Becoming a Jasiri Fellow: My Journey and Tips for Application
Applying for the Jasiri Talent Investor Program: A Step-by-Step Guide.
We live in a world where pursuing your dreams is challenging, and taking the first step seems far-fetched. Aside from the obvious roadblocks such as the financial, time-investment, and risks of starting a business; there aren’t a lot of opportunities to kickstart it either. It is for this reason I was thrilled to discover Jasiri on a LinkedIn repost, two years ago.
Jasiri is an entrepreneurship program headquartered in Rwanda, and operating across Kenya and Ethiopia. It invests in entrepreneurs and early start-ups who benefit society by creating high-impact businesses on the African continent. As I read those words I was eager to apply and take the first step towards my dreams.
As a passionate aspiring entrepreneur who was ready to embark on my journey, Jasiri came in at the right time, providing me with a roadmap to get to where I needed to be. The program offered much more than just financial investment; it was a source of motivation and positivity, along with providing challenging scenarios that solidified my belief in my capabilities.
I also got the chance to meet fellow entrepreneurs from Kenya, Rwanda and Ethiopia who grew to become valuable connections. Moreover, in addition the 3 month Residential Intensive Visiting Rwanda was a plus as I found it refreshing to be in a new environment and work with different Amazing people from different backgrounds. In this article, I will try to summarize the application process.
Phases of recruitment
The recruitment involves a series of multi-stage processes, with each step requiring applicants to meet specific prerequisites to be eligible for the next. In the following section, I will provide a quick overview of each stage of the application process.
First phase: The Application
When you visit Jasiri’s website, the first thing you’ll notice is a link labeled “Join the Jasiri talent investor” This will lead you to a page that gives you an overview of the program, what they're looking for in candidates, and the application steps. To start your application, click on "Apply now." You'll need to fill in various sections of the form, including:
- Biographical(Personal) Information
- Academic Information
- Entrepreneurial experience
- Employment history
- Volunteering history
Once you've completed the form, you'll get an email confirming your application for the first stage. Your application will then be reviewed, and if you're shortlisted, you'll be contacted for the next steps.
Second Phase: Entrepreneurial Intention Assessment
If you get an email with a link to the entrepreneurial intention assessment within 7 days of submitting your application, well done, you've cleared the first hurdle. You have seven days to complete this phase. What does it evaluate? As the name suggests, it looks at your entrepreneurial intentions, your attitude towards business, and how well you work in teams. After finishing, you'll receive an email asking for your patience while your submission is reviewed. If you pass this stage, congratulations! You'll get another email with a link to the next step: the Innovation scenario assessment.
Third Phase: Innovation Scenario Assessment
At this stage, you'll need to complete a form and submit a pitch video. Your video will be evaluated on how well you identify and explain a problem, describe your solution to this problem, and outline the potential societal impact of your solution.
You should fill out the form directly in the online portal. As for the pitch video, upload it to YouTube and send the link to Jasiri. Like before, your submission will be reviewed. If you're successful, you'll receive an email with a link to the next step in the process.
Fourth Phase: Psychometric Test
If you've reached this point, you'll have noticed that the psychometric test is split into two sessions. This part of the process is designed to evaluate your personality, intelligence, and potential for success.
SESSION #1
- The first session includes the verbal reasoning assessment, a test that measures how well you understand and work with words and ideas. You will have a set amount of time to complete this test, which includes reading 5 short texts and answering questions about them. Remember, there's a time limit for answering each question.
- The second stage is the numerical reasoning assessment, where they check how good you are with numbers and analyzing data. It's a test against the clock that includes looking at 5 sets of visual data and then answering questions on them. Remember, there's a set time limit to respond to each question in this test as well.
SESSION #2
This session is an online assessment that lasts 3 hours. You'll need to join a Zoom meeting and complete one online test. It's important to know that this test will be watched by a supervisor, so you must keep your video turned on while you're doing the assessment.
NOTE: The Psychometric test can NOT be taken on mobile or smartphones. This is because the screen size and resolution on these devices aren't suitable for the format of these tests.
Final Phase: The Selection Conference
This phase is a 2 day online conference that will take place via Zoom over an allocated weekend. My schedule: Saturday from 8:00 AM to 12:00 PM EST, and Sunday from 9:30 AM to 2:00 PM EST. It’s imperative to attend both days of the conference.
To summarize
Below are important things to note
- Test your internet connection at www.speedtest.net before starting the assessments.
- Complete the assessments in a quiet space to avoid disturbances.
- Full concentration is needed. The verbal and numerical reasoning assessments are timed. Focus is key.
- Ensure you have enough uninterrupted time to finish all parts of the assessments.
- If you get disconnected, you can restart the assessment where you left off, without losing progress.
- Detailed instructions and guidelines are available online for all assessments.
- Answers are selected from dropdown lists or tick box options.
- Follow onscreen prompts and Carefully read and adhere to the instructions and guidelines shown on the assessment platform.
Going through the application for Jasiri was tough and took a lot of steps, but looking back, it was worth the wait. When I decided to apply, I was already running my own company, Loline Digital Solutions, so it felt like a big risk. But indeed, isn’t that what being an entrepreneur is all about? My entrepreneurial intentions spoke louder, so I took that risk, left it all behind, and pursued my Jasiri journey. As a result, Jasiri helped me sharpen my business skills and supported me in starting another venture, proving to me that stepping out of your comfort zone can lead to great success. And if it worked for me, it can work for you too.
