Wimbart launches PR Office Hours for African tech startups

The PR Office Hours, AKA Wimbart Office Hours, is a mentorship programme designed to equip African startups with the PR tools they need to achieve their business goals. It's targeted at early-stage startups and companies building tech solutions for Africans on the continent or in the Diaspora.

Applications for the first edition of Wimbart Office Hours are now open. And the Wimbart team will be selecting 20 startups to participate in the maiden edition of the programme.

Eligible startups must be less than two years old, have a minimum viable product, and should have secured investment at no later than a seed-level stage.

Application closes at 12 PM (UTC) on April 3, 2020. Successful applicants will be notified on April 14, 2020. Apply here.

"The first edition of Wimbart Office Hours is an opportunity for us to work directly with some early-stage startups, helping them to unpack and master how communication and media strategy should be a key part of their growth strategy," said Jessica Hope, Founder and Managing Director of Wimbart.

Founded in 2014, Wimbart is a boutique PR firm serving tech companies in Africa and other emerging markets. Its portfolio of clients include Andela, IROKOtv, Kobo360, and 54gene. It is also important to note that Wimbart is also leading effort for the #StopRobbingUs campaign.

With the launch of the PR Office Hours, Wimbart hopes to enable African tech startups have a broader understanding of how PR and communication should be an integral part of their growth strategy, and help them realize their vision as they scale.

What to expect at the first edition of Wimbart Office Hours

Successful applicants will:

• Have an in-depth PR webinar + question and answer session with Jessica Hope;
• Have two dedicated sessions of one-on-one deep dive into their communication challenges;
• Develop a PR and comms strategy that would help them attract customers, investment and talent.

Strategic, tailored PR is critical for startups when it comes to fundraising, attracting customers and talent, as well as distinguishing theirself in the marketplace. Every company will have these objectives at some point, so these aren’t just tools to help you move—these are resources that will always be relevant and we hope to equip our cohort with the skills and ideas they need to get started.

Jessica said: "The team and I probably speak to over 100 African companies and startup founders each year. Many of them are unaware of why communication should be on their radar from day one, and unclear on how they can go about developing and executing a PR strategy that supports their business."