South Africa

The Cape Innovation & Technology Initiative (CiTi) is a Non-Profit Company with a mission to build a future-proof, inclusive society through technology and innovation. 

CiTi was established in 1999 and works at the intersection of business, government and society to positively shape the future of the economy and society with the use of innovation and technology. Its headquarters are located in the Western Cape province of South Africa.

Citi has niche-specific programmes: 

1. BioCiT is a platform for biotech entrepreneurs to turn ideas into creative solutions.
2. Injini is Africa's edtech

The eKasiLabs programme is a micro innovation hub facility spread across the five economic corridors in Gauteng, South Africa where it fosters and cultivates a culture of innovation and entrepreneurship in townships.

Its facilities are located in Mohlakeng, Sebokeng, Garankuwa, Soweto, Tembisa, Alexandra, Mamelodi, Kagiso, Kathorus and Mabopane.

The programme has an emphasis on innovative solutions that have the potential to impact different spheres of society, such as business, government, and civil societies.

eKasiLabs offers two development programmes in skills and enterprise development

FEMTECH is a South African-based company that offers a comprehensive modular training programme for women entrepreneurs who wish to grow their businesses substantially.

It is underpinned by a train-the-trainer programme to allow local capacity building of women trainers. This programme has been implemented in three African countries, namely, Namibia, Tanzania and Mozambique.

BEDCO is a parastatal of the Government of Lesotho, with a mandate to support entrepreneurial capacity-building programmes, startup incubation,  business advisory, and technical training. 

Startupbootcamp AfriTech is an accelerator for start-ups, supporting and scaling innovative and disruptive technology companies across the African continent. 

Its office is located in the old Foundry in Green Point, Cape Town, at Ideas Cartel, which operates under Inner City Ideas Cartel.

Startupbootcamp AfriTech is currently running the ASIP Accelerator Program, which is anchored by corporate sponsor Telecel Group.

Telecel aims to support the next generation of early-stage African tech start-ups disrupting key industry verticals, including FinTech, InsureTech, AgriTech, eCommerce, Digital

Mobile Agri Skills Development and Training (MASDT) was established in 2005 as a training service provider in the agricultural sector in Mpumalanga, South Africa, but it changed to a non-profit company (NPC), in 2007.

During its business journey it has diversified from being solely a training provider institution to becoming a one-stop centre for small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in the agricultural sector.

MASDT offerings

Seda-funded incubator (plant and animal production incubation)

Main focus areas:

• Facilitating the agriculture incubation concept in different provinces.
• Incorporat

LaunchLab is an initiative of Innovus, situated in the centre of Stellenbosch University’s campus. LaunchLab focuses on developing both the entrepreneur as well as the business.  It functions as a business accelerator and boosts entrepreneurship on campus by providing networking opportunities, mentoring and affordable rental rates in an entrepreneur-friendly environment. The business accelerator is open to external start-up companies who would like to benefit from the entrepreneurial services on offer, as well as internal or external service providers who are able to provide mentoring, support

Innovus is a division of Stellenbosch University that is responsible for technology transfer, entrepreneurial support and development, and innovation.

The technology transfer office manages the university’s innovation and intellectual property portfolio and seeks protection for the portfolio, such as patenting, trademark, and design.

The team is also responsible for the management of the portfolio and the commercialisation of innovation through licensing and the formation of spin-out companies.

Founders Factory Africa encompasses a unique bunch of creative builders, designers, entrepreneurs and mentors, who bring a wealth of knowledge and years of experience to those they work with.

The organisation has a heart for Africa, is proud to be a part of its complex and flourishing fabric, and is humbled by its history of individual and collective progress.

Locally grounded and globally connected, Founders Factory Africa is becoming the go-to innovation partner for start-ups, investors, governments, and corporations throughout Africa and beyond. 

Founders Factory Africa investment

BioPark Business Incubator provides business development support to start-ups in the health sector in areas such as biopharmaceuticals, medical devices and diagnostics, indigenous knowledge-based nutraceuticals, and cosmeceuticals.

It does the same for start-ups in the agricultural sector in areas such as agro-food processing, bioprocessing, and smart agriculture as well as in the industrial biotechnology sector. 

• Advisory and skills development
• Markets
• Networking opportunities
• Infrastructure
• Funding opportunities