Applications Open for UCT GSB Solution Space 2021 E-Track Startup Accelerator

Applications for the University of Cape Town GSB Solution Space 2021 E-Track Startup Accelerator programme are now open, with applications closing on 22 February 2021. Established by The UCT GSB Solution Space in partnership with ayoba, the accelerator aims to support startups and entrepreneurs across Africa with a three-phase venture acceleration programme. 

The UCT GSB Solution Space E-Track Programme in Partnership with the MTN Group is a three-part new-venture acceleration and a capacity building programme for high impact individuals at the University of Cape Town. With a high-touch scale-up process; the programme is designed to support teams build scalable businesses with international potential. Individual participants can either explore their own business idea or join an existing venture.

The programme also serves as a platform for corporate partners to engage and collaborate on specific research and development agendas.

The E-Track Startup Accelerator programme

Applications can be completed online. 

The programme is broken down into three-phases; 

• Phase one is Venture Launch and focuses on validating the business concept 
• Phase two is aimed at accelerating the development of the validated business model 
• Phase three aims to scale the venture with the support of various partners and investors. 

The programme is targeted at high-impact individuals, aspiring entrepreneurs, and experienced business founders. Applications for the first phase have now opened and is a pre-requisite to be accepted into the next phase of the prestigious programme.  

Venture Launch phase

To apply for the Venture Launch phase, interested applicants must adhere to the following requirements: 

• Either has or want to develop a for-profit or non-profit scale-up 

At the end of the first phase, participating teams will have developed, prototyped, and verified a novel product or service which can be developed further in the second phase of the E-Track Programme. 

In an official press statement, the UCT GSB Solution Space explains that the first phase is incredibly valuable as it provides a foundation to participants on how to transform their concept into a tangible business. 

“Venture Launch is a demanding course that pushes participants but also provides the resources to help them navigate the challenges of implementing an early-stage scale-up idea. Should participants decide not to continue with their ventures after the Venture Launch course, they will still leave having learned critical and broadly applicable techniques about starting and launching a venture.”

Not only does the programme aim to provide participants with the much-needed tools but it also facilitates a space for collaboration as it connects startups with resources, networks, and talent to scale up their business.