Ghana - Startup under 3 years old

Describe your project or startup in a few words

Nexgen Educational Hub is an EduTech hub for kids, visioned at equipping the next generation with skillset that prepare them for a future in a growing Tech age. Our programs include robotics & AI, coding, web design, drone piloting, VR gaming and SAT prep

01.01 Describe your startup in more detail

Nexgen Educational hub is founded on it's core principle of relevance. Our start-up aims at equipping those who will change the next generation with the skillset to do so and stay relevant. We achieve this through two key strategies; training and innovation. We run selected tech programs such as robotics and AI, coding in python, web design, SAT prep sessions, and soon-to-be-included; drone piloting and virtual reality gaming. Our programs don't end after training. At Nexgen, we believe the goal of learning is transformation. Thus, we have set up innovation hubs which are essentially makerspaces for kids to undertake innovative projects while sharing ideas, equipment and knowledge. Participants of our innovation hub programme undertake weekly projects that solve relatable problems in their surrounding. This, not only prepares them for the future but also develops them into people with a heightened curiosity about understanding the world around them.

01.02 What is the main problem you are trying to solve?

Our start-up aims first at raising a young generation with relevant futuristic skillsets and secondly to bridge the gap between theory and practice through practical learning approaches. According to the World Economic Forum, key skills needed for the future (2025 and beyond) include analytical thinking and Innovation, active learning and learning strategies, complex problem-solving, critical thinking and analysis, creativity, originality and Initiative, technology use, monitoring and control, technology design and programming, reasoning, problem-solving and ideation. Our carefully selected STEAM programs aim to equip our participants with these key skills through our innovation hub makerspaces. The COVID-19 pandemic further emphasized the need for children to have these skills, as it has forged a trajectory for the pursuance of automation in most aspects of human life.

01.03 Tell us the major benefits and/or advantages of using the product/service that your startup provides (at least 3).

At Nexgen, we pride ourselves not just in our training but in the innovation that comes out of our training. Every innovative solution delivered by our kids is a testament to the impact of the program. Our training is also holistic in that it applies concepts from Science, Technology, Engineering, Art and Mathematics (STEAM) in solving relatable problems. This creates an opportunity for every child to find a place and contribute based on their interest. For instance a child who loves art, gets to explore how he can utilize technology in creating his art. Teamwork is also a key benefit of our innovation hub experience. Our participants get to learn and appreciate the value of working in teams, building confidence and mastering presentation at a very early stage.

01.04 Please describe who exactly your startup’s product/service is aimed at serving. Who are the targeted beneficiaries?

Our programs are mainly targeted at kids between the age bracket of 5 years to 16 years. We believe that although children form only a fraction of today's population, they form one hundred percent of the future and as such need all the investment they can get. We also run SAT prep sessions for prospective college applicants. We aim to help students who want to further their education in some of the best universities globally to gain entry. This is in our bid to forge a trajectory (for our innovation program participants) for the pursuance of related fields of study at a higher level.

01.05 When was your company established?

2021-12-01

01.06 Are you already selling your product/service?

Yes

01.07 How many other owners are there within your startup?

0

01.08 Among the other owners, how many are female?

0

01.09 Please describe the profile of the other owners within your startup (skills, experience, etc.)

VITUS ZULEE Vitus Zulee had his high school education at the Presbyterian Boys' Senior High School - Legon. From there he attained a BSc in Computer Science from the Catholic University College of Ghana (Fiapre). He is passionate about technology and innovation. He served as an intern in the IT Department of the Ghana Airport Company Limited. He has also worked remotely (on contract) as a front end web designer with Delves Technology (UK). He has training in robotics from the Metro Institute of Innovation and Technology. He has also served as a freelance software developer and project coordinator. Outside of the tech space, Vitus is also a lover of art. He is an accomplished writer, speaker and performance poet.

01.10 If you have a website, a social media page (Facebook, Instagram, Linkedin…), or app, please provide the link(s) here:

https://nexgeneducationalhub.com/ , https://www.facebook.com/nexgenhub , https://www.instagram.com/nexgeneducationalhub , https://x.com/nexgenhub

01.11 Which industry best describes your project?

h) IT (digital services, equipment and software)

02.01.01 My startup contributes to the No poverty goal

5

02.01.02 No poverty - Justification for my startup

Our start-up aims to equip kids with skillsets that will make them relevant in the job market in the near future thereby providing them with a source of livelihood and consequently alleviating poverty.

02.02.01 My startup contributes to the Zero hunger goal

5

02.02.02 Zero hunger - Justification for my startup

Some of the innovative projects undertaken in the innovation hub are agricultural projects that promote innovation in the agricultural sector thereby setting the kids up for a future of sustainability in agriculture.

