Business Professionals Network (BPN) is your partner in the further development and expansion of your business.
We offer:
We equip you with sound business principles and challenge you to grow personally and professionally while successfully operating your company.
BPN is a Swiss international Non-profit organization that operates in 6 different countries spread over three continents. The main objective of BPN is to reduce unemployment by fostering entrepreneurship. The vision of BPN is therefore to create as many sustainable and dignifying jobs as possible, hence having an impact on the sustainable development of the business sector, and eventually the development of the country as a whole. BPN’s work focusses mainly on promoting Value Based Entrepreneurship, fostering values such as responsibility, commitment, honesty, reliability, diligence, transparency, integrity, and a responsible use of limited resources. Over the past 23 years, BPN has written a beautiful story. Entrepreneurs and whole economies have benefited from BPN’s presence.
BPN currently operates in Kyrgyzstan, Nicaragua, Rwanda, Uganda, Mongolia and Georgia with an entrepreneurship support program.
In 2008 and in 2010, two official BPN delegations visited Rwanda and gained a very positive picture of where Rwanda is heading to. BPN then decided to contribute to Rwanda’s ambitious vision and targets.
BPN strongly believes in the future of Rwanda and launched its program supporting SMEs in Rwanda in October 2011. The Goal of the BPN program is to annually select and support promising businesses, consequently enabling the creation of new jobs.
According to Rwanda’s Minister of Trade and Industry in 2016, BPN is recognized as the Business Development Programme (BDS) with the most tangible impact in Rwanda.
In 2020, this claim was repeated by the Minister of Trade and Industry.
“As I listen to testimonies of the different entrepreneurs that share the experience before and after going through BPN support we can see that we can really not take this business support and services offered by BPN for granted. This is something we really need as a country.“
The selection of entrepreneurs is what makes the real difference in the BPN program. A lot of effort is put in the selection process, as we believe that not everyone who does Business has the capacity, the ambition and the vision to grow a sustainable business.
The aim is to increase value addition by using local resources, and the people’s determination to contribute towards this development is clearly perceptible in Rwanda. Committed young people are looking for employment and they are willing to take entrepreneurial risks. A real Business culture and the means to undertake entrepreneurial action are often lacking which makes a systematic transfer of business knowledge a pertinent need.
As a native Rwandese who had been studying and working in Europe the past 25 years, Alice Nkulikiyinka intensely advocated for the foundation of BPN in Rwanda. After 15 years of working for renowned Swiss International companies in Europe, in the US and in Asia, she decided to move back to her home country, Rwanda, together with her family. In April 2011, Alice Nkulikiyinka was hired as the BPN Country Director and has held the position since.
BPN supports companies and their employees to develop and strengthen their products and services and take up a sustainable leading position on the market.
The BPN success model is built on the 3 pillars:
We act fairly, attentively and transparently. This forms the basis for a trusting and successful collaboration.
BPN supports entrepreneurs regardless of their culture and religion. We are politically and religiously neutral.
We listen, question, inspire, educate and think along with you. This is how we help entrepreneurs move forward.
We act with foresight, build on relationships and strive for success together.
We encourage people to leave their comfort zone, look at problems from a different perspective and try out new things. This is how we learn and constantly improve.
Our vision is to contribute to a Value-Based Business Culture and to promote sound entrepreneurship. This benefits entrepreneurs, employees, families, society, and entire countries.
We unleash the potential of existing Small and Medium-sized businesses in Rwanda by equipping them with business principles and providing assistance to enable them to professionally lead, manage and grow their company sustainably
Business Professionals Network (BPN) supports long-term prospects and entrepreneurship in developing countries, thus enabling entrepreneurs, business partners, employees, their families, and, exponentially, the entire country to benefit from this development.
BPN supports the growth of small and mid-sized businesses in developing countries by offering business know-how, coaching and loans under fair terms with the goal of creating as many sustainable jobs as possible. We intend to unharness the potential of skilled labourers and small businesses and support their growth and do this by equipping them with the skills they need to successfully develop and run a business of their own thus creating jobs in their own country which give both the entrepreneurs and their families an opportunity for a better future as well as a lasting benefit for the entire country.
Our contribution should be both meaningful and effective, the allegorical motto being
“Give a man a fish and you feed him for a day, teach him to fish and you feed his family for a lifetime. Support him as he builds his own fishery and you also feed his employees and their families.“
BPN strives for both qualitative as well as quantitative growth with low financial risk in developing countries. Our long-term goal is for the countries we work with to become increasingly independent and to provide them with a financial pool and bank of resources that they can eventually manage on their own.
