Juba, July 22, 2025 — Twenty-four young entrepreneurs have officially graduated from the Orange Corners Innovation Acceleration Center (OCIAC) after completing six months of intensive training. The graduation marks their transition into the next phase of support under the Orange Corners Innovation Fund (OCIF), implemented by the Foundation for Youth Initiative (FYI).
The ceremony, held in Juba, was attended by distinguished guests including Hon. Gloria N. Joseph Lasu, Executive Director of the South Sudan National Bureau of Standards; Mr. Bouwe-Jan Smeding, Deputy Head of Mission at the Netherlands Embassy in South Sudan; and Hon. John Pan Paguir, Director General of Domestic Trade at the Ministry of Trade and Industry.
A panel discussion on youth-led innovation and economic growth featured Hon. John Pan Paguir, Julian Saipai Dabira, Hon. Gloria Joseph, and Yves A. Speeckaert, an ‘Access to Finance’ expert from Brussels. The discussion emphasized the importance of equipping young entrepreneurs with both technical skills and access to capital.
Under OCIAC, managed by BizEx, the cohort received hands-on training in business modeling, market validation, and operational planning. With the transition to FYI, they now move into the OCIF program, where they will benefit from targeted mentorship, financial literacy, proposal development, and funding opportunities.
As part of this phase, entrepreneurs will also take part in a competitive Demo Day, where they will pitch their ventures to a panel of experts. Top ideas will be shortlisted for potential funding based on innovation, viability, and impact.
