UVU Accelerate

We’re excited to continue spotlighting our Tech to Titans cohort, an initiative driven by JSE Private Placements, the UK Government’s UK South Africa Tech Hub Hub, and UVU Accelerate. Throughout this 10-month programme, these South African tech ventures will benefit from specialised training, mentorship and valuable investor connections to support their growing businesses. This pilot programme has been designed to prepare these ventures for onboarding onto Africa's largest private marketplace, the JSE Private Placements, which links private companies seeking funding with qualified investors. Swipe through to meet the Tech & Software Services founders in our diverse cohort of 20 entrepreneurs. Stay tuned as we introduce more innovators from this exciting group. #MeetTheCohort #TechToTitans #TechAndSoftwareServices

It’s #GlobalEntrepreneurshipWeek and we’re celebrating the bold entrepreneurs who are redefining possibilities across Africa. As a leading African ESO, UVU Accelerate is proud to work with innovators in diverse industries—from creative and cultural sectors, automotive, agriculture, and tech, to edtech, across various business stages. Our sector-agnostic approach allows us to witness the incredible range of entrepreneurs rising up in different fields, each with unique stories, challenges, and impact. With a dedicated Women in Business programme, we also place a strong focus on empowering female founders, ensuring women are at the forefront of Africa’s entrepreneurial growth. Let’s elevate African entrepreneurs together. Reach out to us for partnership and collaboration opportunities. #Entrepreneurship #AfricanFounders #UVUAccelerate

Vivens Uwizeyimana, founder of Umurava, shares how ATSF has empowered his team through mentorship, networking, and access to resources. He's excited about the future opportunities, including pitching to South Korean investors. #ATSF #startupsuccess #africaninnovation #rwanda

The second session of day one began with Carla Hudson, who is the Mpumalanga Green Cluster Agency's (MGCA) Programme Manager, explaining in depth who the MGCA is and what it is that we do and the role that we play. We are the agency that looks to remove barriers which hinder our Provincial Government and external investors from coming together and paving a way forward for communitites as we look towards a Just Transition. This is also why we pride ourselves in being the agency that is at the middle of bringing Government, Academia, Private Sector and Communities together. Nina Kolybashkina, who is the Senior Social Development Specialist with Climate Investment Funds also highlighted the main vision behind this project which is reflecting on the planned work by the various institutions and also understanding what is in the next in the pipeline to be actioned. The team from UVU Africa shared a presentation of their farming project which is led by women in the Bushbuckridge area which also shows that there are women who are slowly coming into the space and making agriculture work for them and their families. The Department of social development in Mpumalanga also highlighted their plans and activities they currently have on their table but emphasis was made on collaboration which will assist in bringing most of their activities to the people especially in the farming space seeing that there already is activity happening and this collaboration will help reach an even bigger number of farmers in the rural areas. Could this be the start of bridging the Gender Equality gap especially in Just Energy Transition? #SAJJOF #Mpumalanga #MGCA #GenderEquality #JustEnergyTransition Suhana Bisnath African Development Bank Group Agence française de développement en Amérique Latine Absa Group Climate Investment Funds UVU Accelerate

We're excited to share our transformative agriculture project in #Bushbuckridge, where 25 dedicated female farmers are building the future of rural agribusiness. Our Operations Manager, Hayley Sylvester, recently visited the region to connect with the cohort and witness firsthand the impact of their work—seeing the fertile soil, thriving vegetables, and impressive produce that showcase the potential for growth this initiative aims to tap into. In partnership with Absa Group, the African Development Bank Group (AFDB), Climate Investment Fund and the Mpumalanga Green Cluster Agency, this project equips these entrepreneurs with the resources and skills to enhance their tech capabilities, starting with tablets to support their agri-tech journey. In-person training is also underway at Bushbuckridge Secondary School. This milestone reinforces our commitment to empowering women in agriculture—strengthening their roles in the local economy and promoting sustainable practices within the sector. The project also supports the broader SA JET Jobs First initiative, focusing on gender and social inclusion, and highlights the powerful contributions of rural women in agriculture. We’re proud to back these inspiring entrepreneurs as they redefine the future of farming for their communities and families. #AgriRuralDevelopment #UVUAccelerate #RuralEntrepreneurs #FemaleEntrepreneurs #FemaleFarmers

