Thrive Development Initiative

Happy Sunday, everyone! 🙏

As we gather in worship and spend time with our families today, may we be reminded that every great vision begins with faith, purpose, and a willingness to serve others.

As we prepare for the Innovation & Capital Investment Week (ICIW) 2026 and the Startup World Cup Botswana Regional, let us continue praying for God's wisdom, favour, and provision. Our prayer is that this platform will create opportunities for young people, women, persons with disabilities, researchers, entrepreneurs, and innovators, helping transform ideas into businesses, businesses into jobs, and dreams into lasting impact.

May we never underestimate the power of planting seeds of hope, encouraging one another, and using our gifts to build stronger communities.

"Commit to the Lord whatever you do, and He will establish your plans." — Proverbs 16:3

Opportunity should never be limited by circumstance. Apply for a complimentary pass to attend ICIW 2026 if you're a youth innovator, founder, ecosystem builder, or NPO making a difference.
👉 https://iciw.org/complimentary

Wishing you all a blessed, peaceful, and joy-filled Sunday.

God bless Botswana. God bless Africa. 🇧🇼❤️

Complimentary Ticket ICIW 2026 Apply for a complimentary delegate pass to Innovation & Capital Investment Week 2026.

🇧🇼🏀 THE SPIRIT OF VOLUNTEERING: SHOWING UP, LEARNING AND SERVING

Happy President’s Day, Botswana!

As our nation celebrates its leadership, unity and shared identity, may we also embrace the spirit of service and our collective responsibility to build a stronger Botswana.

Today, I spent the entire day learning about 3x3 basketball, understanding the tournament and preparing to volunteer throughout the week at the FIBA 3x3 Youth Nations League 2026 – Africa South Conference.

From 20–26 July 2026, Botswana will welcome talented young men and women from Botswana, Angola, Madagascar, Algeria and Egypt for six exciting tournament stops at the Royal Aria Convention Centre in Gaborone.

This is more than basketball. It is a continental platform for youth development, leadership, teamwork and essential life skills. Volunteering is not only about giving our time—it is about learning, serving and contributing to something bigger than ourselves.

Thrive Development Initiative is proud to support an event that places young people, talent and opportunity at the centre.

🇧🇼 Let us celebrate President’s Day by showing up for our country, our young people and Team Botswana!

📅 20–26 July 2026
📍 Royal Aria Convention Centre, Gaborone
🎟️ Tickets available at the venue
🕚 Ticket office opens at 11:00

Come and experience the energy of 3x3 basketball. I will be volunteering throughout the week—see you there!

From the Valley of Death to the Frontiers of Hope

Last week, I shared a reflection on the valley of death—that difficult season every entrepreneur, innovator, researcher, and changemaker inevitably encounters. It is the place where the vision is clear, the work is being done, but the resources have not yet caught up.

Today, I have the privilege of attending the HIV Cure Symposium, joining some of Botswana's finest scientists, clinicians, researchers, policymakers, and development partners as they explore the future of HIV cure research.

What stands out most for me is seeing someone I have known for many years—not only as a sister and friend, but also as a fellow academic—continue to make Botswana proud on the global stage.

Meet our HIV Cure Research Star – Prof. Catherine Koofhethile.

Prof. Koofhethile represents the very best of Botswana. Through her pioneering work in HIV cure research, she is advancing one of the world's greatest scientific frontiers while mentoring the next generation of African scientists. She reminds us that world-class innovation is not something we import—it is something we are creating here at home.

Today's symposium also reinforces why the Health & One Health Innovation Forum, one of the flagship platforms of the Innovation & Capital Investment Week (ICIW), is so important. Our vision is to move from research to revenue—creating a platform where scientists, innovators, entrepreneurs, policymakers, investors, and industry come together to translate groundbreaking research into commercial solutions, stronger health systems, new industries, quality jobs, and better health outcomes.

That is why we made the difficult but necessary decision to reschedule the inaugural Innovation & Capital Investment Week (ICIW) 2026 to 18–21 August 2026, giving us the time to strengthen the platform and maximise its long-term impact.

To Prof. Catherine Koofhethile, thank you for inspiring us and for demonstrating that Botswana is not only participating in global science—we are helping to shape its future.

And to every entrepreneur, researcher, innovator, and dreamer navigating your own valley of death—keep going. Today's discoveries are tomorrow's industries, and today's perseverance is tomorrow's breakthrough.

Dream Bold. Build Beyond Borders. 🇧🇼

The Valley of Death.

Every founder knows it.

It's the uncomfortable season where faith is tested, sacrifices go unseen, and doing the right thing often comes at a personal cost.

It is the season between vision and victory.

This week has reminded me why we chose this journey.

We proudly co-hosted an incredible 24-hour Build Africa Vibe Coding Marathon with VibeCode Africa, Gebeya (Dala Studios), opening Botswana's doors to a global AI innovation community. We witnessed brilliant young minds building solutions that can compete on the world stage.

We also had the privilege of meeting our Top 10 Startup World Cup Botswana Regional finalists. Their passion, resilience, and belief in their ideas remind me that Botswana's greatest resource has always been its people.

To every volunteer, startup, speaker, partner, mentor, and entrepreneur who has stood with us—thank you. Your belief has carried us further than you know.

Today, the programme is ready.

The speakers are ready.

The entrepreneurs are ready.

The volunteers are ready.

The vision is ready.

