Next 90 Days Accelerator by Startup Mzansi

We take individuals and existing startups from an idea to funding and beyond. We provide you with the knowledge and network you need.

The Startup Mzansi Ventures Program that is tailored to your milestones, connects you to a network of experts and gives you access to perks & benefits worth $1,250,000+ so you can extend your runway.

About Startup Mzansi Ventures

While scaling our own startups over the past 10+ years we often thought to ourselves: “I wish I would have known that before.”

In contrary to the life “inside the comfort zone”, as an entrepreneur, you deal with uncertainty on a daily basis. Curveballs come your way regularly and eventually, you will learn how to thrive and scale in that environment. But even the best entrepreneurs need sometimes support.

Startup Mzansi Ventures prepares you for the curveballs, helps you to overcome challenges and connects you to the right people when you need it most.

The Startup Mzansi Ventures Program is tailored to your milestones and all about where you want to be with your startup in 12 months. We help you to get the right documents in place, get the right tools and structures integrated, show you what to watch out for, connect you with specialists who can help you something goes wrong and connect you to like-minded entrepreneurs who are on the same journey as you.

As a founder, you will be the main decision-maker for everything in your company. We help you to overcome the challenges and supercharge your growth. We provide you with the fuel for your rocket.

Overview

Program

In-depth assessment of your company to identify potential obstacles that may emerge while you scale. This can be legal/IP issues, corporate structures that may harm your ability to raise funds or product issues.

The topics we discuss are specific to your unique situation, business model and growth plans.

Perks & Benefits

After being accepted in the program you will have access to cloud credits and discounts from our Tech Partners such as Google, AWS, IBM Cloud, HubSpot, Stripe and many more worth $1,250,000+.

We help you to reduce your expenses and extend your runway and scale efficiently.

Alumni network

You will become part of the Startup Mzansi Alumni community and have access to a rich network of global entrepreneurs who are, like you, build outstanding tech-companies around the world. We have local chapters where you can get connected to entrepreneurs in your area and join local alumni meetings.

Surround yourself with those who are on the same mission as you and you will succeed.

Mentors

You will gain access to our network of mentors who are experienced in working with high-growth tech companies. Our network contains lawyers, designers, UX specialists, software developers, product manager and many more. If there comes one day the moment where you don’t know anymore how to proceed, we know the right person who can help you out.

How it works

Create your company and get up to R500K investment.

We invest in talent. We support individuals and existing startups throughout their journey, from finding a co-founder to developing an idea into a validated business model and helping to secure seed investment.

Entrepreneurs will receive mentoring and assistance with their project to best prepare them to qualify for a R100K pre-seed investment with Startup Mzansi’s partner fund which could go up to R500K with follow-on investments.

Startup Mzansi's High Performance Methodology

Simply select if you are applying as an individual or as a startup. Tell us about your background and your motivation behind the desire to start your own company.

> Individuals: We invest in talent. We’re on the hunt for standout individuals to co-found startups (no team or idea needed).

> Startups: If you already have a team, please click here to fill out the form and let us know more about your project and how can we help you to achieve your goals.

Our selection process involves a series of interviews with the Startup Mzansi Talent team, some via video-call, and some in person.

> Individuals: Top individual applicants who are interested in creating a new project or join one of our existing teams will be contacted for an interview to talk more about your background, previous experience, suitability and commitment to starting your own company.

> Startups: Teams/projects applying to the Startup Mzansi Programme will be evaluated based on your team, the idea, your progress, and how that all fits with what Startup Mzansi can offer to early-stage teams and what our funding partner is looking for in a winning project.

> Individuals: Our Startup Mzansi Weekend provides a great opportunity for you to test yourself in the fast-paced world of startups. In just three days (Friday to Sunday) you’ll get to know all the participants, take part in essential workshops, such as learning how to formulate business plans and put them into action, form a core team and, with help from our mentors, pitch your business to the Startup Mzansi panel.

The winning team and the best candidates will be invited to join our six-month incubation programme.

> Startups: You are not required to participate in the Startup Mzansi Weekend. If the interview with the Talent team is successful, your team will join the Startup Mzansi Programme.

Based on the interview process, we invite the most outstanding candidates and startups to our programme.

> Individuals: During the incubation programme we’ll help you to find a co-founder, validate your business idea, launch a scalable solution and prepare you to qualify for a R100K investment with Startup Mzansi’s asset management company.

> Startups: We support early-stage, growth-driven companies to achieve their goals as quickly and productively as possible, by preparing you to qualify for a R100K investment and by providing access to market, community and expertise.

Now that you’ve already found the right co-founder and you’ve developed your idea into a verified business model, it’s time to secure seed investment.

Entrepreneurs will receive mentoring and assistance with their project to best prepare them to qualify for a R100K pre-seed investment with Startup Mzansi’s asset management company, Ventures.

Startup Mzansi’s partner fund plans to invest R100K in 200 startups over the next 3 years, and reserves an additional 37.5% of the fund for follow-on investments, up to R500K.

Apply Here

Shape the future with us

Frequently Asked Questions

No, you don’t. Simply select if you are applying as an individual or as a startup.

No, you don’t. At Startup Mzansi we focus on raw entrepreneurial talent and capabilities rather than the business idea. We believe that what really characterizes an entrepreneur is the ability to move forward with an idea, execute it and overcome all the challenges that arise along the way.

Once the incubation programme begins, we analyze and discuss a range of business ideas and market trends in teams. The founding team will then decide what idea to progress with. It’s important that entrepreneurs identify with, and are passionate about, the idea they are going to develop.

Apply as an individual. Once you’re selected to participate in the incubation programme, you can propose your business idea for evaluation.

Simply apply as a startup and let us know more information about your project.

In our view, without total dedication to the project it is very difficult to be successful and win the confidence of investors.

At the Startup Mzansi Weekend, the candidates select their own team members. Once the incubation programme begins, Startup Mzansi will suggest the ideal profiles to complete each team, but it is the founding team that makes the ultimate decisions. We have great success in forming teams at an early stage.

We require you to fulfill the weekly objectives agreed on with the incubation director. We also ask that you attend the fortnightly schedule of classes and activities designed to help you accelerate the growth of your startup.

Fully Virtual through StartupApp

Entrepreneurs will receive mentoring and assistance with their project to best prepare them to qualify for a R100K pre-seed investment with Startup Mzansi Ventures.

Startup Mzansi’s partner fund plans to invest R100K in more than 200 startups over the next 3 years, and reserves an additional 37.5% of the fund for follow-on investments, up to R500K.