In March 2025, 50 aspiring founders stepped away from business as usual and immersed themselves in the Food System Leadership (FSL) Bootcamp, an intensive learning experience hosted by Rootical Business Builder.
The Bootcamp was designed to equip participants with the mindset, tools, and community needed to build regenerative solutions for Uganda's food system. More than nine months later, we wanted to understand what happened after the classrooms emptied and participants returned to their work and communities.
Of the 50 participants, 34 completed a follow-up survey. Their responses reveal how the Bootcamp influenced careers, entrepreneurial journeys, leadership, and the practical application of regenerative approaches.
From Learners to Leaders: The Career Shift
One of Rootical's ambitions is to help participants discover where they can create the greatest impact within the food system. The results suggest many are doing exactly that.
Nearly half (47%) have either advanced within the agri-food sector or transitioned into it.
32% took on new roles within their existing agri-food organizations.
15% made the transition from other sectors into agri-food careers.
One example is Fahadi Musaazi, a researcher in agro-food systems specializing in organic soil amendments. Following the Bootcamp, he launched Clear Farm Solutions, a venture supplying vegetatively propagated crop seed.
Similarly, Naate Masangazira transformed an idea into action by operationalizing a soil fertilizer plant that had previously existed only as a concept.
Career growth extended beyond sector transitions. 68% of respondents reported receiving promotions or career advancements after participating in the Bootcamp, suggesting that regenerative leadership skills are increasingly valued within organizations.
For Chebet Diana, the journey led to the establishment of Viazi Trust ltd which is one ofthe buinesses currently in the studio, providing clean, traceable potato seed to farmers in Kapchorwa. Her work reflects what happens when technical knowledge is paired with entrepreneurial action turning ideas into practical solutions that strengthen local food systems.
These stories demonstrate that the Bootcamp is not simply building knowledge; it is helping participants move into positions where they can influence how food systems evolve.
A Community with Complementary Strengths
Participants were also asked to describe the role they naturally play within the community.
47% identified as Builders.
35% identified as Stewards.
18% identified as Sales profiles.
Rather than producing one type of entrepreneur, the cohort reflects a balanced ecosystem. Builders develop new ideas and ventures, Stewards safeguard long-term impact and responsible governance, while Sales profiles create the commercial pathways needed for regenerative businesses to grow sustainably.
🔍Turning Learning into Practice
The strongest measure of any leadership programme is whether participants apply what they learn.
Among the 34 respondents:
97% have implemented practices aligned with regenerative agriculture and agroecology.
85% have applied Food Systems Thinking.
79% have integrated Human-Centred Design into their work.
71% have applied regenerative agriculture approaches.
71% have adopted purpose-driven entrepreneurship principles.
These findings show that the Bootcamp has continued to influence decision-making long after the programme ended. Participants are redesigning projects, improving organizational practices, and building ventures through a regenerative lens.
Abiriga Martin, who works in sustainable natural resource management under the SUNReC Project in Uganda's West Nile sub-region, is among those translating these principles into practice by strengthening the capacities of both refugee and host communities.
The widespread application of Human-Centred Design is particularly encouraging. Rather than designing solutions based on assumptions, participants are engaging directly with farmers, consumers, and communities to develop interventions that respond to real needs.
One area requiring further attention is Steward Ownership, with only 24% reporting that they have applied its concepts. This highlights an opportunity to deepen future programming around regenerative governance and alternative ownership models.
📌The Lasting Value of Community
Leadership development does not end when training concludes.
An impressive 94% of respondents reported maintaining connections with fellow participants or facilitators.
These relationships have evolved into collaborations, partnerships, peer learning opportunities, and ongoing professional support. Instead of functioning as a one-time training programme, the Food System Leadership Bootcamp has fostered an active community of practice where founders continue learning from one another.
Entrepreneurship is often described as an isolated journey. These findings suggest a different model—one where community becomes an essential ingredient for long-term success.
📈Growth Beyond Technical Skills:
The survey also explored the personal changes that support effective leadership.
Participants reported:
76% gained new perspectives.
70% strengthened relationships and collaboration.
70% reinforced their personal values and beliefs.
68% increased their confidence.
65% improved self-awareness.
These shifts matter because regenerative leadership demands more than technical expertise. It requires confidence, resilience, empathy, and a strong sense of purpose. Participants are not only changing how they work; they are changing how they lead.
Finding Their Edge
One of the defining questions for the programme is whether participants leave with greater clarity about where they can contribute within the food system.
Every respondent answered positively.
65% said the Bootcamp strongly helped them find their edge.
35% said it helped to some extent.
Whether focusing on soil health, seed systems, agroecological production, food distribution, or community development, participants emerged with a clearer understanding of where they can create meaningful impact.
A Programme Worth Recommending
Participants were also asked whether they would recommend the Food System Leadership Bootcamp to others.
The results produced a Net Promoter Score (NPS) of 53%, with:
53% saying they were highly likely to recommend the programme.
35% saying they were likely to recommend it.
In professional education, an NPS above 30 is generally considered excellent. A score of 53 reflects a programme that participants believe delivers meaningful value and inspires them to encourage others to join.
Looking Ahead
More than nine months after the Bootcamp, the impact is visible across careers, businesses, communities, and relationships.
Participants are launching ventures, advancing professionally, applying regenerative practices, and building networks that continue to generate opportunities long after the formal training ends.
These results remind us that transforming food systems is not simply about transferring knowledge. It is about developing leaders who think differently, collaborate intentionally, and have the confidence to act.
To every founder who has carried these lessons into their work, thank you. Your commitment is shaping a more regenerative, resilient, and inclusive food system for Uganda.
The journey is only beginning, and together, we will continue growing the leaders our food systems need.
