Assessing the impact of startup bootcamps on entrepreneurial skills development: Insights from student participants

Abstract

The study aimed at assessing the impact of bootcamps on self-reported entrepreneurial skills development among selected undergraduate students at Africa Nazarene university, Kenya. The students had participated in three different bootcamps facilitated by diverse teams from Handong Global university, Korea. The study adopted an action research approach, where a semi-structured survey was administered to 71 students, with 14 responses analysed using descriptive statistics and thematic analysis. Findings indicated a high satisfaction (92.9%), with students acquiring critical skills such as pitching, prototyping, and business planning (85%). However, challenges such as time constraints, technical difficulties, and lack of mentorship were noted as a hinderance to project continuity. The participants emphasized the need for financial support (35.7%), networking (28.6%), and mentorship (21.4%) as essential in sustaining their projects post-camp. Peer-led ESG camp was noted for its interactivity, while the professor-led camps were valued for structural support. The study contributes to theory building and decision-making process on the importance of innovation camps in fostering entrepreneurial mindsets. It informs future role of institutional mechanisms such as incubation hubs, extended mentorship, and funding; to enhance startups sustainability. Recommendations include integrating the camps program into the university curriculum and fostering partnerships to bolster the startup ecosystem. Limitations included a small sample size and unassessed entrepreneurial intentions amongst the students.