Since the beginning of the program
Who am I?
How do I motivate others?
How do I know which employees are worth involving?
Those who know themselves and their employees well are better able to explain their own or their employees’ behavior and set the right expectations for themselves and others.
Therefore, a personality profile is an important tool, both in personnel management and customer relations, as well as in personal relationships with friends, partners, family members, etc. We will use a personality profile wherever we have to interact with people.
At BPN, we believe that dynamic entrepreneurs have the potential to build sustainable businesses. What they need is a reliable and trusted partner to help unlock that potential. BPN’s professional business coaches walk alongside entrepreneurs as trusted thought partners throughout their growth journey.
During the entire duration of the program, BPN offers the entrepreneur assistance. This helps building mutual trust between BPN and the entrepreneur and is key to a successful collaboration. This coaching begins with the recognition of the entrepreneur’s potential. Individual coaching serves at identifying specific business challenges and opportunities. Our coaches help the entrepreneur find the right way to go when faced with challenges and they encourage the entrepreneurs to work professionally and honestly.
Thanks to regular coaching sessions, critical situations can be recognized at an early stage and thereby be avoided. Subjects such as HR management, personal development of the entrepreneur, corruption, sound relations with authorities, etc. are dealt with during coaching sessions. More importantly, during coaching sessions, we explore the growth potential of the business, and the entrepreneur is challenged to aim as high as realistically possible.
.
"BPN’s training enabled me to grasp the global view of my own business, and it taught me how to take my business into my own hands"
.
“Eight months into the program, I started seeing results. I went from 3 employees to 21. Without BPN, I don’t think anyone would know who I am. BPN taught me professionalism and how to operate a business. But most importantly, they taught us that inclusion should be intentional.”
.
BPN came into my life at exactly the right time. I was overwhelmed, facing both personal and professional challenges, and on the verge of giving up. The support I received through the program helped me formalize my business, build a proper structure, and implement better systems. I also learned how to become a stronger leader within my company. Without BPN, I honestly believe I would have closed my business. Today, our operations are more organized, and our revenues have doubled.
.
"One of the most important lessons I learned from BPN is to look at problems and to know that there are opportunities hidden in them. There was a time when my carpentry was flooded with rain water. I looked at the mess and said: 'this is going to be our showroom'. And it became our showroom!"
.
“BPN has helped me grow, not just as an entrepreneur, but as a person. I’m more organized, more focused, and I’ve seen a positive shift in my relationships with family and friends. The program gave me the tools to improve my business, but also the mindset to live and lead better.”
.
BPN really came in at a key moment in the growth of this business, and we just needed that guidance for us to get to the next stage. BPN has a way of asking you crucial questions to dig deeper into your business that I have never experienced before. This allowed me to really make decisions that are justified and not just based on feelings, decisions that make sense to the growth of the business.
Following rigorous selection, the program participants are trained over two years in the basic principles of business administration and are accompanied by our technical specialists throughout their development. BPN offers various training, each 2-5 days long.
BPN participants are trained over a period of two years in the basic principles of business Management. BPN offers various training modules: 4 seminars on the business fundamentals, each 4-5 days long. Topics such as ‘The Concept of Entrepreneurship, Finance Management, Marketing and Leadership’ are dealt with in a comprehensive hands-on manner, building on the day-to-day life of an Entrepreneur in Rwanda. Additionally, BPN offers optional training modules adapted to the local context, and identified needs, such as Time Management, Conflict Management, Rwanda Labour law, Banking for SMEs, to name a few, with the aim of increasing the level of professionalism.
BPN trainers are exclusively Experts in their specific training fields. Since the seminars are mainly focused on the practical aspects, the application of the acquired principles is easy, and chances of success seem promising. The BPN Business Academy is open to the public. These trainings, attended by a rich mixture of BPN entrepreneurs and other attendants including public and financial institutions, also allow for peer-to-peer learning and networking, thus creating beneficial spillover effects.
.
"When I left my first BPN training, I felt more like a leader. I gained a clear view on how my business should look like and how it should be run. My husband noticed and told me, ‘you are a different person’."
.
"I used to believe that the only thing I needed to sustain my business is access to finance. Now, thanks to BPN seminars and coaching, I know that I have to make that money instead. BPN, you strengthened my motivation and determination."
.
"BPN trainings are the most impactful I have ever attended in my business journey. They are full of valuable content, and are very inspiring. They always push me to work harder and to serve better."
.
"As a medical doctor, I fully master the human body. BPN’s training as an add-on teaches me the core of professional entrepreneurship. Furthermore, it has helped me to understand the importance of financial management in an enterprise."