Yesterday, Suhana Bisnath, represented UVU Accelerate at the Just Energy Transition Gender Conference, hosted by African Development Bank in conjunction Mpumalanga Green Cluster Agency. With key figures from local and international institutions like the Climate Investment Funds, The Presidency of the Republic of South Africa , CANADIAN EMBASSY, Irish Aid, The World Bank, Absa Group, Agence Française de Développement, NBI and South African Government, the session emphasised the need for accessible funding and support for women-led businesses, particularly in rural areas. As we push forward in the transition to a sustainable future, these conversations are crucial for ensuring inclusivity and opportunity for all.   #GenderEquality #WomenInBusiness #JustTransition #Funding

The third address of the day saw presentations being made which focused on the ongoing Gender Initiatives from different institutions. These presentations are perspectives from entrepreneurs, private sector, NGO's and Government. Institutions who made presentations include, Harambee, World Bank Gender, NBI, Gert Sibande and Shauna Flanagan from representing Canada. The main point all presentations drove home was that funding specifically for women is available and it must reach even women in the rural areas, centres must be made available for anybody to walk in and receive assistance due to the low number of technologically savvy individuals and the presentations showed that there are women businesses within the Just Energy Transition space and there is still space for more to join in. #GenderEquality #MGCA #Presentations #WomenInBusiness #Funding The World Bank Group African Development Bank Group Climate Investment Funds

We're happy to introduce our incredible lineup of UVU Africa speakers at the Africa Tech Festival 2024 taking place from tomorrow to the 14th November! Join our leaders as they dive into discussions on educational equity, innovation, and tech talent development. This event brings together Africa’s brightest minds to explore opportunities that will drive growth and empower change across the continent.   Presenting their expertise this year at the following sessions are:   - Chesarae K Pillay Pillay, Head of Digital, CAPACITI - Educational Equity Through AI: Tools for Advancing Education in Underserved Areas  - Ian Merrington, Group CEO, UVU Africa - Driving Corporate Innovation  - Fiona Tabraham, CEO, CAPACITI - Unlocking Potential in African Tech Talent   - Kelly Gifford, Programmes Head, Injini - Transforming Education: EdTech for Africa’s Youth   - Chanel Oldfieldél Oldfield, COO, CAPACITI - Building a Future-Ready Workforce  - Lara Rosmarin, Head of Entrepreneurial Development, UVU Accelerate - Empowering Female Founders   As part of our community, you receive a 15% discount on your ticket. Click here to secure your spot: https://lnkd.in/d5Wn8kDa   #AfricaTechFestival #UVUAfrica #EmpoweringChange #TechInnovation #AfricaRising

The #CréationAfrica programme has come to a close, but its impact continues to inspire. Hear directly from the top 12 entrepreneurs from South Africa, Lesotho, and Malawi as they share their experiences and the transformative support that helped elevate their ventures. This journey has shown just how vital Africa’s cultural and creative industries (CCI) are in driving economic and social transformation across the continent.   We’re grateful to our partners—France in South Africa and Bpifrance. Together, we supported these talented individuals through an impactful incubation process, helping to prepare them for global success and showcase the vibrant potential of African creativity.   If you’re as passionate as we are about building Africa’s creative economy, reach out and let’s continue to unlock the immense potential of Africa’s CCI together. To watch the full video, click here: https://lnkd.in/d-8Bmqtg #UVUAccelerate #CréationAfrica #CreativeIndustry #AfricanInnovation #Entrepreneurship

Congratulations to the top 20 Africa Tech Startup Forum (ATSF) finalists! These outstanding entrepreneurs from South Africa, Rwanda, Kenya, Uganda, Nigeria, Morocco, Ghana, and Egypt have brought forward exceptional solutions in sectors such as Fintech, Healthtech, Edtech, Agritech, and more. In December, they’ll showcase the strength of African innovation at the global ComeUp Korea event, pitching their groundbreaking ideas on an international stage. UVU Accelerate is proud to have played a role in supporting their growth and development, facilitating 14 workshops, hosting tailored training and providing one-on-one mentorship. We’re excited to see how far they’ve come and can’t wait to watch them shine on this global platform. #ATSF2024 #InnovationLeaders #UVUAccelerate #ComeUpKorea