Startupbootcamp AfriTech will host the Cape Town Impact Bootcamp in January, aimed at startups solving Africa’s problems and achieving the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
Held in partnership with BonBillo, the January bootcamp connects entrepreneurs solving social, health, educational and environmental problems with access to a proven framework for rapidly designing and testing a solution, mentorship from top advisors and industry experts, and a vibrant workspace.
Taking place over two weeks, the bootcamp will kick off on January 4 with a tour of Cape Town and its townships to help participants understand the local context and its challenges. During their time at the bootcamp, startups will design their solution and validate it with customers, define their value proposition, hone their customer acquisition strategy, and work on their business model.
The process concludes with a demo day on January 17, where startups will pitch to potential investors. Startups with traction will be considered for an investment of between US$2,000 and US$3,000 in exchange for 0.5 per cent to 0.75 per cent in equity.
“Africa’s population is set to rise to 2.5 billion by the middle of this century – more than China and India combined. What’s more, according to United Nations projections, the continent could have a population of 4 billion people or more by 2100, meaning that Africa alone would account for more than a third of the world’s population,” said Startupbootcamp AfriTech chief investment officer and co-founder Zachariah George.
“How Africa’s population evolves and how the continent’s economies develop will affect the rest of the world. Already, startups worldwide are working to address the challenges we face, such as unemployment, food scarcity, poverty and gender inequality. We need to harness these innovators’ talents and accelerate the development of their solutions to achieve a better, more sustainable future for all, faster.”
Applications are open here until December 15. The cost for international applicants is US$5,000 and includes accommodation, rent of the co-working space, event attendance and excursions.
