Designed for fragile and underserved contexts, the program equips aspiring and early-stage entrepreneurs with practical business skills, resilience, and locally relevant tools to build sustainable livelihoods. At its core, Gemini Uplift positions entrepreneurship as a pathway to economic empowerment and peacebuilding, recognizing the role of youth-led enterprises in driving stability and long-term development.

The program was implemented between August 18–25, 2026, across three cities in South Sudan—Yambio, Torit, and Juba. Following a competitive application process, 55 young entrepreneurs were selected from 77 applicants to participate in three intensive, full-day bootcamps. Female participation exceeded 50%, reflecting a strong commitment to inclusive access to economic opportunity for women and youth.

Building on the in-person phase, participants advance to a six-session virtual bootcamp designed to deepen their entrepreneurial and practical business skills. The bootcamp covers entrepreneurship for social impact, budgeting and basic financial planning, offline and word-of-mouth marketing strategies, customer segmentation and adaptation to local markets, as well as pitching skills and storytelling. The journey concludes with structured final pitch rehearsals, where participants receive detailed feedback to refine their presentations.

The program culminates in a Final Pitching Event, during which selected entrepreneurs are awarded financial grants and receive tailored business development services to support the launch or growth of their ventures.