Jacaranda Hub

What Jacaranda Hub does

Jacaranda Hub is a Lusaka-headquartered non-profit enterprise development organisation founded in 2017 that operates a sector-specialised incubation and investment-readiness platform for Zambian MSMEs. The organisation serves early-stage entrepreneurs — particularly women- and youth-led enterprises — across five priority verticals: agribusiness and agro-processing, renewable energy and climate, circular economy and waste-to-value, mining sector supplier development, and services and professional MSMEs.

Its core offering is the proprietary JHUB ESG™ (Enterprise Sustainability & Growth) methodology, a framework that adapts GrowthWheel principles to Zambian market conditions and is delivered through a structured Bronze-Silver-Gold certification pathway (foundation → growth → investment-ready). Supporting tools include the proprietary Zanga Matrics assessment, Circular Economy Readiness Assessment, and Gender & Inclusion Scorecard, alongside shared service centres providing subsidised legal, accounting, HR, and technical support. Delivery runs through a headquarters in Lusaka (DG Office Park, Kabulonga), a regional presence in Kitwe, and satellite hubs across 10 of Zambia's provinces, supplemented by an online enterprise portal used in the eMiner track.

Jacaranda Hub's go-to-market is partnership-driven and operates multiple branded programmes: the Mosi-Oa-Tunya Pitch Competition (flagship acquisition funnel), the eMiner Programme (15-month ASM mining accelerator with €25K–€100K seed grants), the YEE Initiative with SNV Zambia (1,550 youth target), the Going Beyond / Youth Leadership Program with Digital Opportunity Trust and Mastercard Foundation, and the FAO ICA 4 Project (soybean value chain). The organisation is funded primarily through grants from the European Union (€22.7M GREENTech4CE Project, 2024–2028), Mastercard Foundation, FAO, World Bank, WWF, and SNV Zambia, with services delivered free to entrepreneurs and additional revenue from blended finance facilitation and programme partnership fees.

Name

Jacaranda Hub

Legal name

Jacaranda Hub

Website

https://jacarandahub.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2017

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Jacaranda Hub is a Lusaka-based non-profit founded in 2017 that runs a sector-specialised MSME incubation platform across five Zambian verticals, using its proprietary JHUB ESG™ Bronze-Silver-Gold certification framework to prepare women- and youth-led enterprises for investment, and serving 20,000+ enterprises across 10 provinces via grant-funded programmes.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Enterprise Development & Incubation Services

NAICS

Other Management Consulting Services (541618), Administrative Management and General Management Consulting Services (541611)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200), Services-Management Consulting Services (8742)

akta.pro primary industry

Youth Business Incubators & Accelerators (EDAMAHAC)

akta.pro secondary industries

Entrepreneurship Foundations & Startup Basics (EDAMAHAA), Entrepreneurship & Small Business Workforce Programs (EDAAAOAM), Leadership, Management & Teamwork for Business (EDAMAHAI)

Keywords

• Enterprise incubation services
• MSME development programs
• Investment readiness certification
• Entrepreneurship training
• Business accelerator programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Lusaka

HQ country

Zambia

HQ region

Africa

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Grant Funding: Primary funding model through partnerships with international development organizations and foundations. Funders include European Union (GREENTech4CE Project - EUR 22.7 million), Mastercard Foundation, FAO, World Bank, and various government ministries. Grants support specific programs and operational costs.
2. Blended Finance Facilitation: Structuring deals that combine grants, debt, and equity for scalable enterprise growth. The organization facilitates capital flow from investors and development partners to certified enterprises, potentially taking facilitation fees or a percentage of mobilized capital.
3. Program Partnership Fees: Implementation fees charged to partners for program delivery. Partners like SNV Zambia, FAO, and EU provide funding for specific initiatives (e.g., YEE Initiative, FAO ICA 4, eMiner) with Jacaranda Hub receiving resources to execute programs.

