A business incubation and development initiative, 265 Pitch, has unveiled ambitious plans to support over 100 enterprises in the next two years. The platform will provide new market linkages and improved access to financing to accelerate the growth of Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) in Malawi.

Speaking during the launch event in Lilongwe, Hope Business Hub Co-Director James Nyirongo highlighted the country's wealth of untapped business potential, especially from under-recognized entrepreneurs.

“This platform is about shining a spotlight on marginalized entrepreneurs,” said Nyirongo. “Our commitment is to support over 100 enterprises in the next 24 months by unlocking market linkages that were once out of reach and facilitating investment readiness to access critical funding.”

The launch attracted a diverse audience, including entrepreneurs, investors, diplomats, and representatives from financial institutions such as Centenary Bank.

Centenary Bank Managing Director Godfrey Byekwaso, in an interview with Zodiak Online, praised the quality of business proposals presented at the event.

“I’m impressed by how well the entrepreneurs understand their ventures. More importantly, many are offering solutions to the forex crisis by pitching ideas that reduce reliance on imported materials,” he said.

Byekwaso encouraged SMEs to have a deep understanding of their operations, noting that this is one of the key factors financial institutions consider when evaluating loan applications.

Among the entrepreneurs who presented was Fannie Gondwe, CEO of Perisha and Agro-Packaging Enterprise. A beneficiary of the program since 2016, Gondwe shared how her business has expanded to employ 24 staff and contract over 6,000 smallholder farmers involved in sweet potato cultivation.

265 Pitch is a rebranded version of the Lilongwe Pitch initiative launched in 2015 by Synergy. To date, the platform has supported at least 650 SMEs. The latest edition marks a strategic partnership between Synergy and Hope Business Hub.