Tech in Africa
BOOST UP gives startups the knowledge to get stronger than before. If your startup uses technology and innovation to socially impact your community or is based in Botswana, South Africa, Namibia, Zambia, or Tanzania, you may Apply for BOOST UP 2021.
BOOST UP programme
A 3-part startup programme was organized by the Southern Africa Innovation Support Programme (SAIS), and the Connected Hubs network. The calls to open applications open from 10th May 2021 to 6 June 2021.
A pitch training will run from June to July, where entrepreneurs will receive practical tools to help in packaging their business ideas while developing the right pitch to attract the right target markets.
The National Pitch Competitions will run from July to August, where impact-driven startups with scalable business models will compete. Representatives from Connected Hubs will choose startups from the pool of entrepreneurs that completed the training. Next is a pitch competition supervised by a panel of expert judges where the best make it to the Scale-Up phase.
An incubation programme targeting impact-driven startups looking to become investible will run from September to December.
Application criteria
Must be registered within Zambia, South Africa, Tanzania, Zimbabwe, Namibia, and Botswana. There must be a technology and innovation aspect in addressing societal challenges. This also includes Artificial Intelligence, Smart City/Smart Environment, IoT, Renewable Energy, Drone technology, big data, communications, and other tech-driven solutions.
The business must be scalable, either in the process of developing a prototype or fully completed, minimum of 2 team members taking part.
Find more details on the programme here.