What remains is the final piece: partners willing to invest in possibility.

Innovation ecosystems are not built by entrepreneurs alone. They are built when government, business, investors, and development partners choose to believe in the same future.

So today, we make this appeal—not from a place of desperation, but from a place of hope.

If you have ever said you believe in Botswana's entrepreneurs...

If you believe Africa's future will be shaped by innovation...

If you believe opportunities should be created, not waited for...

This is your moment to show up.

A sponsorship is more than funding an event. It is investing in dreams, creating opportunities, building industries, and giving the next generation permission to believe that their ideas matter.

The Valley of Death is real.

But it doesn't have to be the end of the story.

Together, we can turn it into the place where Botswana chose to believe in its innovators.

Sponsor a Dreamer. Create Opportunity for All. Empower Women, Youth, and Persons with Disabilities to Build the Businesses That Will Shape Botswana's Future.

The future is still within reach. register to attend -https://iciw.org/attend

To sponsor contact - [email protected]
Follow us - https://iciw.org/

T-15 MINUTES TO BUILD AFRICA!

Thrive Development Initiative (TDI) is partnering with Gebeya and Vibecode Africa for the Vibe Coding Hackaton, a 24-hour virtual AI hackathon bringing builders together to create, experiment, and ship AI-powered solutions.

Every Sector maps a priority area of Botswana's Economic Transformation Programme (BETP)

Through DALA Studio, participants will receive AI credits to help bring their ideas to life during the marathon.

📅 July 10–11, 2026
⏱️ 24-hour Virtual AI Hackathon

Ready to build before the clock runs out?

Connect with National and Global Visionaries at ICIW 2026

The stage is set for the Innovation & Capital Investment Week. ICIW is scheduled for July 14-16th in Gaborone, under the theme "Dream Bold. Build Beyond Borders."

We are bringing together a powerhouse cohort of leaders to drive Botswana's economic transformation.

Featuring:

Hon. Tiroeaone Ntsima, Minister of Trade and Entrepreneurship

Bill Reichert, Partner, Pegasus Tech Ventures

Judy Zakreski, SVP, International Code Council

Mareledi Gina Maswabi, Commonwealth National Climate Finance Adviser

Be part of the conversation that aligns capital with sustainable growth.

👉 Registration: https://iciw.org/attend

Meet Our First Lineup of Speakers & Moderators for ICIW 2026!

We are incredibly honored to present the first cohort of visionary leaders, policymakers, and technical experts who will anchor the dialogues during the Innovation & Capital Investment Week (ICIW) 2026. We are proud to introduce:

Guest of Honor & Keynote Leadership

Honorable Tiroeaone Ntsima – Minister of Trade and Entrepreneurship, Republic of Botswana. Hon. Ntsima will deliver the Official Opening Address on July 16th to kick off our high-impact Entrepreneurship Forum and Startup World Cup Botswana Regional Finale.

🌍 Featured Speakers

Judy Zakreski 赵笛 – Senior Vice President, Global Operations & Solutions at the International Code Council (ICC) & Co-Chair, UNEP GlobalABC Adaptation Working Group.

Mareledi Gina Maswabi (Sri Lanka / Global) – Commonwealth National Climate Finance Adviser & Renewable Energy Engineer, The Commonwealth Climate Finance Access Hub (CCFAH).

Dr Keith Nkomo – Founder and CEO, Salutem Group.

Nancy Kgengwenyane – Environmental & Natural Resources Lawyer, Climate & Sustainability Advisor, and Senior Associate at Innolead Consulting.

Keleadile Ruda – Founder & Renewable Energy Engineer, Women in Energy Botswana (WinE).

Tapiwa Moffat – CEO of Smartlink Innovators & Founder of Formal.ai.

Bokwena Moali – Deputy Council Secretary - Primary Health Care (Okavango District).

From unlocking value in natural resources to shaping Botswana's future bio-economy, these leaders represent the exact shift toward sustainable value creation and capital alignment that ICIW 2026 is built to drive.

🎟️ Secure Your Seat Today: https://iciw.org/attend

MEET THE JUDGES

Dream Big. Pitch Bold. Impress the Best.

To find the ultimate regional champion, it takes a panel of seasoned leaders, industry experts, and ecosystem builders who know exactly what it takes to scale globally.

We are proud to introduce the distinguished panel of judges who will evaluate our Top 10 finalists at the Startup World Cup Botswana Regional Finale 2026. Bringing a wealth of experience across technology, social impact, entrepreneurship, and corporate strategy, they have the critical task of selecting the startup that will represent our nation on the world stage.

🤝 Meet the Judges Panel:

Keletso Desiree Linchwe – Founder, Sone Setho Foundation
Obakeng Kokwe – Manager, Orange Digital Center Botswana
Dr. Keith Nkomo – Founder & CEO, Salutem Group
Modisaotsile Manyake – Founder, Serviceline Group

These esteemed leaders will be front and center on July 16, assessing innovation, market viability, and pitch readiness. The winning startup chosen by this panel will secure a spot at the Grand Finale in San Francisco, USA, to compete for a US$1 million investment prize.

See who rises to the challenge and wins over our judges at the Startup World Cup Botswana Regional Finale, taking place during the Innovation & Capital Investment Week (ICIW) 2026.

📅 16 July 2026
📍 Hotel 430, Gaborone, CBD
🌐 Register: https://iciw.org

Dream Bold. Build Beyond Borders.