The recent student winners of African Innovation Prize for outstanding business plan projects are facing a sobering reality in the aftermath of their celebrations. While eager to see their projects implemented, they express concerns over limited access to.

African Innovation Prize, or AIP, is a UK-based non-profit founded in 2010 to spur students' innovation and entrepreneurship in Africa through university-based business planning competitions. AIP now runs competitions and trainings in three universities in Rwanda and one in Sierra -Leone. Students from select universities enter the competition, and the team with the best business plan is awarded two million Rwf to launch their plan.

However, AIP officials recognize that this amount is not enough to run a business. Herve Kubwimana, the AIP country director, said that the amount of money which is given to winners is only set to help them register as the company and help them get some basic needs for their projects.

The 2013 winners are students whose small business projects can uplift youth welfare and have the potential to grow.

One of the winners is Dieudonne Dusengumukiza, a third year student from the School of Finance and Banking (SFB) who won the price for his business project to produce avocado oil.

This project was chosen because it may be the first of its kind in the country and avocado trees can be grown almost countrywide, so resources can be found easily. This project can also help farmers who struggle to find markets for their avocadoes.

With this project, Dusengumukiza won Frw 2 million. However, his project is estimated to cost Frw 12 million. While he determined to have this project run, he faces funding challenges.

To get a loan from the bank, a client must present collateral whose value exceeds the amount of money he is requesting a loan for. Dusengumukiza does not have collateral valued more than Frw 12 million.

"I would go to the bank and ask for loan, but how can I get loan if I do not have collateral? Being a student, how I can get collateral of more than 12 million? It is impossible" Dusengumukiza lamented. Dusengumukiza has already registered his business company in Rwanda Development Board: "DD Oil Company Ltd".

However, Dusengumukiza is far from giving up the struggle to start his business. As he is ready to start his final year, he is conducting an internship with Inkomoko, a firm focused on developing small to mid-sized enterprises and creating new companies that will growing them into effective business.

Inkomoko provides services for businesses including consulting, business plan advice, and budget and financing assistance. Inkomoko, he says, will help develop his skills in project development and hopefully get financing.

AIP also provides some services to monitor winners' progress and help them move forward, after they have awarded them the prize money. "These are small proposals that we found may make good business projects. We provide business experts to these winners so that they can work together to shape the project and be competitive", Kubwimana, explained.

Apart from assisting with their projects, AIP advocates for winners so that they can receive loans after the projects have been well designed. They also provide mentors during the running of the project.

For a long time, getting a loan has been a challenge to small business owners, but with the work of firms like Inkomoko and others, like the newly established Business Development Fund, things are becoming easier.