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UCT GSB Solution Space selects ten start-ups for its Venture Exploitation Programme.
11 June 2020
The University of Cape Town Graduate School of Business has announced its selection of ten start-ups to join its 12-week Venture Exploitation Programme, run by the UCT GSB Solution Space, which kicked off on 1 June 2020. As part of the e-Track Programme, it was launched last year by the University of Cape Town Graduate School of Business (UCT GSB) Solution Space and backed by the MTN Group.
According to Solution Space programme manager, Shiela Yabo, the programme aims to accelerate and build the capacity of high-impact ventures. Yabo explained that the first phase of the programme was a five-week Venture Launch course which aimed to generate knowledge and capacity to build scalable businesses. She continued by saying, “This was also used as a pre-selection process, culminating in the second phase of the programme – the Venture Exploitation Programme.”
Yabo said that the programme was an intense 12-week journey that aimed to accelerate the development of a venture. This was done building traction through a high- touch scale-up process that aimed to concretise the product, as well as secure customer buy-in.
Yabo outlined the following ten start-ups selected for the Venture Exploitation programme:
Activity Hub – An online tours and activities marketplace.
CiTTA – An expert resourcing and networking platform.
Guardian Health – A booking system for local clinics and community health workers.
Little Fish – An MSME-focused e-commerce channel.
FynRoot Productions – A fynbos-focused company that empowers individuals with knowledge to grow and sustain fynbos.
Ikhaya Space – A credit provider to high-net-worth individuals and businesses.
IAfrica – An African language platform.
Futures Academy – An independent online high school.
Go Themba – An eco-friendly mobile car wash app.
Wenzan – A decentralised peer-to-peer video chat app.
“MTN is inspired by how entrepreneurs have taken a leading role in developing innovations in the fight against COVID-19” said Eero Tarjanne, General Manager for ecosystem development at the MTN Group. Tarjanne added that MTN was excited about the next phase of the programme which was aligned to its core belief of driving digital and financial inclusion, seeking to help scale tech ventures and stimulate an ecosystem that leverages MTN’s various platforms.
Originally written by Tom Jackson, Disrupt Africa
