Run in partnership with ayoba, the e-Track Programme is a two-phase early-stage venture acceleration and a capacity-building programme for high-impact entrepreneurs in South Africa and beyond. Taking a high-touch scale-up approach, 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.
e-Track is a two-phase venture acceleration programme, tackling the various stages of venture building and development.
We are looking for innovation-driven and high impact scale-ups with solutions that are relevant to the African market and with global potential.
We are looking for both high impact individuals and teams. Individual participants can either explore their own business idea or join an existing venture.
Most of our scale-ups enter with some sort of business case, early version of a product and a couple of team members. They have a working prototype with a minimum feature set ready to conduct early-market testing to further establish product and market fit.
The initial concept development demonstrates deep and intimate understanding of the problem and market need or opportunity. The idea must have progressed beyond concept and should demonstrate evidence of early market testing, customers, revenues, patents or intellectual property filings.
Individuals & scale-ups submit applications online, before the initial start date of each e-Track Programme.
After closing date, start-ups and individuals self-select to complete the Venture Launch Programme. The 5-week training and preparation programme aims to validate the venture opportunity and the team.
The top 15 scale-ups are selected to participate in the 12-week Venture Sacle Programme to accelerate the development of their venture. This is done through a high-touch scale-up process that aims to concretize the product and secure customer buy-in.
The Venture Scale Programme culminates with a ‘Pitch Day’, where the top candidates will have the opportunity to pitch to an audience made up of the UCT GSB Solution Space ecosystem network.
ayoba is a free messaging app & more, designed by Africans for Africans. Startups selected to move forward to the Venture Scale phase will gain access to technical support and mentorship from field experts to get the guidance needed to accelerate their venture.
We apply a learning-by-doing approach. At masterclasses, start-ups learn founder fundamentals and core skills focused on moving the business forward. Start-ups apply what they learn through practical outcomes from each session.
Access to pro-bono partners and a network of consultants to support with specialist expertise e.g. legal, HR, digital user experience, venture capital.
Start-ups receive valuable feedback and guidance from our team and a network of experienced mentors and industry partners. Teams also have access to the UCT GSB Solution Space's network of GSB alumni through the GSB Knowledge Bank and corporate partners.
We focus on building a vibrant community of entrepreneurs and offer a calendar of regular events designed to increase a team's knowledge and expand their network. We prioritize peer learning and mentoring through access to our co-working space and regular office-hours.