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About Us

About Hi-Innovator

The Hi-innovator is an initiative of the National Social Security Fund (NSSF) in partnership with Mastercard Foundation and implemented by Outbox.

The initiative seeks to support Ugandan Entrepreneurs by extending catalytic seed funding, entrepreneurial learning and business development support so that they can become more competitive, high-impact businesses.

As of June 2025, the Hi-Innovator Initiative has trained 81,073 entrepreneurs, availed seed-funding and technical assistance to 438 businesses, built the capacity of over 13 ESO partners, reached out to over 150,000 youth and women. The Programme has created and sustained 202,323 dignified and fulfilling work opportunities with 51% being Youth in Work.

Through the Program's Lead Implementing partner, Outbox, the Hi-Innovator has worked across various sectors identifying high-impact businesses to sustainably unlock employment opportunities.

How we work

The Hi-innovator Program was established in August 2020 as a 5-year initiative to explore mechanisms that the Fund could implement to unlock dignified and fulfilling work opportunities for youth through entrepreneurship. Hi-Innovator’s primary focus is on businesses that are not considered attractive to traditional investors and would otherwise struggle to raise the financing and technical support they need to grow. As such, the Program aims to strengthen access to and sustainably grow the productive employment and entrepreneurship opportunities for young people in Uganda.

Business Academy

The online school for entrepreneurs to address Foundational challenges.

Capacity building of ESOs

Enabling Entrepreneurship Support Organisations to serve entrepreneurs better

Investments

Leveraging accelerator initiatives to deploy patient capital to businesses in partnership with Financial institutions