Launched in 2014 in Chad, Wenaklabs is, as one of these founders puts it, “a Third Place that positions itself as an innovation laboratory, an incubator, a Tech Hub and a coworking space”. Founded by Abdelsalam SAFI and Salim Azim ASSANI, Wenaklabs aims to offer Chadian entrepreneurs a favorable framework for the development of their projects. Meeting with one of these founder Abdelsalam SAFI.
Introduce yourself and your journey
My name is Abdelsalam SAFI, I come from Chad, but I was trained at the Private Higher School of Engineering and Technologies (ESPRIT) of Tunis from where I graduated with an engineering degree and a certification Java. I teach for more than 5 years in some schools of N’Djamena. I am the co-founder of a Third Place that positions itself as an innovation laboratory, an incubator, a Tech Hub and a coworking space.
What is your project and its mission?
The project that is close to my heart at the moment, and on which some friends are collaborating, is the establishment of a hub. The aim is to offer Chadian entrepreneurs a favorable framework for the development of both their projects and their skills. It is a challenge we embarked on to promote local skills, create a melting pot of innovation in Chad and be able to solve our problems by ourselves.
How did you get the idea to start your business?
First of all, there was a concern that my students were having to find laboratories to do their Practical Work, I suggested that they come to my office where we had the opportunity to experiment. Then, a month later, there was the meeting with Salim Azim ASSANI, with whom I was already a friend on Facebook, and who was already carrying out a project of assembly of third places. We have combined our ideas in order to bring out more grandiose things, hence our creed: “Together, further”. Together we launched WenakLabs in April 2014.
Can you introduce your team?
Already, there is Salim Azim ASSANI my co-founder, who is in charge of communication and programs. Mukhtar Ben Ali who deals with finances, Korom Mahamat our community manager, Adoum Mahamat in charge of logistics and Fadoul Hissein Abba our fablab manager.
What is the problem resolved by Wenaklabs?
First of all, we are tackling the digital divide, promoting entrepreneurship through coaching sessions, we are also working on improving the frameworks by offering decent spaces for street workers, we are also doing capacity building (these types of managers are cruelly lacking in Chad), we also offer youth expression platforms through digital platforms …
What are the next steps ?
The next steps that we have already started are to create a big hub where most of the young and aspiring entrepreneurs of N’Djamena will meet, in line with our initial objectives. It will truly be the melting pot of innovation in Chad.
What do you need and how can AfrikaTech help you?
Afrika Tech as a pan-African platform can help us get to know each other better and showcase our actions through your different communication channels. You can also recommend our skills and knowledge to your partner networks.
What are the contacts of the startup? Website, email, Mobile / WhatsApp, links to social networks?
Website: www.wenaklabs.org
E-mail: contact@wenaklabs.org
Portable / WhatsApp: +23562222284
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/wenaklabs
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