LocationsLearning Through Innovation: How UNDP Cameroon’s Accelerator Lab Co-Created a Startup Support Roadmap
July 24, 2025
Within the UNDP Accelerator Labs, we sense, we explore, and we experiment. At the center of it all is learning and development. Yes—learning! That’s the most rewarding part of my journey with the Labs.
This spirit of curiosity and co-creation was fully embodied in our recent collaboration with the OSSP-CMR initiative (Opération de Soutien au Secteur Privé Camerounais), a government-backed program implemented by UNDP Cameroon with funding from BADEA. OSSP-CMR aims to boost the productivity and competitiveness of startups, SMEs, and cooperatives in agriculture, aquaculture, food processing, and digital innovation across six regions of Cameroon. Through its “Productivity Acceleration Mechanism” (DAP), the initiative supports inclusive growth and regional integration, particularly in the wake of COVID-19’s economic impact.
As part of this effort, we set out to understand and support the needs of 17 pre-selected startups. The result? A powerful, co-created Needs Assessment Report that not only maps out the challenges these startups face but also proposes actionable, locally driven solutions
A Sensemaking Journey Rooted in Participation
Our UNDP Cameroon Acclab facilitated a two-day Sensemaking Workshop—an intense and insightful experience, held in a tricky virtual setting. Despite the challenges, the learnings we unpacked in the space of financial inclusion and startup development were enormous.
The workshop was designed to do more than gather data. It was about sensing—listening deeply to the lived experiences of entrepreneurs in agritech, fintech, aquaculture, food transformation, and digital innovation. It was about exploring the systemic barriers they face. And it was about experimenting with new ways of co-creating support mechanisms that are relevant, inclusive, and scalable.
Miro Boards and Magic Moments Financial Inclusion
Miro Boards and Magic Moments
One of the most memorable aspects of the workshop was our use of Miro boards—a digital collaboration tool that, while initially tricky for many participants, became a powerful space for storytelling and insight-sharing. It allowed the startups to visually map their challenges, aspirations, and ideas in real time.
Their excitement with the process was our motivation. And to our national partners—their feedback was heartening. They described our methodology as “magic”—a testament to the power of participatory design and innovation. It’s a model we believe can and should be scaled in future engagements with SMEs and startups across the region.
Miro Boards and Magic Moments
Key Challenges: A Systemic View
The report synthesizes the voices of the 17 startups and identifies five key challenge areas:
- Financial Constraints: Most startups rely on personal savings, family support, or small grants. Access to seed capital, investment readiness programs, and alternative financing mechanisms like crowdfunding or blockchain-based fundraising remains limited.
- Infrastructure and Equipment Gaps: Many startups lack access to production spaces, certified machinery, and logistics support. The high cost of equipment and the absence of shared facilities further hinder scalability.
- Skills and Capacity Deficits: There is a pressing need for training in digital skills, business development, marketing, export readiness, and regulatory compliance.
- Market Access Barriers: Startups struggle to gain visibility in regional and international markets. Participation in trade fairs, B2B platforms, and distribution networks is minimal, and regulatory complexity adds to the burden.
- Policy and Legal Constraints: Issues such as startup formalization, intellectual property protection, and data privacy are compounded by a lack of enabling policies for cross-border trade and digital innovation.
Aspirations: Bold Visions for the Future
Despite these challenges, the startups showcased remarkable ambition. Their five-year goals include becoming regional leaders in agritech and fintech, expanding into multiple African and global markets, building inclusive platforms for financial services and agriculture, and creating jobs for youth and women while promoting environmental sustainability.
These aspirations are not abstract—they are grounded in real business models and community impact. For instance, Cryval aims to launch a blockchain-based inclusive bank for farmers, while Layered Farms is working to empower women in agriculture and scale egg production by 70%
What We Built: A Startup-Led Roadmap
The most powerful part of this process was that the solutions came from the startups themselves. With our facilitation, they co-designed a roadmap that includes:
- A centralized digital platform for grants, training, and mentorship
- Crowdfunding and blockchain-based financing models tailored to local realities
- Bootcamps and mentorship programs in AI, fintech, agritech, and export readiness
- Mini-grants for infrastructure and MVP development
- Policy advocacy for startup-friendly regulations and AfCFTA alignment
These aren’t just ideas—they’re grounded, actionable strategies that reflect the real needs and ambitions of Cameroon’s innovation ecosystem.
startups ; Bold Visions for the Future
Beyond the Report: Dreams Lab and the African Tech Summit
Building on the insights from the workshop, we also developed two key proposals:
- Dreams Lab: An immersive workshop model to co-create fintech solutions using crowdfunding and blockchain. It’s designed to empower startups with the tools and networks they need to access alternative financing.
- African Tech Summit: A regional initiative to enhance market access and promote the integration of Cameroonian startups into the broader African innovation ecosystem.
Both proposals are rooted in the insights generated during the Sensemaking Workshop and aim to address the most pressing challenges in financing, infrastructure, skills, and market access.
Advancing Learning, Building Capacity
In summary, this journey was about more than producing a report. It was about advancing learning and building capacity—for startups, for partners, and for us as development practitioners.
The OSSP Needs Assessment Report is now a living strategy. It provides a foundation for targeted interventions, ecosystem partnerships, and policy reforms that can unlock the full potential of Cameroon’s startup sector.
As we move forward, our UNDP Cameroon Accelerator Lab remains committed to supporting these entrepreneurs—not just as beneficiaries, but as co-creators of a more inclusive, resilient, and innovative future.
Because in the end, learning is the goal. And when we learn together, we grow together.
Dreams Lab and the African Tech Summit