South Africa
Propella
Propella is one of the first business hubs in South Africa to be fully geared for Business 4.0. Exciting new IT and advanced manufacturing businesses share the same building to encourage cooperation between innovators in both sectors. <p></p> Support for the development of technologies for Smart Cities come through a partnership between Engeli Enterprise Development (EDD), a private sector business support company and Innovolve, the wholly owned commercialization company of Nelson Mandela University (NMU). <p></p> Propella helps commercialize the research and development being conducted at the NMU, as well as other technology entrepreneurs who either approach Propella for support or who are identified by Propella. <p></p> Prospective incubatees go through a rigorous selection process to qualify for access to the Propella and its support services. <p></p> Once they are selected Propella facilitators assist with mentoring and the evaluation of business concepts. <p></p> Our Vision <br> To be the "Go To", High-Tech Incubator and Accelerator for innovators and ventures delivering Smart City Solutions and Industry 4.0 Technologies. <p></p>Our mission <br> To provide a significant entrepreneurial experience and presence in Nelson Mandela Bay where innovation and technology convergence is facilitated to create sustainable and profitable ventures, through exceptional management, leadership & infrastructure in specific sectors. <p></p>Our goal <br> To be the first choice for the commercialization of smart products and services in our targeted sectors. <p></p>Values <br> Innovation.Success.Fun <p></p> 1. Pre-incubation support (Restricted to ICT) <br> <mark>All successful businesses and innovations start with an idea. Propella helps to ignite the ideas to become actions through its pre-incubation support for innovators who have a concept with potential, but need guidance on the first steps to commercialisation.</mark> <p></p> Propella doors are open to inventors or entrepreneurs who are in that all-important and delicate concept stage – the one where there is an idea but no plan. <p></p> Propella's doors are open to inventors or entrepreneurs who are in that all-important and delicate concept stage – the one where there is an idea but no plan. <br>- Desktop feasibility study of the proposed business idea <br>- Market assessment, feasibility planning and business planning <br> - Entrepreneurial assessment and feedback session <br>- Counselling and pre-incubation business advice <br>- Specific business start-up training to support the fledgling enterprise <br>- Coaching to guide them through proof of concept and business model canvas Entrepreneurs will be ready for selection for the next phase if they have: <br> - Completed the business model canvas <p></p> 2. Incubation Services <br> <mark>Propella measures its success by the number of companies which have been commercialized – in other words, they have left the building as sustainable businesses with both a product and a market. </mark> Of course, when pioneering new products, processes and businesses, not all incubatees make it to market. That failure is analyzed to ensure that the lessons learned contribute to the success of another new venture. By the way, we also celebrate failure, since it’s part of a successful journey. Look out for our FUN2FAIL events. <p></p> Propella provides four types of support: <br> - Technology and/or technology platform development - prototyping testing and preparation for scale <br> - Business Support – Guidance to establish and run a business <br> - Customer – Customer insights and access to markets within the growing Propella network <br> - Entrepreneur - Working on growing entrepreneurial ability in order to grow the business. <p></p> Business toolbox <br> Engeli Enterprise Development, which manages Propella, has developed a range of entrepreneurial, business and technology tools for the various facets of the incubation/acceleration stages. These have been customized for Propella. <p></p> Entrepreneurs accepted by Propella sign a development contract based on an assessment of the company using the diagnostic tools. The contract includes development milestones and commitments from the entrepreneur, as well as the anticipated date on which the enterprise will move into its own premises – making space for the next potentially disruptive new business. <p></p> 3. Acceleration <br> <mark>Once they have successfully proved they have a viable business concept during the incubation programme Propella is able to provide support to the owners and managers of companies ready to growth their business to the next level.</mark> <p></p> The main offerings include: <br> a. Funding <br> Few financial institutions and venture capitalists in South Africa provide funding for new technology or early stage venture capital, as they are seen as high risk. <p></p> Successful Propella incubatees who have established the potential to develop a successful and sustainable business are assisted in applying to various funders. <p></p> Partnerships with other venture capital funds (Engeli Section 12J VCC and others) and financial institutions are among the options for start-up debt and equity funding. <p></p> Some start-ups may also qualify for BBBEE enterprise development funding grants or loans. <p></p> Propella also facilitates the creation of partnerships (like JV’s) with established companies. <p></p> b. Extended tenure <br> Space permitting, Propella may offer companies ready for commercialization the opportunity to continue making use of the Propella facilities and support structure.
