Programs

The campus is being renovated. The community launches first, and every program below feeds the Studio.

Illustration of a calendar marked Thursday inside a circular arrow, with a microphone, a question bubble, and a seedling
Illustration of a live video session on a laptop, with a microphone and a question bubble

Before the campus opens

Ask the Expert

Global scientists, circular economy operators, and investors answer questions from Kano, live.

Format
Live and virtual
Frequency
Every two months, then monthly from Year 1
Open to
Founders, students, and practitioners

Each session puts a named global expert in front of the people building Kano’s circular economy. Recordings become a podcast and a video series, and every speaker becomes a warm relationship for the Studio.

What you get

  • Direct questions to people who have built what Kano needs
  • Recordings to revisit after every session
  • Introductions that can grow into mentoring
Register for Ask the Expert
Illustration of a trophy between bar charts and a laptop showing code

Before the campus opens

Kano Waste Data Challenge

Teams analyze open and partial waste data from Kano and turn what they find into venture ideas.

Format
Virtual hackathon
Prize
A fast track into the first studio cohort
Open to
Students, data scientists, and founders

The challenge is the Studio’s first scouting round. It finds the people who can read a waste system through its data, and the ideas worth building on campus.

What you get

  • Open and partial waste data from Kano to work with
  • A real problem to build a venture around
  • Fast track places in Studio Cohort 1 for the winners
Register for the Data Challenge
Illustration of a medal marked 100 above a wall of member portraits

Before the campus opens

Founding 100 Circle

One hundred founders, students, diaspora professionals, and local philanthropists who commit before the campus opens.

Format
Founding membership
Places
One hundred
After opening
Converts to campus membership

Founding members create the community before the building. Their membership donations support early programs through the Zero Bola Foundation, and the circle continues as a standing advisory group once the campus opens.

What you get

  • Founding membership rates
  • Priority access to the laboratory and events
  • Recognition on the campus Founders Wall
  • An annual Founding 100 dinner at the Zero Waste Summit
Join the Founding 100
Illustration of three students under a graduation cap and a speech bubble

Before the campus opens

University Ambassador Program

Student ambassadors run Zero Bola chapters on campus and start the talent pipeline before the doors open.

Format
Campus chapters
Universities
Bayero University Kano, Northwest University, and KUST Wudil
Open to
Students

Ambassadors run campus chapters and help recruit classmates into programs such as the Founding 100, building the talent pipeline the Studio will draw on.

What you get

  • Lead a Zero Bola chapter on your campus
  • Help recruit classmates into programs such as the Founding 100
  • Join the talent pipeline the Studio draws on
Become an ambassador

Venture building

Studio programs

The Catalyst turns Atlas data, university research, and corporate problems into Innovation Driven Enterprises.

Community

Community programs

The Exchange creates the weekly rhythm that turns a building into an ecosystem.

Like to work with us?

Founders, researchers, and operators: tell us what you are building.

Interested in a potential partnership?

Corporates, funders, and institutions: let’s scope it together.

Connect