Categories: Afro Talk & Trends

Startupbootcamp hosts FastTracks to source top start-up talent across the Globe

Spread the news

Startupbootcamp (SBC), a global family of industry-focused accelerators, last year launched its first-ever Africa-based programme.

Building on the success of its inaugural 2017 Cape Town tech venture accelerator program, SBC Cape Town now embarks upon its FastTrack tour for 2018 – sourcing top-tier tech startups to join the programme’s second year.

The first-ever Cape Town Accelerator was a rollercoaster success with 32 corporate agreements including pilots and proof-of-concepts, signed during the accelerator.

“To sign 32 agreements is above average for any Startupbootcamp programme in the network. However, when compared to other first-time programmes, SBC Cape Town is the top performing programme. Even in very mature markets such as the US and Europe it generally takes 3 years for a programme to find its stride. We surpassed expectations in our very first year and this is unprecedented across the global Startupbootcamp footprint,” states Philip Kiracofe, co-founder and CEO of the SBC Cape Town programme.

Widely recognized as one of the world’s most influential global innovation accelerators, Startupbootcamp Cape Town kicks off their 2018 by hosting a FastTrack world tour that will include 19 FastTracks across the world in search of the next generation of Africa-focused startup talent. The FastTracks will be held in various cities across the globe between February and May 2018.

“We think of Africa as the Cradle of Innovation and the Cradle of Disruption. The non-negotiable, incontrovertible trend is that the population is increasing and as a fundamental necessity for survival, innovation must happen. Innovation will happen. The fact is that there is going to be a level of disruption in Africa that is unrivalled in history. There is no other place on the planet where they’ve dealt with this crisis that we see as an opportunity. It is happening here and will continue to happen here for the rest of the century and we are not just discovering and scaling the startups that will disrupt the necessary industries, we’re fuelling them. We’re finding people, creating solutions and we’re way ahead of the rest of the world in many ways. For example, in the U.S., people are still cottoning on to digital cash, while Africa has been doing it for years,” states Kiracofe.

What is a FastTrack?

Startupbootcamp FastTracks are informal events hosted all over the world and the aim is for the SBC team, mentors and sponsors to have the opportunity to meet the most suitable early-stage companies interested in joining the 2018 programme.

For each FastTrack, the top 10 startups that apply will receive instant feedback from a panel of industry mentors, they will be able to network with the SBC investment team and can also find out more about the programme itself.

Startup teams that attend a FastTrack are 20% more likely to be invited to the final Selection Days where the ultimate Top 10 will be invited to join the three-month programme to be hosted in Cape Town commencing September.

Why a FastTrack?

Attending an SBC FastTrack can offer startups valuable feedback from mentors and subject experts, startups will be able to engage with the Startupbootcamp global community and will also be able to meet with industry executives and exposed to worldwide opportunities. Attending a FastTrack will also give a startup the significant advantage of being added to the SBC Cape Town watch list, which gives you a 20% higher chance of being selected for the final programme.

“We want every startup to know that even if you don’t make it into the final Accelerator, our FastTrack events can provide incredible guidance and mentorship and can fundamentally shift a growing business,” advises Zachariah George, co-founder and Chief Investment Officer of Startupbootcamp Cape Town.

Who should apply to a FastTrack?

Any startup operating in the FinTech, CyberSecurity, InsurTech, eCommerce, RetailTech and related industries is encouraged to join in the FastTracks.

SBC Cape Town is specifically looking for startups in the following areas:

Blockchain and Distributed Ledger

Payment Solutions

Big Data and Analytics

Data and Behavioural Analytics

Insurance and Cyber Insurance

Financial Inclusion

t\Commerce and eCommerce

Identity and Authentication

Payments

Personal Financial Management

IoT

P2P Lending

Cross-border Transactions

Where are the FastTracks?

DATE                                                                                  CITY                                                                      COUNTRY

19 February 2018                                                        Cape Town                                                                 South Africa

21 February 2018                                                        Johannesburg                                                       South Africa

 26 February 2018                                                        Gaborone                                                                     Botswana

28 February 2018                                                           Harare                                                                  Zimbabwe

 19 March 2018                                                  Kigali                                                                     Rwanda

 21 March 2018                                                              Kampala                                                                  Uganda

 23 March 2018                                                              Nairobi                                                                     Kenya

 7 April 2018                                                                     Lagos                                                                      Nigeria

 9 April 2018                                                                    Abidjan                                                               Ivory Coast

 12 April 2018                                                                   Accra                                                                        Ghana

 18 April 2018                                                                   Durban                                                            South Africa

 24 April 2018                                                                   Dubai                                               United Arab Emirates

 26 April 2018                                                                    Cairo                                                                   Egypt

 9 May 2018                                                                  Johannesburg                                                     South Africa

 14 May 2018                                                                     Tel Aviv                                                                     Israel

 16 May 2018                                                                       Paris                                                                        France

18 May 2018                                                                     London                                                                   England

 22 May 2018                                                                  Cape Town                                                       South Africa

Beyond the FastTracks:

FastTrack engagements are not a requirement to apply for the Startupbootcamp Cape Town Accelerator, and ALL startups are encouraged to apply. However, attending a FastTrack will be to your advantage.

The final deadline for innovators and entrepreneurs to apply online for the final accelerator is 24 May 2018.

From a pool of hundreds of applicants, the 10 most promising teams will be selected and provided with EUR 15,000, 100+ highly engaged industry mentors, free office space, access to funding and a network of industry partners, investors and venture capital firms.

The 3-month bootcamp kicks off in September 2018 in Cape Town, South Africa, and will be led by seasoned innovation experts, Zachariah George, Philip Kiracofe, and Paul Nel.

Core sponsors for this first SBC Africa-based programme include big backers RCS, PwC, BNP Paribas, Nedbank, Woolworths Financial Services and Old Mutual.

How to apply to a FastTrack:

Visit the Startupbootcamp Cape Town FastTrack page here: http://bit.ly/SBCFastTracks

Click on your chosen FastTrack

Remember: Applications close 3 days before the FastTrack.

Good to Know: Only 10 teams are invited to each FastTrack so get your applications in as soon as possible!

How to get involved with Startupbootcamp Cape Town:

Visit the Startupbootcamp Cape Town page: http://bit.ly/SBCFastTracks

Click on any of the FastTracks you are interested in attending ahead of the Accelerator

Remember: Applications for the final Accelerator open on 21 February 2018.

Good to Know: You don’t have to attend a FastTrack to be eligible to apply for the Accelerator.

Source: APO

TOA Correspondent

Recent Posts

The top Nigerian who hated his own voice

Nigeria’s leading music figure and vocalist, Cobhams Asuquo, known for his singing and production said…

3 years ago

South African court halts Amazon HQ project

Following a mixed reaction from the South African community representatives, Khoi and San, the Cape…

3 years ago

How Digitalization in African Rail Transportation Is Enhancing Safety?

Mitigating the process and service barriers in African rail transportation, the digital disruption has transformed…

3 years ago

Tunisian leader to allow public views on reforms

Kais Saied, the Tunisian president has said in his speech that he will allow the…

3 years ago

The power of Niacinamide in the trending African skincare market

You know the credibility of an ingredient when it’s plastered all over bottles and jars…

3 years ago

Mozambique death toll from Cyclone Gombe rises to 48

Cyclone Gombe that flooded large areas of central and northern Mozambique is consistently leading to…

3 years ago

This website uses cookies.