Ventures 54’s Post

Excited to announce that I’ve joined the Startup Act SA 🇿🇦 Steering Committee. 🔰 But what is a Startup Act? A Startup Act is a legislative framework designed to foster entrepreneurship and innovation by providing startups with a conducive environment, which typically includes tax incentives, regulatory relief, access to funding, and support for scaling through reduced bureaucratic barriers and government-backed initiatives aimed at promoting high-growth businesses. 🔰 What presence do these Acts have across Africa? 𝗘𝗻𝗮𝗰𝘁𝗲𝗱 𝗦𝘁𝗮𝗿𝘁𝘂𝗽 𝗔𝗰𝘁𝘀 Tunisia 🇹🇳 (2018), Senegal 🇸🇳 (2019), Nigeria 🇳🇬 (2022) & Democratic Republic of Congo 🇨🇩 (2022) have implemented Startup Acts to provide structured support and funding for their growing innovation ecosystems. 𝗜𝗻 𝗣𝗿𝗼𝗴𝗿𝗲𝘀𝘀 𝗼𝗿 𝗔𝗱𝘃𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗲𝗱 𝗗𝗶𝘀𝗰𝘂𝘀𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻 South Africa 🇿🇦, Congo-Brazzaville 🇨🇬, Kenya 🇰🇪, Tanzania 🇹🇿, Rwanda 🇷🇼, Morocco 🇲🇦, Cape Verde 🇨🇻 & Zambia 🇿🇲 are in various stages of drafting Startup Acts to enhance startup-friendly policies and access to resources. 𝗘𝗮𝗿𝗹𝘆 𝗗𝗶𝘀𝗰𝘂𝘀𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀 𝗼𝗿 𝗘𝘅𝗽𝗹𝗼𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗼𝗿𝘆 𝗦𝘁𝗮𝗴𝗲 Namibia 🇳🇦, Ghana 🇬🇭, Ethiopia 🇪🇹, Cameroon 🇨🇲, Mali 🇲🇱, Togo 🇹🇬, Uganda 🇺🇬 & several others are beginning preliminary discussions on potential frameworks to foster startup growth and create conducive entrepreneurial environments with several more nations soon to join this stage. 🔰 What we will be looking into with SA Startup Act? The act which is in the drafting phase, aiming to address key areas like regulatory reform, tax incentives, funding, and simplifying business operations for startups, with a focus on Exchange Control, IP regulations, Capital Gains Tax, and the recently announced Digital Nomad Visas. Since establishing a base in SA back in 2022, I’m excited to further contribute more broadly to its ecosystem growth, bringing my experience from both public and private sector development in the UK and other African markets. ⁉️ For those with experience in Startup Policy and or those within the South African ecosystem - welcome thoughts and opinions on challenges, opportunities and solutions that should be considered. 𝗙𝗼𝗿 𝗺𝗼𝗿𝗲 𝗼𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗦𝗔 𝗦𝘁𝗮𝗿𝘁𝘂𝗽 𝗔𝗰𝘁 𝗠𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 & 𝗧𝗲𝗮𝗺: https://lnkd.in/dY9bnkMC 𝗧𝗼 𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗱 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗦𝗔 𝗦𝘁𝗮𝗿𝘁𝘂𝗽 𝗔𝗰𝘁 𝗣𝗿𝗼𝗴𝗿𝗲𝘀𝘀 𝗥𝗲𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟯/𝟮𝟰: https://lnkd.in/dpKfnGte Will cover more about our work over the next year with the Act - but for now thank you to Melanie de Nysschen for my committee nomination and shoutout to Matsi Modise and Bongulwazi Kunene from SiMODiSA Association for leading this initiative and bringing the Steering Committee together - find all members and supporting partners in the first comment below. #Africa #PublicPolicy #SAStartupAct #V54

🚀 Why South Africa Needs a Startup Act—and How You Can Help The South African startup ecosystem is calling for a Startup Act—a legislative framework designed to foster innovation, boost growth, and create a supportive environment for entrepreneurs. As industries across the country undergo digital transformation, a dedicated Startup Act could be key to ensuring that South African startups have the resources and protections they need to thrive. Here’s what a Startup Act could do: Protect Intellectual Property: Legal protections are essential for startups to safeguard their ideas and innovations, ensuring a level playing field in competitive markets. Facilitate Funding & Investment: By creating more accessible avenues for capital, a Startup Act could empower entrepreneurs to scale their businesses and attract local and international investors. Streamline Bureaucratic Processes: Cutting down red tape would reduce startup barriers, making it easier and quicker to launch and operate businesses across South Africa. Provide Tax Incentives: Lowering financial burdens through targeted tax breaks can drive entrepreneurship, encourage growth, and create more jobs for the country. A Startup Act isn’t just about legislation—it’s about building an ecosystem where startups are empowered to create lasting impact and where South Africa can remain competitive in the global economy. 💡 Join the movement to support a South African Startup Act and advocate for policies that pave the way for sustainable growth and innovation. Let’s work together to unlock the full potential of South Africa’s entrepreneurial spirit: https://lnkd.in/dSuVh8fV