South African Chemical Technology Incubator
The South African Chemical Technology Incubator is a not-for-profit business incubator, under the Small Enterprise Development Agency’s incubation program. <p></p> We are <mark>dedicated to supporting the growth of very early stage technology-based businesses in the South African Chemical sector.</mark> Chemin provides clients with an exceptional entrepreneurial business environment that promotes collaboration, innovation and encourages ingenuity as well the creation of wealth. <p></p> Chemin’s incubation program has assisted many entrepreneurs with developing ideas to profitable businesses. <mark>Our program provides an array of resources and services such as lab space, testing facilities, manufacturing equipment, office space, access to seed finance and collaboration with universities, industrial experts, financing agencies and other government departments.</mark>
WomHub
WomHub is a boutique incubator and advisory firm supporting innovation along the STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Manufacturing) value chain, proving a holistic offering of business services tailored for female founders. The Incubator and Accelerator supports STEM innovation through providing both hackathons, venture building, virtual and in-person incubator and accelerator support. WomHub’s expertise is with female led innovation and working with female founders, however, it has run equally successful gender agnostic programmes as well. WomHub’s fit-for-purpose Hub in Johannesburg and Cape Town supports female led innovators and provides business support, eventing and co-working space. <p></p> <mark>Looking to accelerate your business and get investment ready? WomHub's Incubator & Accelerator programmes draws on our unique scale-up toolkit from business diagnostics, to venture clinics & investor readiness consulting to support your business. We also focus on the leadership capabilities of the founder to support your holistic growth</mark>
Launch Lab
We are transforming Africa's biggest challenges into its greatest opportunities by serving as a confident, commercial co-builder for world-shaping startups. <p></p> What we build<br> Entrepreneurial Mindset + World-Shaping Startups <p></p>Community<br> We create and foster an entrepreneurial environment in a safe, empathetic manner focused on co-working, events & business support. Our aim is for our community members to learn something new, meet someone interesting and have fun in the process. <p></p> Innovation<br> <mark>We help teach a new problem solving method and the mentality that goes along with it to universities, corporate partners and anyone interested in viewing the world in a new way. This effort is made possible through various bootcamps, pitch competitions, experiential learning workshops and teaching support.</mark> <p></p>Business Building<br> We transform startups from across Africa into high impact, sustainable organisations through standardised content, bespoke support and access to a deep network of mentors, experts and investors. We have two business builder programs: University Startup Lab and Climate Lab. Five day Builder Sprints allow us to work with non-university or climate startups in a focused, high impact manner potentially leading to consulting mandates and brand recognition.
Savant
Savant is a commercially-focused hardware technology incubator that provides bespoke business development support. Savant partners with highly skilled science and technology inventors for their start-up growth journey. <p></p> Value Proposition<br> Savant brings unrivalled technology commercialisation know-how and experience to the South African start-up landscape. Savant offers bespoke commercialisation support to hardware technology inventors through long term, risk-based partnerships. Inventors stand to gain a streamlined journey from minimum viable product development to early market traction, both locally and internationally. Investors stand to gain early access to a pipeline of professionally de-risked technology companies to invest in. <p></p> Our Approach<br> <mark>Savant typically partners with early stage ventures if it sees the value in the venture’s prospects, inventor capabilities and potential commercial product offering.</mark> While Savant may have multiple stages to its approach, some may inventors partner with Savant further along the business life cycle than others. Savant systematically de-risks these partnered ventures and gets them ready for commercialisation and investment.
Black Umbrellas Virtual Incubator
The Black Umbrellas Virtual Incubator is an online platform that is designed to offer training, mentoring support and business coaching from anywhere with an internet connection. <mark>No matter where you are in your entrepreneurial journey, we’ll help you build a resilient, compliant and sustainable business.</mark>
Africa Women Innovation & Entrepreneurship Forum
AWIEF is a women economic empowerment organisation that supports women entrepreneurs in Africa to grow their business and fulfil their potential. <p></p> Our mission is to foster women’s economic inclusion, advancement and empowerment through entrepreneurship support and development. <mark>Our vision is an inclusive and thriving Africa where women-owned businesses are empowered to create and grow high-impact and sustainable businesses, contributing to increasing Africa’s GDP and economic growth.</mark> <p></p> Passion and purpose <br> Nothing is more exciting and fun than being an entrepreneur, chasing your dreams on your own terms. Yet, the entrepreneurial journey and building a thriving business isn’t easy, especially for females in Africa who face many additional challenges and barriers. Founder and CEO of AWIEF, Irene Ochem, grew up as an ambitious young girl in Nigeria, understanding first-hand the imperatives of economically empowering women and girls. She built her career at the global stage and learned to be resilient and never give up. She knew that one day she would be the leader she wished she had, and help other women achieve their goals too. “If I can do it, they can do it!” <p></p> Irene turned her words into deeds and founded AWIEF in 2015 and has built a powerful platform, driving inclusive economic transformation for women, and working to close the gender gaps in entrepreneurship in Africa. She has achieved this feat with a dedicated team and collaboration with partners who believe in what she believes, who are passionate about empowering and inspiring women to maximize their potential and build successful businesses. <p></p> Key to success <br> <mark>We believe the key to success is to facilitate, support and inspire women entrepreneurs in multiple areas of their business by providing knowledge, tools, resources, and valuable connections.