.
"BPN's seminars helped me to look at my business challenges differently and find opportunities in them. This for me, is a radical change."
The BPN Business Owners’ association (BOA) connects well performing Alumni Businesses with common interests with the objective of boosting the constructive development of entrepreneurship in Rwanda. With this purpose, it represents the interests of the BPN alumni in public and in their relations with the government. It is a platform that opens doors for a Bottom-up dialog with the government.
Entrepreneurs benefit from continuous support and learning opportunities even after completing the official program. By fostering a community of like-minded peers, we cultivate a strong network that encourages mutual growth and lasting collaboration.
Only BPN Program Alumni can join the BPN Business Owners’ Association
See initiatives pioneered by the Business Owners Association :
The Magnet Institute was established by members of BPN’s Business Owners Association with a clear vision: to become a center of excellence in addressing succession challenges and managerial training needs for entrepreneurs across Africa.
Drawing from their own experience as successful business leaders, the founders identified critical gaps in managerial competencies that directly hinder business development and growth in Rwanda. A lack of ownership and autonomy among middle managers often creates bottlenecks in decision-making, preventing business owners from dedicating their time and energy to strategic planning and expansion. This, in turn, slows the overall progress of their enterprises.
In response, The Magnet Institute was created to bridge these gaps – both in competencies and mindset – by equipping middle managers with the essential knowledge, skills, and behaviors to lead effectively. The goal is to nurture vision-driven managers who operate with a strong sense of ownership and are empowered to run the business as if it were their own.
.
“As a member of the Business Owners Association (BOA), I’ve come to deeply appreciate the shared commitment to excellence that defines our community. BOA emphasizes the importance of delivering high-quality products and services that can compete on a global scale. This drive for quality isn't just about individual success, it's about raising the bar for entrepreneurship in Rwanda and across Africa. Striving for excellence is more than a personal ambition; it’s our collective responsibility to grow businesses that are sustainable, competitive, and impactful.”
.
"BPN helps me identify the root of the problems I faced and I learned how to solve them in a creative way. It is a key stepping stone to making my business professional."
.
"It is important for me to be part of the generation that creates employment and gives people jobs, so that they can take care of their families. I pay taxes. I am part of the economy. I feel very proud."
Who am I?
How do I motivate others?
How do I know which employees are worth involving?
Those who know themselves and their employees well are better able to explain their own or their employees’ behavior and set the right expectations for themselves and others.
Therefore, a personality profile is an important tool, both in personnel management and customer relations, as well as in personal relationships with friends, partners, family members, etc. We will use a personality profile wherever we have to interact with people.
At BPN, we believe that dynamic entrepreneurs have the potential to build sustainable businesses. What they need is a reliable and trusted partner to help unlock that potential. BPN’s professional business coaches walk alongside entrepreneurs as trusted thought partners throughout their growth journey.
During the entire duration of the program, BPN offers the entrepreneur assistance. This helps building mutual trust between BPN and the entrepreneur and is key to a successful collaboration. This coaching begins with the recognition of the entrepreneur’s potential. Individual coaching serves at identifying specific business challenges and opportunities. Our coaches help the entrepreneur find the right way to go when faced with challenges and they encourage the entrepreneurs to work professionally and honestly.
Thanks to regular coaching sessions, critical situations can be recognized at an early stage and thereby be avoided. Subjects such as HR management, personal development of the entrepreneur, corruption, sound relations with authorities, etc. are dealt with during coaching sessions. More importantly, during coaching sessions, we explore the growth potential of the business, and the entrepreneur is challenged to aim as high as realistically possible.
.
BPN really came in at a key moment in the growth of this business, and we just needed that guidance for us to get to the next stage. BPN has a way of asking you crucial questions to dig deeper into your business that I have never experienced before. This allowed me to really make decisions that are justified and not just based on feelings, decisions that make sense to the growth of the business.
.
BPN came into my life at exactly the right time. I was overwhelmed, facing both personal and professional challenges, and on the verge of giving up. The support I received through the program helped me formalize my business, build a proper structure, and implement better systems. I also learned how to become a stronger leader within my company. Without BPN, I honestly believe I would have closed my business. Today, our operations are more organized, and our revenues have doubled.
.
“Eight months into the program, I started seeing results. I went from 3 employees to 21. Without BPN, I don’t think anyone would know who I am. BPN taught me professionalism and how to operate a business. But most importantly, they taught us that inclusion should be intentional.”
.