02.03.01 My startup contributes to the Good health and well-being goal

5

02.03.02 Good health and well-being - Justification for my startup

Some of the innovative projects undertaken in the innovation hub are health projects that fulfill the SDG goal of promoting well-being for all.

02.04.01 My startup contributes to the Quality education goal

7 - Strongly Agree

02.04.02 Quality education - Justification for my startup

Our start-up aligns with the UN SDG goal of promoting quality and lifelong learning opportunities as our outfit seeks to train kids with useful tech skills for the future. We seek to grow this project till this kind of practical learning approach becomes the new norm in Ghana and further make it accessible and affordable for the vast majority of Ghanaian children as well as offering scholarships to those who may not be able to afford it.

02.05.01 My startup contributes to the Gender equality goal

6

02.05.02 Gender equality - Justification for my startup

Our programs are not gender specific. They are open to girls as much as they are open to boys. We hope to run campaigns and offer incentives to encourage more girls to enroll in our STEAM programs.

02.06.01 My startup contributes to the Clean water and sanitation goal

5

02.06.02 Clean water and sanitation - Justification for my startup

We have undertaken water purification projects within our innovation hub makerspace which exposed our participants to improved water treatment solutions that promote clean water and sanitation for all.

02.07.01 My startup contributes to the Affordable and clean energy goal

5

02.07.02 Affordable and clean energy - Justification for my startup

At our innovation hub, some of the projects and innovation focus on clean energy solutions. These projects will not only educate but also urge our participants to explore sustainable energy solutions in their innovative process.

02.08.01 My startup contributes to the Decent work and economic growth

6

02.08.02 Decent work and economic growth - Justification for my startup

Our start-up aims to equip kids with skillsets that will make them relevant in future. Through this, they will gain employable skills and problem solving skills which will provide them with employment and business creation opportunities in the future, thus indirectly alleviating unemployment.

02.09.01 My startup contributes to the Industry innovation and infrastructure

7 - Strongly Agree

02.09.02 Industry innovation and infrastructure - Justification for my startup

Our innovation hub exists to foster innovation through teamwork and shared ideas. This enables our participants to nurture innovation at an early stage by solving relatable problems in their surrounding using technology.

02.10.01 My startup contributes to the Reduced inequalities goal

4

02.10.02 Reduced inequalities - Justification for my startup

02.11.01 My startup contributes to the Sustainable cities and communities goal

4

02.11.02 Sustainable cities and communities - Justification for my startup

02.12.01 My startup contributes to the Responsible consumption and production goal

4

02.12.02 Responsible consumption and production - Justification for my startup

02.13.01 My startup contributes to the Climate action goal

4

02.13.02 Climate action - Justification for my startup

02.14.01 My startup contributes to the Life below water goal

3

02.14.02 Life below water - Justification for my startup

02.15.01 My startup contributes to the Life on land goal

3

02.15.02 Life on land - Justification for my startup

02.16.01 My startup contributes to the Peace Justice and Strong Institutions goal

3

02.16.02 Peace Justice and Strong Institutions- Justification for my startup

02.17.01 My startup contributes to the Partnerships for the goal

5

02.17.02 Partnerships for the goal - Justification for my startup

Our innovation hub provides an avenue for teamwork and innovative partnerships among kids in solving relatable problems some of which contribute toward achieving the SDG goals.

06.01 There are a large number of customers who already use a product/service very similar to the product/service we envision creating.

5

06.02 The product/service represents an entirely new type of product/service.

3

06.03 The product/service could be described as a new technology.

5

06.04 The product/service is an improvement on an existing product or service.

6

06.05 The product/service could be described as an extension of a range of products or services.

7 - Strongly Agree

06.06 The product/service responds to a demand or need that has not been satisfied by other products/services.

6

06.07 The product/service is a new version of an old product/service.

5

06.08 Justification for my startup

There are several educational institutions that run similar programs to the ones we run. But what sets us apart is the fact that we don't just stop at training. After our training programs are completed, we commit to applying the knowledge and skills gained in practical innovation through our makerspaces called innovation hubs. In our own way, we are building mini silicon valleys that will birth several innovative ideas and solutions from our kids.

06.09 Competitive Analysis

Our main potential competitors are schools and other educational institutions. What sets us apart is our makerspaces for innovation. While most institutions focus solely on tuition, for us tuition is only the beginning. Innovation is the goal.

11.05 Are you initiating actions within your community to promote the role of female entrepreneurs?