</mark> <p></p> AWIEF offers a range of programmes that are tailored to the needs of female entrepreneurs in Africa. Whether you are at idea or launch stage in your entrepreneurship journey, you fit into one of our programmes. <br> - Digital Skills Training <br> - AWE South Africa 2022 <br> - SMEs Investment and Export Readiness program <br> - LeadTech Incubation Program <br> - AWIEF Growth Accelerator Programme <br> - FemBioBiz Accelerator Programme: Season 4 <br> - Solutions Catalysing Increased Access to Capital for the Success of Women Entrepreneurs <br> - FemBioBiz II Accelerator Programme | AWIEF <br> - VALUE4HER: Strengthening Women's Agribusiness Enterprises in Africa | AWIEF
Startup Hatchery
The Startup Hatchery is a virtual business incubator for entrepreneurs, innovators and change-makers. We provide a hands-on virtual learning experience through online entrepreneurship training, mentorship and business support accessible anywhere, anytime. <p></p> Adopting an online approach, specifically packaged for South African entrepreneurs, we provide a hands-on learning experience through interactive online and facilitated entrepreneurship initiatives, training, mentorship and business support accessible anywhere, anytime. We work with you to design, build and implement Enterprise and Supplier Development (ESD) solutions that aim to increase the participation of black-owned SMEs within your corporate supply chain to secure your ESD points and maximise business impact. <p></p> Why The Startup Hatchery? <mark><br> - Building a pipeline of black-owned companies for inclusion into supply chain <br> - Creating sustainable and meaningful impact on entrepreneurs <br> - Starting with the end in mind, Co-Creating ESD Strategies to maximise business impact and ESD Points <br> - We are 100% Black Femaled Owned and our proven programmes meet the BBBEE code requirements <br> - Rigorous monitoring and evaluation through our impact assessments to understand your investment</mark>
TuksNovation
TuksNovation is a non-profit technology incubator and accelerator that is located at the University of Pretoria. TuksNovation provides start-ups with specialised product and business development support throughout their start-up growth journeys by assisting entrepreneurs to refine technologies and validate business models for the relevant markets. <p></p> <mark>Our programmes enable start-ups to commercialise innovative technology into new sustainable enterprises with social and economic impact.</mark> <p></p> We create an ecosystem that fosters innovation by connecting science and technology innovators with corporates, academics and government.
Tshimologong
Cities around the world are developing high-tech digital clusters that lead to the advancement of innovation, business and economic growth as well as job creation. Johannesburg is a connecting node to the world with the development of Tshimologong Digital Innovation Precinct, strategically located in Braamfontein. We form the nexus point where the vibrancy of inner-city life converges with the creativity of youth, the scalability of big business, the academic rigour of Wits University and proximity to other educational institutions. <p></p> With the intention of <mark>creating world-leading African digital entrepreneurs, we actively identify emerging talent to create and grow digital ventures. We are also the place for the business community to develop your digital innovation capacity by investing in relevant enterprise and supplier development, along with creating your digital skills pipeline. </mark> <p></p> We are unwavering in our pursuit to normalise African excellence, solving local challenges and taking action on opportunities with digital solutions. This is made possible by the Pan-African focused programming, international partnerships and a supportive local government – City of Joburg and Gauteng Provincial Government.
RLabs
RLabs is a South African award-winning non-profit company, established in 2009 in Bridgetown, Cape Town. We have since expanded the RLabs model to 23 countries across 5 continents impacting more than 20 million people through our work. The main aim of RLabs is to create environments and systems where people are impacted, empowered and transformed through HOPE, Innovation, Technology, Training and Economic Opportunities. To date, more than 200,000 people have accessed RLabs skills, training and economic empowerment programmes <p></p> The RLabs innovation lab currently partners with a variety of international organizations, private companies and public sector partners to develop solutions to drive social change. RLabs creates and provides spaces in communities for co-creation events and workshops that connects community members with the networks and resources to solve some of the social challenges impacting the community. <p></p> <mark>Labs provides a support programme for small businesses and entrepreneurs assisting them in growing their enterprises.</mark>
Eastern Cape Information Technology Initiative
The Eastern Cape Information Technology Initiative (ECITI) is a non -profit company, established by the Eastern Cape Development Corporation (ECDC) in 2004. It was setup to facilitate the sustainable development for small, micro and medium enterprises (SMMEs) in the information communication and technology (ICT) and film sectors in the Eastern Cape. <p></p> Our programmes are designed to stimulate the Eastern Cape’s ICT sector with the aim to position the province as one of Africa’s leading centres for ICT excellence. <p></p> Our incubation programme is designed to accelerate the successful development of entrepreneurial companies through various support resources and services. Incubation is offered to resident (in-house) companies in our East London head office and Queenstown satellite office. We also offer a virtual programme to companies based in other parts of the Eastern Cape province but want to benefit from our business support services geared to assist with the early stage development of their companies.