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Jacaranda Hub is a sector-specialized enterprise development and investment pipeline platform that incubates, trains, and certifies micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) in Zambia. The organization delivers structured incubation programs across five priority sectors (agribusiness, renewable energy, circular economy, mining supplier development, and professional services) using its proprietary JHUB ESG™ methodology with a Bronze-Silver-Gold certification pathway that progresses enterprises from early-stage to investment-ready. Services include mentorship, business diagnostics, investment readiness preparation, shared service center access, and blended finance facilitation, all provided at no direct cost to entrepreneurs.

Product overview

Jacaranda Hub operates as a sector-specialized enterprise development and investment pipeline platform focused on five high-impact sectors driving Zambia's economic transformation. The core offering is the proprietary JHUB ESG™ Certification Framework featuring a Bronze-Silver-Gold certification pathway. The platform delivers multiple programmes including the eMiner Programme (mining sector enterprise accelerator), Mosi-Oa-Tunya Pitch Competition (entrepreneurial pitch event), Youth Leadership Program (Going Beyond), Youth Economic Empowerment (YEE) Initiative, and FAO ICA 4 Project (soybean value chain). Supporting services include sector-specialized incubation, investment readiness support, shared service centers, ecosystem partnerships, and blended finance facilitation. Enterprises receive comprehensive support through diagnostic tools including GrowthWheel and proprietary Zanga Matrics assessments, leading to investment-readiness and connections to capital, contracts, and markets.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• eMiner Programme: A comprehensive enterprise development programme designed to transform Zambia's artisanal and small-scale mining sector through innovation, capacity building, green finance, and sustainable growth.
• Mosi-Oa-Tunya Pitch Competition
• Youth Leadership Program (Going Beyond Project)
• YEE Initiative (Youth Economic Empowerment)
• FAO ICA 4 Project
• JHUB ESG™ Certification Framework

Products and services

• JHUB ESG™ Certification Framework A proprietary, sector-specialized enterprise development methodology combining GrowthWheel principles with Zambian market realities. Features a Bronze-Silver-Gold certification system creating a clear pathway from early-stage to investment-ready enterprises across five priority sectors.
• eMiner Programme A comprehensive 15-month enterprise development programme designed to transform Zambia's artisanal and small-scale mining sector through innovation, capacity building, green finance, and sustainable growth. Includes incubation and acceleration tracks with EUR 127K+ programme investment and access to seed fund grants of EUR 25,000 to EUR 100,000. Targets 100+ enterprises across Northwestern Province.
• Mosi-Oa-Tunya Pitch Competition A high-impact 9-week entrepreneurial journey designed to identify, mentor, and launch bold young innovators from across Zambia. Transforms ideas into investment-ready ventures competing for K50,000+ in prizes.
• Youth Leadership Program (Going Beyond) A youth leadership development program that equips young graduates aged 18-35 with digital skills, social impact acumen, and community engagement capabilities. Part of the Going Beyond Project in partnership with Digital Opportunity Trust and Mastercard Foundation, deploying youth leaders to empower local MSMEs in Kabwe, Kapiri Mposhi, Chisamba, Mumbwa, and Shibuyunji districts.
• Youth Economic Empowerment (YEE) Initiative A high-impact programme in partnership with SNV Zambia supporting 1,550 youth aged 18-35 across Central, Northern, and Northwestern Provinces through incubation, enterprise development, and employability pathways. Aims to create 1,300 new enterprises with 50 mentors recruited.
• FAO ICA 4 Project A strategic initiative in partnership with the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) focused on strengthening youth-led enterprises in Zambia's soybean value chain. Targets seed multiplication, mechanization services, and local soybean processing across Central and Eastern Provinces with a 6-month mentorship period supporting 100+ youth enterprises.

