Moroke Sekoboto
FIFTY youths are currently undergoing training on business plan development and pitching skills after they were shortlisted for the 2025 Bacha Entrepreneurship Project (BEP).
This project is a collaborative effort between the Revenue Services Lesotho (RSL), the Basotho Enterprises Development Corporation (BEDCO) and Standard Lesotho Bank intended to empower youth-led businesses.
BEP is a transformative initiative aimed at empowering young Basotho entrepreneurs to unleash their potential and drive economic growth in Lesotho.
Established to combat youth unemployment and foster a culture of entrepreneurship, BEP has, since its inception in 2014, successfully funded and developed 28 businesses across various sectors, creating over 100 jobs and capacitating 188 aspiring entrepreneurs with essential skills.
Speaking at the opening of the training at BEDCO premises this week, BEDCO Executive Head of Enterprises Development, Lepheane Lesoli, said the incubation programme is designed to equip participants with the skills needed to refine their business proposals and pitching, ahead of the final selection of the top 15 candidates.
Mr Lesoli explained that after the training, the 50 candidates will resubmit their improved proposals, which will go through a series of processes including adjudication, pitching, a psychometric test, due diligence, and the final selection of the top five winners.
“You are going to be equipped with skills on business models and everything that has to do with entrepreneurship. That’s not to say that others were not worthwhile. You can further enhance your business plan so that it makes more sense, becomes clearer, and is enhanced—not only to be better than before, but also to give you a chance to access other avenues of funding from commercial banks,” Mr Lesoli said.
“Not everyone present here today will win, but what you’re going to gain will allow you to carry on with your business, either getting funding from local banks or other investors locally or globally. We completed the evaluation stage of over 250 candidates, and we are now left with 50 individuals, who are now at the training stage for the next two weeks.”
Mr Lesoli also highlighted BEP’s impact on Basotho youth.
“Since its inception in 2014, the project has invested over M10 million, supported 33 youth-led businesses, and created 184 employment opportunities—a testament to the power of entrepreneurship in driving sustainable development and economic growth.”
One of the participants, Rethabile Pitso, said the training will help them identify gaps in their knowledge and provide opportunities for networking and potential future collaborations.
