ZBIF launches: where Zimbabwe's business problems meet local innovators
2026-10-22 09:36:50
The Zimbabwe Business Innovation Forum (ZBIF) has launched, with its new identity and its platform at zbif.co.zw.
## What ZBIF is
ZBIF connects Zimbabwean organisations that face real operational problems with the local innovators who can solve them. Companies, public bodies and investors bring the problems. Innovators, university teams, consultancies and freelancers build the answers. The organisation that posted the problem decides who to shortlist.
ZBIF runs all year as an online marketplace and comes together at forum week, 27 to 28 April 2027 in Bulawayo, where shortlisted teams pitch and deals are closed. The forum is organised with ZB Financial Holdings and partners across banking, telecoms and industry.
## How it works
1. Organisations post challenges: the real problem, where the work happens, the budget and what a strong solution looks like.
2. Innovators respond with their approach, their team and what a pilot would cost.
3. The challenge owner reviews every response and shortlists the strongest teams.
4. Matched parties meet in Deal Rooms to agree pilots, partnerships and investment.
5. Forum week brings everyone together in Bulawayo to pitch, meet and sign.
## What it means
For organisations, ZBIF is a direct line to local talent for the problems that cost them time and money today.
For innovators, it is a route from an idea to a paying pilot with a real customer.
For Zimbabwe, it keeps skills, jobs and value at home by solving local problems with local solutions.
## The identity
The ZBIF mark carries the forum's promise in three words: Innovate. Connect. Transform. The Z, I and F are drawn as flowing ribbons in a full spectrum of colour, for the many sectors, people and ideas that meet at the forum, anchored by a solid navy B. The same mark will appear across forum week, from delegate passes and lanyards to notebooks, bags and caps.
## Get involved
Organisations can post a challenge and innovators can register at zbif.co.zw. Browse the open challenges, follow the programme, and watch this newsroom for forum week updates.
## What ZBIF is
ZBIF connects Zimbabwean organisations that face real operational problems with the local innovators who can solve them. Companies, public bodies and investors bring the problems. Innovators, university teams, consultancies and freelancers build the answers. The organisation that posted the problem decides who to shortlist.
ZBIF runs all year as an online marketplace and comes together at forum week, 27 to 28 April 2027 in Bulawayo, where shortlisted teams pitch and deals are closed. The forum is organised with ZB Financial Holdings and partners across banking, telecoms and industry.
## How it works
1. Organisations post challenges: the real problem, where the work happens, the budget and what a strong solution looks like.
2. Innovators respond with their approach, their team and what a pilot would cost.
3. The challenge owner reviews every response and shortlists the strongest teams.
4. Matched parties meet in Deal Rooms to agree pilots, partnerships and investment.
5. Forum week brings everyone together in Bulawayo to pitch, meet and sign.
## What it means
For organisations, ZBIF is a direct line to local talent for the problems that cost them time and money today.
For innovators, it is a route from an idea to a paying pilot with a real customer.
For Zimbabwe, it keeps skills, jobs and value at home by solving local problems with local solutions.
## The identity
The ZBIF mark carries the forum's promise in three words: Innovate. Connect. Transform. The Z, I and F are drawn as flowing ribbons in a full spectrum of colour, for the many sectors, people and ideas that meet at the forum, anchored by a solid navy B. The same mark will appear across forum week, from delegate passes and lanyards to notebooks, bags and caps.
## Get involved
Organisations can post a challenge and innovators can register at zbif.co.zw. Browse the open challenges, follow the programme, and watch this newsroom for forum week updates.