Quantifiable outcome

• 60%+ women-led enterprises supported
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature6 records

Partnerships

16 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFAO partners with Jacaranda Hub on the ICA 4 Project, a strategic initiative strengthening youth-led enterprises in Zambia's soybean value chain through mentorship and enterprise development in Central and Eastern Provinces.
• Digital Opportunity Trust (DOT)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDOT collaborates on the Going Beyond - Partnering for a Youth-Led Future project, scaling DOT's peer-to-peer model across four African countries including Zambia. Jacaranda Hub implements the Youth Leadership Program.
• WWFminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerWorld Wildlife Fund partnership focuses on environmental sustainability and conservation, aligning with Jacaranda Hub's circular economy and climate-smart enterprise programs.
• Ministry of Youth, Sport & Arts (Zambia)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGovernment ministry partnership for youth empowerment initiatives. Supports programs targeting young entrepreneurs and youth employment across Zambia.
• First Quantum MineralscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMajor copper mining company supporting local content and supplier development. Provides market access opportunities for mining sector enterprises through the eMiner program.
• Barrick GoldcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGlobal mining company engaged in supplier development initiatives. Supports local enterprise development in Zambia's mining sector value chain.
• Mopani Copper MinescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMajor copper mining company participating in supplier-buyer matching and corporate partnership activities through the eMiner program.
• ZBAN (Zambia Business Angels Network)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLocal investment network connecting investment-ready enterprises with angel investors and early-stage capital providers.
• Copperbelt Energy CorporationminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerEnergy company supporting renewable energy and climate-smart enterprise development in Zambia's copperbelt region.
• Zambia Development AgencycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGovernment agency promoting investment and enterprise development in Zambia. Supports investment readiness and market access for certified enterprises.
• BongoHiveminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerZambia's premier technology and innovation hub. Peer organization in the Zambian innovation ecosystem.
• AICRRAminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAgricultural institute supporting agribusiness development and agricultural innovation in Zambia.
• YAPASAminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerYouth advocacy and development organization supporting youth empowerment initiatives.
• Ministry of MSME (Zambia)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGovernment ministry responsible for micro, small and medium enterprise development. Partnership supports policy alignment and government linkages for MSME programs.
• Enterprise ZambiaminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerGovernment enterprise development initiative supporting MSME growth and formalization.
• SNV ZambiacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerInternational development organization partnering on the Youth Economic Empowerment (YEE) Initiative. SNV provides co-funding and technical support for the program targeting 1,550 youth across Central, Northern, and Northwestern Provinces.

Scale indicators12 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Others

• GrowthWheel: International business development framework explicitly licensed into Jacaranda Hub's JHUB ESG™ methodology. Relevant as the underlying methodology provider and adjacent enabling tool.

Direct peers

• Anzisha Prize: African Youth Entrepreneurship initiative recognizing and supporting very young African entrepreneurs. Highly comparable mission around youth-led enterprise development and seed funding.
• Intellecap: Impact advisory and enterprise support platform operating across Africa and Asia. Comparable in combining enterprise incubation with blended finance facilitation and sector-specialized programs for SMEs.
• Digital Opportunity Trust (DOT): International youth-led digital and leadership development organization; direct co-development partner on the Going Beyond Project. Directly comparable mission of youth economic empowerment and MSME capacity building.
• Inkomoko: African SME incubator and investment advisory supporting growth-oriented small businesses across East and Southern Africa. Highly comparable business model of enterprise development, investment readiness, and blended finance facilitation.
• BongoHive: Zambia's premier technology and innovation hub (explicitly listed as a Jacaranda Hub partner). Operates a comparable mission of nurturing Zambian entrepreneurs and MSMEs, making it the most direct local peer.

Regional players

• GrowthAfrica: Pan-African accelerator running enterprise growth programs across multiple African countries. Highly comparable accelerator/incubation model focused on growth-stage African SMEs and investment readiness.
• Tony Elumelu Foundation (TEF): Large-scale African entrepreneurship program providing seed capital, training, and mentorship to entrepreneurs across Africa. Comparable in its entrepreneurship pipeline and seed-fund-grant approach, though operating at much greater scale.

Broad incumbents

• SNV Netherlands Development Organisation: Large international development organization (SNV Zambia is a co-funder on the YEE Initiative). Comparable in delivering enterprise development programs and partnering with local hubs, but at significantly greater scale and broader mandate.
• African Leadership Academy: Pan-African institution developing African youth leaders and entrepreneurs. Comparable mission in youth leadership and entrepreneurship pipeline, though focused more on education than MSME incubation.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/jacaranda-hub

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Jacaranda Hub