"One of the most important lessons I learned from BPN is to look at problems and to know that there are opportunities hidden in them. There was a time when my carpentry was flooded with rain water. I looked at the mess and said: 'this is going to be our showroom'. And it became our showroom!"
.
"BPN’s training enabled me to grasp the global view of my own business, and it taught me how to take my business into my own hands"
.
“BPN has helped me grow, not just as an entrepreneur, but as a person. I’m more organized, more focused, and I’ve seen a positive shift in my relationships with family and friends. The program gave me the tools to improve my business, but also the mindset to live and lead better.”
Following rigorous selection, the program participants are trained over two years in the basic principles of business administration and are accompanied by our technical specialists throughout their development. BPN offers various training, each 2-5 days long.
BPN participants are trained over a period of two years in the basic principles of business Management. BPN offers various training modules: 4 seminars on the business fundamentals, each 4-5 days long. Topics such as ‘The Concept of Entrepreneurship, Finance Management, Marketing and Leadership’ are dealt with in a comprehensive hands-on manner, building on the day-to-day life of an Entrepreneur in Rwanda. Additionally, BPN offers optional training modules adapted to the local context, and identified needs, such as Time Management, Conflict Management, Rwanda Labour law, Banking for SMEs, to name a few, with the aim of increasing the level of professionalism.
BPN trainers are exclusively Experts in their specific training fields. Since the seminars are mainly focused on the practical aspects, the application of the acquired principles is easy, and chances of success seem promising. The BPN Business Academy is open to the public. These trainings, attended by a rich mixture of BPN entrepreneurs and other attendants including public and financial institutions, also allow for peer-to-peer learning and networking, thus creating beneficial spillover effects.
.
"When I left my first BPN training, I felt more like a leader. I gained a clear view on how my business should look like and how it should be run. My husband noticed and told me, ‘you are a different person’."
.
"I used to believe that the only thing I needed to sustain my business is access to finance. Now, thanks to BPN seminars and coaching, I know that I have to make that money instead. BPN, you strengthened my motivation and determination."
.
"BPN trainings are the most impactful I have ever attended in my business journey. They are full of valuable content, and are very inspiring. They always push me to work harder and to serve better."
.
"As a medical doctor, I fully master the human body. BPN’s training as an add-on teaches me the core of professional entrepreneurship. Furthermore, it has helped me to understand the importance of financial management in an enterprise."
.
"BPN's seminars helped me to look at my business challenges differently and find opportunities in them. This for me, is a radical change."
The BPN Business Owners’ association (BOA) connects well performing Alumni Businesses with common interests with the objective of boosting the constructive development of entrepreneurship in Rwanda. With this purpose, it represents the interests of the BPN alumni in public and in their relations with the government. It is a platform that opens doors for a Bottom-up dialog with the government.
Entrepreneurs benefit from continuous support and learning opportunities even after completing the official program. By fostering a community of like-minded peers, we cultivate a strong network that encourages mutual growth and lasting collaboration.
Only BPN Program Alumni can join the BPN Business Owners’ Association
See initiatives pioneered by the Business Owners Association :
The Magnet Institute was established by members of BPN’s Business Owners Association with a clear vision: to become a center of excellence in addressing succession challenges and managerial training needs for entrepreneurs across Africa.
Drawing from their own experience as successful business leaders, the founders identified critical gaps in managerial competencies that directly hinder business development and growth in Rwanda. A lack of ownership and autonomy among middle managers often creates bottlenecks in decision-making, preventing business owners from dedicating their time and energy to strategic planning and expansion. This, in turn, slows the overall progress of their enterprises.
In response, The Magnet Institute was created to bridge these gaps – both in competencies and mindset – by equipping middle managers with the essential knowledge, skills, and behaviors to lead effectively. The goal is to nurture vision-driven managers who operate with a strong sense of ownership and are empowered to run the business as if it were their own.
.
“As a member of the Business Owners Association (BOA), I’ve come to deeply appreciate the shared commitment to excellence that defines our community. BOA emphasizes the importance of delivering high-quality products and services that can compete on a global scale. This drive for quality isn't just about individual success, it's about raising the bar for entrepreneurship in Rwanda and across Africa. Striving for excellence is more than a personal ambition; it’s our collective responsibility to grow businesses that are sustainable, competitive, and impactful.”
.
"It is important for me to be part of the generation that creates employment and gives people jobs, so that they can take care of their families. I pay taxes. I am part of the economy. I feel very proud."
.
"BPN helps me identify the root of the problems I faced and I learned how to solve them in a creative way. It is a key stepping stone to making my business professional."
