Targeted interventions covering coaching, financial inclusion, and entrepreneurship.
Coaching & Acceleration Program
What It Is
The BTI Academy is our flagship coaching and acceleration track — a structured, cohort-based program that takes young graduates and aspiring entrepreneurs from raw idea to market-ready venture through a combination of workshops, one-on-one mentorship, and peer accountability.
12
Weeks Duration
40
Per Cohort
Curriculum Modules
Dismantling limiting beliefs and replacing them with an opportunity-first mindset. Participants complete a personal asset audit, identify local market gaps, and formulate a problem statement they are passionate about solving. Facilitated by experienced coaches with real-world Burundian entrepreneurship experience.
Translating a problem statement into a viable business model using lean canvas methodology, customer discovery interviews, and competitive analysis. Participants develop their first minimum viable product (MVP) concept adapted to the local Burundian market context and resource constraints.
Practical financial education covering bookkeeping basics, pricing strategy, cash flow management, and introduction to venture funding pathways available in Burundi and the broader East African ecosystem. Participants build a 6-month financial model for their venture.
Go-to-market strategy development, sales techniques tailored for local markets, digital presence building, and preparation for the BTI Demo Day — where cohort participants pitch their ventures to a panel of investors, mentors, and community leaders for real feedback and potential seed support.
Program Outcomes
Participants who launch a venture within 6 months
72%
Report increased confidence in entrepreneurship
94%
Remain connected to BTI alumni network
88%
* Projected targets based on program design benchmarks. Actuals updated as cohorts graduate.
Who Should Apply
Young graduates (18–35) seeking to launch their first business
Final-year students with a viable business idea and commitment to see it through
Early-stage entrepreneurs who need structure, coaching, and peer accountability
Youth from marginalized communities who demonstrate initiative despite systemic barriers
Education & Inclusion Program
"No student should be forced to abandon their education because of a financial crisis they did not create."
— BTI Sponsorship Fund Mission
The BTI Sponsorship Fund provides targeted financial support and tangible resources to underserved and underprivileged students — ensuring that poverty does not determine destiny. We don't just fund fees; we fund pathways.
How the Fund Works
Candidates are identified through community outreach, school partnerships, and direct referrals from teachers, community leaders, and BTI alumni. We prioritize students who demonstrate academic promise but face extreme financial hardship or are at risk of dropping out.
A structured, dignified assessment process evaluates each student's academic standing, household situation, and specific support needs. This ensures that funding is allocated where it will generate the maximum educational and socio-economic impact.
No two students receive identical support. The fund covers a combination of the specific barriers each student faces — from school fees to materials, meals to transport — creating a truly personalized inclusion plan rather than a standardized handout.
Sponsored students are not abandoned after funding — they are monitored for academic progress and, upon completion, offered a direct pathway into the BTI Academy or Youth Entrepreneurship Support program, creating a seamless pipeline from education to economic participation.
What the Fund Covers
School Fees
Learning Materials
Meals & Nutrition
Transportation
Digital Access
Psychosocial Support
Sponsor a student today.
Every contribution directly funds a young Burundian's education and future.
Advocacy, Networking & Direct Support
BTI
Youth
Network
The Youth Entrepreneurship Support program operates as a living ecosystem — not a one-time intervention. Once youth enter BTI's orbit, they gain access to a continuously expanding web of resources, connections, and advocacy that supports them at every stage of their entrepreneurial journey.
This program is particularly focused on helping young entrepreneurs navigate the structural and bureaucratic barriers that exist within Burundi's regulatory and business environment — turning what is often an invisible wall into a navigable pathway.
Open to all youth
This program is not cohort-based. Any young Burundian entrepreneur — regardless of education level or business stage — can access the network and request specific support.
Three Streams of Support
BTI actively engages with government bodies, local authorities, and regional development institutions to create more favorable conditions for youth-led businesses — reducing registration barriers, advocating for youth-inclusive financial policies, and amplifying the voices of young Burundian entrepreneurs in national conversations.
Access to curated introductions with investors, experienced mentors, corporate partners, and peer entrepreneurs both within Burundi and across the broader East African ecosystem. BTI's network is its most valuable asset — and every youth member inherits access to it.
Hands-on assistance navigating market entry — from business registration guidance and legal advisory, to digital presence setup, supplier introductions, and pitching to local buyers. We remove friction so young entrepreneurs can focus on building.
Are you a young Burundian entrepreneur?
Join BTI's youth network today — free of charge — and gain access to connections, resources, and a community that believes in your potential.
Join the Network
Our admissions process is designed to be accessible, transparent, and respectful of your time.
Fill out the short online form or collect a paper form from a BTI community outreach point. No lengthy essays required at this stage.
A brief, informal conversation with a BTI team member to understand your background, goals, and which program is the best fit for your current situation.
Depending on the program, you may attend a group orientation session, submit a short idea brief, or participate in a needs assessment interview. Conducted in Kirundi, French, or English.
Accepted participants receive a welcome kit, schedule, and mentor assignment. Your BTI journey officially begins. No participant ever starts alone.
Yes. All BTI programs are provided at no cost to participants. This is a core principle of our inclusion mandate — we will never allow financial barriers at the enrollment stage to exclude youth who need our programs most. Our operations are funded entirely through donor contributions, grants, and institutional partnerships.
The BTI Academy primarily targets youth between 18 and 35 years of age. The Sponsorship Fund serves students of secondary and tertiary school age. The Youth Entrepreneurship Support network is open to any young Burundian regardless of age, provided they are actively building or planning a business venture. We assess each applicant holistically, not rigidly by age alone.
No. You are not required to have a fully developed business idea. Many of our most successful graduates entered the Academy with nothing more than a problem they cared about solving. Our curriculum is specifically designed to help you discover, shape, and validate an idea over the course of the program. What we do require is genuine commitment, curiosity, and a willingness to be challenged.
Programs are delivered primarily in Kirundi and French, reflecting Burundi's official languages and ensuring the widest accessibility. Selected modules, particularly those involving international mentors or guest speakers, may be conducted in English with interpretation provided. We are committed to never letting language become a barrier.
In most cases, yes. The Youth Entrepreneurship Support network is open and complementary to any other BTI program. A student supported by the Sponsorship Fund may also access the Youth Entrepreneurship network. Enrollment in the BTI Academy alongside another intensive program is evaluated case by case, as the Academy requires significant time commitment from participants.
Schools, community organizations, local leaders, and individuals are warmly encouraged to refer candidates they believe would benefit from BTI's programs. Referrals can be submitted via our contact form or by emailing us directly. All referrals are treated with confidentiality and responded to within five business days.
Still have a question not answered here?
Contact Us Directly