Applications open for first phase of venture accelerating programme

Applications are open for the first phase of the University of Cape Town’s (UCT) e-Track venture acceleration programme. Run by the UCT Graduate School of Business’s (UCT GSB) Solution Space, the e-Track Programme supports and develops start-ups across the continent.

The UCT GSB Solution Space is a specialised centre that supports early start-ups, corporate innovation and entrepreneurship development.

The three-phase programme was developed by the Solution Space in partnership with ayoba. It helps individuals and teams to build scalable businesses with global potential and targets high-impact individuals, aspiring entrepreneurs and experienced founders.

Africa is described one of the most innovative and promising regions for start-ups with a record US$4 billion of investment raised in 2021, despite the economic and other impacts of COVID-19.

“The ayoba platform represents an opportunity for homegrown talent to develop applications that reflect local cultures and values.”

The first phase is the Venture Launch phase, focused on validating the venture concept. This phase is appropriate for participants who have or want to develop both for-profit and non-profit scale-ups. Phase two is aimed at accelerating the development of the venture, and in phase three the programme focuses on scaling ventures with the support of partners and investors.

Head of Business and Ecosystem Development at ayoba, Eero Tarjanne, said, “The ayoba platform represents an opportunity for homegrown talent to develop applications that reflect local cultures and values and that address challenges in our markets while benefiting the broader community.”

Earlier this month seven of the graduating start-ups from the most recent cohort pitched their businesses at a hybrid event hosted on the UCT GSB campus. “Demo Day” marks the culmination of the e-Track journey and is an opportunity for participating ventures to talk about their learning and progress and engage the start-up ecosystem about their plans.

The Most Promising Start-up was SuM1 Investments, which collectively invests alongside individual investors and stokvels in income-generating assets.

Applications for the next module close on 29 April 2022.