From 25 to 27 April, the city of Beira hosted the first edition of the Sustainable Entrepreneurship Festival (FES), an event that marked a new chapter in the promotion of Mozambican entrepreneurship with social and environmental impact. The emblematic Casa dos Bicos was the setting for this dynamic gathering, which combined training, innovation, culture and business under the inspiring motto: “Innovate, Inspire, Revolutionise”.
FES was conceived as a space for skills development, visibility and networking among entrepreneurs, with the aim of positioning Beira as a strategic hub of innovation in Mozambique. It involved some 700 participants and a broad network of partners, including Academia Boost, Intelog, IdeiaLab, AIESEC, XR Group, ACE Publicidade and the Beira Municipal Council.
Besides the fair and the cultural activities, the festival also included a series of themed workshops, which gave participants valuable opportunities for skills development. The topics covered included: “The Secret of Innovation”, “How to Keep Your Business Always Ahead”, “Healthy Eating for Entrepreneurs”, “Why Adopting Environmental Practices in Business Is Essential for the Future”, “Making the Most of What We Have” and “Technological Innovation”. These training sessions were essential in strengthening the practical impact of the event and raising the quality of local entrepreneurship.
Mozambican talent on display
The entrepreneurs' fair featured more than 50 exhibitors, who showed the public the best of what is being done in gastronomy, technology, fashion, costume jewellery and sustainable products. The atmosphere was one of celebration of local ingenuity, driven by concrete opportunities for growth and access to the market. One of the highlights was the “Innov Project Pitch”, a competition in which ten projects from Beira presented innovative ideas to a jury. Lumajo Multiagro won with a platform that connects cattle breeders to buyers, guaranteeing certification and quality. Prizes also went to Toque Mágico, a curtain maker; E-Design, with beaded handbags; Academia El Clássico, with music training for young people; and Ndzika, with its video game Shard, inspired by the city itself. Khodeza, a technology solutions company, also stood out among the finalists.
Culture and entrepreneurship hand in hand
The festival made a point of integrating art and cultural expression, reinforcing Mozambican identity and creativity. Cosmos Art and Herlander Art led an interactive collective painting, while the installation “30 Letters to a Stranger”, by the artist Lve.svnshine, invited introspection. The music brought liveliness and local identity, with performances by bands and choirs and the striking presence of KullaOnTheTrack, who presented the event's official anthem, “Inovação”. The Miss FES contest, in partnership with the TVZ agency, featured a special appearance by Tugilane Zacarias, Miss Beauty Mozambique 2019, symbolising female empowerment in the context of entrepreneurship.
A movement with a future
The impact of FES was also felt in the digital sphere, with more than 90,000 views on social media, extending the reach of the initiative and increasing the visibility of the projects presented. More than a festival, this was the birth of a sustainable, inclusive and transformative movement, which reaffirms Beira's potential as a hub of innovation. The organisers are already working on the second edition, planned for September 2025, with the ambition of growing in scale and depth. The Sustainable Entrepreneurship Festival showed that change begins at home, with national talent, collective creativity and a commitment to a fairer and more resilient future. Beira has set an example — and the whole of Mozambique has been inspired.
