BOOST UP is a three-part startup support programme organised by the Connected Hubs network and the Southern Africa Innovation Support Programme (SAIS 2) in Botswana, Namibia, South Africa, Tanzania, and Zambia. BOOST UP targets startups that use technology to solve a societal challenge and are looking for skills that could help them articulate their business. The BOOST UP series comprises the Set Up online training events, Stand Up pitching competitions, and Scale Up incubation programme.
The final stage of BOOST UP 2020 took place on 13 November 2020. Eighteen tech-driven early-stage impact startups from Botswana, Namibia, South Africa, Tanzania, and Zambia will competed to be crowned the winner.
You can watch the stream on playback here, on our YouTube Channel, or on our Facebook Page.
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These exciting startups participated in BOOST UP Bootcamp and Slush 2019.
Take a look at this brochure for more information on BOOST UP Bootcamp, the startups, the Slush side event Investing and Partnering with African Innovators, and the implementation and knowledge partners.
In 2018, SAIS 2 partnered with the Slush Global Impact Accelerator to select one promising startup per SAIS partner country. These five start-ups are all young enterprises solving a societal problem in line with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. The startups joined Slush GIA to gain insight in topics ranging from pitching to investor relationships as well as business and product development.
In 2017, SAIS 2 piloted cross-border collaboration with Botswana Innovation Hub and Fablab Namibia. The three organisations supported two startups from Namibia and three from Botswana to attend Slush 2017 in Helsinki with hub managers. The five startups took part in a two-month incubator programme with coaching sessions on pitching, business mentoring, and product development.