Patrick Rukundo, past Analyst at Founders Advisors, recently returned to Rwanda to help Bridge2Rwanda (B2R) start new businesses and foster entrepreneurship among other young Rwandans who are graduating from United States and European universities and returning home.  Patrick always knew he wanted to return to Rwanda, his home, and where he says is the one place where the truly feels a sense of belonging. He believes his purpose in life is to be a leader, and he is in a unique position to help the people of Rwanda. Patrick is currently working for B2R to establish a system to help launch businesses and assist other scholars in bringing their business ideas to life. Whether it’s registering the business, conducting research, helping write a business plan, financial projections, or to help them raise funds for their venture. He wants to help other scholars come back to Rwanda and bring their ideas to life.

Hear from Patrick on why he returned home to Rwanda.

B2R is a multifaceted organization traversing education, finance, and entrepreneurship while fostering relationships in Rwanda and abroad. The organization includes a dense interconnected network of relationships comprising individuals, churches, schools, businesses, nonprofits, and colleges all working together for the betterment of Rwanda.

The program’s most successful initiative has been taking the best and brightest Rwandan high school students and providing them the opportunity to get full scholarships from United States and European universities. These students enter this program vowing to return to Rwanda after their studies to launch their careers and play a meaningful role in the growth and positive transformation of their country.

As part of the second B2R class, Patrick Rukundo received a full scholarship to the University of West Virginia and graduated with a degree in chemical engineering. In 2017 Founders began mentoring Patrick in a one-year analyst program. Founders provided Patrick with a better understanding of how to start and run a successful business by giving him practical experience with market analysis, financial analysis, valuation analysis, and operations.

The relationship between Founders and B2R has grown over the years, with Founders first providing monetary support and organizing trips to expose American business people to the work of B2R and the country of Rwanda. Founders, now more familiar with both the mission and success of B2R, continues to increase support. Founders Managing Partner, Duane Donner, joined the Bridge2Rwanda Board of Directors, and Dale Dawson, former Head of Investment Banking for Stephens, Inc., serves on Founder’s Board of Advisors.

“We have continued to be impressed by the work B2R is doing in Rwanda,” says Duane Donner, Founders’ Managing Partner. “It was an honor to be able to train and mentor Patrick to help him be successful in his endeavors in Rwanda.”

If you are interested learning more about B2R and traveling to Rwanda to see first-hand the impact of creating good paying jobs for Rwandan families with well thought out and sustainable business start-ups, please reach out to Duane Donner for more information.