BOOST UP Startup Support Programme 2021 for entrepreneurs in Southern Africa

Charbens Benedict

2 years ago

BOOST UP Startup Support Programme 2021 for entrepreneurs in Southern Africa

BOOST UP is a three-part startup support program organized by the Connected Hubs network and the Southern Africa Innovation Support Programme (SAIS 2) in Botswana, Namibia, South Africa, Tanzania, and Zambia. BOOST UP targets startups that use technology to solve a societal challenge and are looking for skills that could help them pitch their businesses and become investment-ready. The BOOST UP series comprises the Set Up online training events, Stand Up pitching competitions, and Scale-Up incubation program, and Bootcamp.

Are you a startup entrepreneur? Do you want to learn how to better pitch your business and make it more investable? Does your startup use technology and innovation to make a social impact in your community and beyond? Are you based in Botswana, Namibia, South Africa, Tanzania, or Zambia? If your answer is yes, then this is your opportunity to shine as the BOOST UP is back and ready to give more startups the knowledge they need to become stronger and better than before.

BOOST UP 2021 Program Time Table

June–July 2021
Pitching Training: BOOST UP Set Up training provides entrepreneurs with practical tools to package their business idea and develop a pitch to attract their target market. The Set-Up training is organized separately in each of the BOOST UP countries: Botswana, Namibia, South Africa, Tanzania, and Zambia.

July–August 2021
National Pitch Competitions: At BOOST UP Stand Up, committed startups who are eager to make an impact, have a scalable business model, and want to become more investable will compete in national pitch competitions. Connected Hubs representatives will select startups in each country from the Set Up participants that completed the training and invite them to pitch at Stand Up. At the pitch competitions, a panel of expert judges will select the top startups to advance to interviews. After interviews, the most promising startups will be selected to take part in BOOST UP Scale Up.

September–December 2021
Training & Bootcamp: BOOST UP Scale Up is an incubation program for impact-driven startups eager to become more investable. Scale Up includes an online incubation program (September–November) and an on-site Bootcamp in Helsinki, Finland, in November–December. In the event that COVID-19 restrictions prevent traveling and/or organizing the Bootcamp, an alternative plan will be considered.

Who Should Apply for BOOST UP 2021

You are encouraged to apply for the BOOST UP Set Up training if:

Your startup is a registered business located in Botswana, Namibia, South Africa, Tanzania, or Zambia.
Technology and innovation play a key role in your business model to address a societal challenge in Southern Africa. “Technology and innovation” here includes, but is not limited to:
Applications
Internet of Things
Artificial Intelligence
Drone technology
Renewable Energy and Circular Economy
Smart City/Smart Environment
Big Data
Communications (e.g. internet connectivity services)
Anything that uses technology and innovation to improve a product or service in any way.
You have a scalable business model.
You are developing or finalizing a prototype, or have a prototype ready.
Your startup has a minimum of two team members interested in participating.
You/your startup have not won a SAIS 2-associated national pitch competition and participated in the BOOST UP Bootcamp in 2020 or 2019, Slush Global Impact Accelerator 2018, or been sponsored by SAIS 2 to participate in Slush 2017.

BOOST UP Stand Up Eligibility

The BOOST UP Stand Up pitch competition participants will be selected from the Set Up training participants by the Connected Hubs network.

To be selected to pitch, your startup will be required to:

Have participated in the Set-Up training
Be a registered business located in Botswana, Namibia, South Africa, Tanzania, or Zambia
Have a prototype ready
In addition, you must be 18 years or above. Alternatively, if you are under 18 and selected to the Scale-Up incubator and Bootcamp, you must be accompanied by your guardian. The guardian will be responsible for her/his own travel costs.

BOOST UP Set Up and Stand Up 2021 Selection Criteria

A limited number of startups per country will be selected to participate in the Set Up training and the Stand Up pitch competitions.

The selections will be made Considering the following criteria

Does the solution make a societal impact?
Is the solution novel in the market?
Does the solution have the potential to scale up?
Does the solution have growth potential and commercial viability?
Does the team show commitment and ability?
What is the stage of prototype development?

How to Apply

Interested and eligible candidates should complete their application form online via the BOOSt UP application portal by clicking here

Further details regarding the program can be found here

Application Deadline

Application closes 23:59 on 6 June 2021.

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