Tanzanian stakeholders have called for startup support programmes customised to different phases of business development, citing widespread difficulties in obtaining finance, accessing markets and receiving business guidance. The appeal came during the second day of the 2026 Jenga Leo Innovation Forum in Dar es Salaam, where officials from government, business support organisations and the private sector urged coordinated interventions matched to where each startup sits in its lifecycle.
Dr Mwajuma Hamza, Executive Director of Tanzania Women Chamber of Commerce, explained that entrepreneurs at different stages require fundamentally different forms of assistance. She noted that startups in the idea phase cannot realistically approach financial institutions for loans because they lack collateral, business experience and transaction history. Instead, she called for grants and innovation facilities to allow entrepreneurs to test their concepts in real market conditions. For established businesses ready to expand, Dr Hamza said they could be connected to banks and other financing institutions once they had prepared themselves adequately to access capital. She also urged entrepreneurs to strengthen their management structures, formalise their businesses and comply with relevant standards to build investor confidence and access wider markets.
Mr Gilbert Waigama, Manager of Innovation at the National Planning Commission, emphasised that government should create conditions enabling startups to thrive rather than imposing heavy regulatory burdens. He linked startup ecosystem development to Tanzania's Development Vision 2050, which aims to build a one trillion US dollar economy and empowered society, requiring collaboration between public and private sector players. Mr Waigama identified coordination, appropriate policies and capacity building as key priorities, and said startups must understand their markets and develop sound business models to turn innovative products into commercially viable enterprises.
Irene Morris, Manager of Strategy and Transactions at Ernst and Young, said investors look beyond promising ideas and proposals when evaluating investment opportunities. Entrepreneurs must demonstrate their ability to generate sustainable revenue and profits by showing clear understanding of customers, secured contracts or meaningful engagement with prospective clients, she explained. Sound governance, tax planning and effective marketing strategies are also essential in demonstrating business sustainability, she added, urging entrepreneurs to move beyond paper plans and show practical progress.
The forum, organised by Konrad Adenauer Stiftung in collaboration with Launchpad Tanzania and AHK Eastern Africa, brought together entrepreneurs, investors, academics, policymakers and development partners to discuss strengthening the country's startup ecosystem. For entrepreneurs seeking to grow their businesses, the support available depends on their stage of development and readiness to meet investor and lender requirements.