🌟 Exciting strides are being made in Cambodia’s entrepreneurial ecosystem! The 7th Ecosystem Builder Network Meeting (EBN7) has set a monumental blueprint for nurturing innovation and growth. Here’s what you need to know: 1️⃣ 📈 Strategic Visioning: A comprehensive roadmap, crafted with expertise from various global and local agencies, aims to elevate startups and SMEs across six pivotal pillars. 2️⃣ 🚀 Flagship Initiatives: Over 34,000 businesses have transitioned online, thanks to initiatives like the SME Bank and the Entrepreneurship Development Fund, revolutionizing Cambodia’s business landscape. 3️⃣ 🧐 Identified Challenges: The roadmap also sheds light on pressing needs, such as enhancing startup data accessibility and fine-tuning regulatory frameworks for SMEs and startups. 4️⃣ 🌍 Global Shifts: As Cambodia navigates from an LDC, strategies are being laid out to tackle trade impacts and adapt to global financial trends, including the new corporate tax strategies. 5️⃣ 📜 Policy Frameworks: Key policy documents, including the Cambodia Digital Economy and Society Policy Framework, are guiding the nation towards a digitally empowered economic future. Rajiv Pradhan, Van Munin Chhieng, PhD, Cécile Dahome,

The Ghana Innovation and Start-ups Act project is a joint initiative between the private sector and the government aimed at enhancing the startup ecosystem through co-created legislation. The bill, once passed, will establish a supportive environment for the growth of innovative enterprises, attract investment, and provide frameworks to support entrepreneurial ventures across Ghana.

🇪🇪 Estonia: The Ideal Jurisdiction for Startups 🚀 #1 Estonia is becoming one of the most attractive jurisdictions in the EU 🌍 for establishing startups. With its progressive approach to digitalization and innovation, Estonia offers a business-friendly environment and numerous advantages that make it an ideal base for growth and expansion 📈. Why Estonia? 🖥️ e-Residency – Estonia is the first country in the world to offer an e-residency program. This initiative allows entrepreneurs from anywhere to establish and manage Estonian companies entirely online, without requiring physical presence 🌐. 💸 Tax System – Estonia applies a unique corporate income tax approach—companies pay no income tax until profits are distributed as dividends. This allows startups to reinvest all earnings directly into growth 💼. ⚙️ Digital Infrastructure – Estonia has one of the most advanced digital infrastructures globally, facilitating swift company formation and management. Establishing a company online can be completed within hours ⏱️. 🇪🇺 Access to the EU Market – As an EU member, Estonia provides entrepreneurs with seamless access to the entire EU market without excessive bureaucracy ✍️. 🌱 Startup Support – Estonia actively supports innovation and its startup ecosystem through incubators, accelerators, and startup-focused programs 💡. If you’re looking for the perfect place to establish and grow your startup, Estonia should be at the top of your list ✅. Get ready to embrace the benefits of the digital economy and seize the opportunities this small but dynamic country has to offer! 🌍💪 #startup #estonia #digitaleconomy #EUBusiness

Hey, founders! 👋 Here are 5 benefits that make Estonia an attractive destination for startups: ▪️ Access to the EU market ▪️ Investment opportunities ▪️ Flexible financing options ▪️ Tax efficiency ▪️ Easy banking Check out the full list here: https://lnkd.in/eSi22QpS 🇪🇪

The Ghana Innovation and Start-ups Act project is a joint initiative between the private sector and the government aimed at enhancing the startup ecosystem through co-created legislation. The bill, once passed, will establish a supportive environment for the growth of innovative enterprises, attract investment, and provide frameworks to support entrepreneurial ventures across Ghana.

" The implementation of #Startup Acts is a critical step in nurturing Africa’s innovation ecosystems. While challenges remain, the momentum generated by collaborative efforts offers hope for meaningful progress".- Maeva Kpadonou

A documented lesson of bottom up approach policy reforms in the Francophone Africa 👇