIDSwiss foundation for development
- UNIOGBISUN Peacebuilding Office in Guinea-Bissau
- AfriLabsPan-African hub network
- GENGlobal Entrepreneurship Network
- I4PolicyInnovation for Policy Foundation
In Bissau since 2015An innovation and development lab, made in Africa.
Founded in 2015, InnovaLab is a catalyst for socioeconomic progress in Guinea-Bissau and Africa. We combine innovative solutions, entrepreneurship, digital ecosystem development, capacity building, research, consulting and strategic partnerships with governments to build programs with impact.
Vision
To be the leading catalyst for change and a benchmark for innovation and entrepreneurship, driving sustainable growth across the continent.
Mission
To advance Guinea-Bissau and Africa socially and economically through innovation and entrepreneurship, using technology, resources, training and local and international networks.
- Best Incubator and Hub in Guinea-Bissau 2021, awarded by UEMOA
- Member of the AfriLabs and ROPTIC continental networks
What we do, and how
Three services that work together. We pick the right mix for each partner and stay involved from design to impact evaluation.
Think tank and capacity building
Evidence to decide on, and teams ready to deliver.
How:
- Studies, assessments and data collection
- Public policy recommendations
- Training and digital skills
Works withInnovation Center
Specialized consulting
Technical support for governments, agencies, businesses and civil society.
How:
- ICT and digital transformation
- Project management and resource mobilization
- Monitoring and impact evaluation
Works withACELERA GBOrik Capital
From idea to impact at scale
Each stage links a service to one of our own initiatives, so no program stops halfway.
Build skills
Digital and business skills for young people, women and teams.
Think tank and capacity building, 10K Geeks AfricaIncubate and accelerate
Hands-on support for startups and SMEs at the Innovation Center.
Ecosystem development, Innovation CenterFund
Microcredit, grants, venture capital and an innovation fund.
Orik CapitalScale and shape policy
National programs and policies that improve the business environment.
Specialized consulting, ACELERA GB
DESTOur DEST method brings together Development, Entrepreneurship, Sustainability and Technologies, designed with communities through design thinking.
The ecosystem's funding arm
Visit orikcapital.org
Orik Capital
An impact investment fund born from a public-private partnership between the Government of Guinea-Bissau and InnovaLab. It started in Guinea-Bissau with a continental vision: bringing the right capital to African entrepreneurs that banks do not reach.
Digital microcreditFor informal and rural micro-entrepreneurs, especially women and youth.
Entrepreneurs' fundIncubation grant and interest-free loan for early-stage businesses.
Venture capitalQuasi-equity for high-potential companies, with co-investment.
Innovation fundHuman capital, R&D and infrastructure for the digital ecosystem.
US$ 2Mmobilized from the World Bank
Open
Innovation Center
Our home for builders in Bissau, built to international standards, at the Business Center da Capital.
Bairro 24 de Setembro, Rua 12 de Setembro, Bissau
- Startup incubation, acceleration and funding
- Training, certification and internships
- Coworking and private offices
- Fab & Digital Lab
- Events, competitions and networking
- Digital economy think tank
Our impact so far
- 10K+people trained and mentored
- 250+startups created and incubated
- 500+jobs created
- US$4.5Mmobilized for local initiatives
- 400+events and workshops
- 10.5M+people reached through online activities
Our values and the SDGs
Hover over or tap each goal to see our commitment.
InnovaLab in action
Hack4SDGs, with UNDP and the World Bank 
Global Entrepreneurship Congress, Riyadh 2022: partnership with GEN 
WEECAP program, with the Mastercard Foundation 
Global Entrepreneurship Week: post-COVID-19 roadshow 
Launch of Orik Capital's digital economy cluster 
Entrepreneurship session with women 
Women's training with the Canada Fund for Local Initiatives 
Digital skills training
Reference projects
- Training 200 traders at the Guinea-Bissau–Senegal bordersWorld Bank and GIZ (TFWA), 2024
- Capacity building for 600 members of 12 farmers' cooperativesWorld Food Programme, 2024
- Digital skills and innovation ecosystem gap analysisWorld Bank (WARDIP), 2024
- Expo 2023 Doha and the Guinea-Bissau–Qatar Investment ForumPresidency of the Republic and UNDP, 2023–24
- ECOWAS Women Digital Hubs study (Guinea-Bissau, Niger, Sierra Leone)African Development Bank, 2023
- Digitizing the clinical and laboratory COVID-19 responseHigh Commissioner for COVID-19, 2020–21
- COVID-19 impact on 500+ businesses and 150+ hubs in 46 countriesI4Policy, 2019
- Entrepreneurship Bootcamp Tour: 675 young people over five editionsU.S. Embassy, 2016–22
Executive team
Hover over or tap a photo to meet each person.
We also work with more than 20 national and international consultants, each with at least ten years of experience.
Let's deliver your next program
Governments, development partners, investors and entrepreneurs: tell us what you want to build and we will reply with a proposal.
E-mail[email protected]
Head office
Bairro 24 de Setembro, Rua 12 de Setembro
Bissau, Guiné-Bissau
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