By Dickson Bandera
Harare — Forty promising startups have been shortlisted for the 2025 edition of the Value Creation Challenge (VCC), a flagship entrepreneurship programme designed to empower Zimbabwe’s next generation of innovators.
The announcement, made this week by Eight2Five Innovation Hub — the initiative’s lead convener — signals a major step forward for local entrepreneurship. The Top 40 were selected from hundreds of applications across diverse sectors, including agritech, renewable energy, health tech, creative industries, and sustainable manufacturing.
Among the startups making the cut are AgriLife, Champion Vert-Grow, Machuma Accessories, Enigma Wander, Banana City, Flying Protein, HighRise Africa (Pvt) Limited, Women in Mining Zimbabwe, and Prendy Menstrual Health. These ventures, alongside others, will now embark on a rigorous acceleration journey aimed at turning ideas into viable businesses with lasting economic impact.
The Value Creation Challenge — now in its fifth edition — is made possible through partnerships with leading institutions such as Old Mutual Zimbabwe, British Council Zimbabwe, British Embassy Harare, SNV Zimbabwe, Embassy of Sweden, Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation, Delta Beverages, Zimbabwe Agricultural Development Trust, and CABS Zimbabwe.
In a statement, Eight2Five Innovation Hub said the challenge is more than just a business competition — it is a platform for practical skills development, mentorship, and market access.
“These emerging innovators are shaping the future of Zimbabwe’s entrepreneurial ecosystem — and we’re proud to walk this journey with them.”
Participants will undergo intensive training, business modelling, and pitch readiness workshops before the final showcase later this year, where the most outstanding businesses will receive seed funding, mentorship, and market linkages.
Zimbabwe continues to position itself as an emerging innovation hub, and initiatives like the VCC are critical in bridging the gap between bright ideas and bankable businesses. For these 40 startups, the journey has only just begun — and the nation will be watching.
