Derek Kwesiga: Winning the award was beneficial in many ways. The most direct result was the cash prize of course. With the prize money we were able to buy a company vehicle, a plot of land for our factory and more raw materials to expand our production schedule just to name a few things.  As a fledgling company, revenue is one of your biggest concerns. The breathing room provided by this award was a life saver.

DK:  I think the most important thing that the Project Incubator Award offers its participants is exposure. The opportunity to present your business to a room full of financial advisors, financiers, NGOs, government officials etc. is absolutely priceless.   I'm most grateful for the instant credibility that being a winner of this award gives my company. When speaking to new investors or potential partners/clients, having this achievement under my belt encourages them to take me seriously. It's almost as if I've been vetted before we even meet.

DK: My projections for the next three years are to be exporting my products worldwide. We are now moving in the second phase of my business plan, which is aseptic packaging. This will allow us to send our juice anywhere on the globe. This has been made possible in part, due to my affiliation with EMRC, and my company winning the Project Incubator Award.