Cape Town's 14 Best Startup Accelerators & Incubators [2024]

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Updated: January 20th, 2022

According to PwC report, Cape Town is the African City of Opportunity, and there are several justifications.

First, Cape Town offers an international pool of talent, growing an ecosystem of support, and a relatively low cost of living.

Second, the city boasts a leading location for technology startups and venture capital deals and emerges as the base for almost 60% of South African Startups.

Additional reasons entrepreneurs choose Cape Town compared to other South African countries include:

Access to the startup capital
Top tertiary institutions bringing a pool of world-class talent
Diverse communities
A culture of innovation
Good governance

Furthermore, Cape Town has multiple co-working spaces and more than 10 local and international accelerators that support start-ups in Cape Town each year.

Are you looking for an accelerator program in Cape Town?

If you're starting a startup in Cape Town, you might be wondering what startup accelerators or incubators exist in the area. Here's the full list:

Best Startup Accelerators & Incubators In Cape Town

#	Accelerator/Incubator	Funding	Location	Apply
1	XL Africa	Between $250K and $1M	Cape Town...	Apply
2	Injini	$40K	Cape Town...	Apply
3	Startupbootcamp	$20K - $250K	Global	Apply
4	MTN Solution Space	R300 000	Cape Town...	Apply
5	Akro	Up to R100K	Cape Town...	Apply
6	New Economy Accelerator	$10K to $1Million	Cape Town...	Apply
7	OneBio	R500k - R20M	Cape Town...	Apply
8	OceanHub Africa	Up to $100K, including $25k for IT support and $40k for engineering support	Cape Town...	Apply
9	Savant	Not disclosed	Cape Town...	Apply
10	Grindstone Accelerator	Not disclosed	Cape Town...	Apply
11	[Webber Wentzel Ignite Incubator
](#11-webber-wentzel-ignite-incubatorSTARTERSTORYNOTARGETBLANK)	Not Disclosed	Cape Town...	Apply
12	Digital Health Cape Town	Not disclosed	Cape Town...	Apply

1. XL Africa

Location: Cape Town and Greater Sub-Saharan Africa
Industry: Digital Solutions
Investment Size: Between $250K and $1M
Program Length: 5 Months
Equity Taken: *Not Disclosed *

XL Africa Accelerator program works towards connecting the Startups across Africa with mentors and access to venture capital.

Their startup accelerator/incubator program targets the later-stage companies focusing on digital solutions for fintech, agriculture, transport, energy, health, education, smart cities, gaming, resource management, media, and much more. The 5-months program comes with capital investment in the range of $250K to $1.5Million.

In addition to the funding, the successful startups receive mentorship and coaching from in-country and international business leaders, investors, and experts. Moreover, successful founders gain access to a repository of information, African and international case studies, and tools to fuel their growth.

Apply to XL Africa, or learn more ➜

2. Injini

Location: Cape Town, South Africa
Industry: EdTech
Investment Size: $40K
Program Length: 6 - 18 Months
Equity Taken: None

Injini accelerator program exists to support founders and entrepreneurs working towards improving the quality, access, and relevance of education systems.” change to: “Injini’s accelerator program exists to support founders and entrepreneurs working towards improving the quality, access, and relevance of education in sub-Saharan Africa.

Apply to Injini, or learn more ➜

3. Startupbootcamp

Location: Global
Industry: Healthcare Industry
Investment Size: $20K - $250K
Program: 6 Months
Equity Taken: Not Disclosed

Startupbootcamp's Scale Digital Health is an accelerator program designed to scale growth-stage healthcare businesses.

This 6-month program offers the customized support, fundraising and revenue-increasing opportunities, exposure channels, an unparalleled network of industry professionals, expertise, tailored mentorship, perks & benefits, access to a global network of corporate partners and investors, and co-working space to the healthcare startups.

Apply to Startupbootcamp, or learn more ➜

4. MTN Solution Space

Location: Cape Town, South Africa
Industry: Sector Agnostic
Investment Size: R300 000
Program Length: 4 months
Equity Taken: Not Disclosed

The MTN Solution Space is an accelerator program run by MTN, the telecommunication company in collaboration with the University of Cape Town Graduate School of Business.

The program targets high-impact early-stage startups and research institutions, providing them with an enabling environment in which to build their entrepreneurial skills.

The MTN Solution Space supports innovation-led startups and sustainable startups working towards ensuring a positive impact. They invest up to R300K in the startup accelerator program.

Apply to MTN Solution Space, or learn more ➜

5. Akro

Location: Cape Town, South Africa
Industry: Technology focused startups
Investment Size: Up to R100K
Program Length: 5 Months
Equity Taken: *Not disclosed *

Akro Accelerator is a program targeting technology and innovation startups. The startup accelerator program runs for 5 months, providing the startups dedicated time, and active business coaching from experts and subject matter advisors.

Successful applicants will also receive post-program mentorship, and up to R100K in digital infrastructure services. The startup accelerator program provides access to AKRO co-working spaces and a network of potential partners and clients.

Apply to Akro, or learn more ➜

6. New Economy Accelerator

Location: Cape Town, South Africa
Industry: Technology
Investment Size: $10K to $1Million
Program Length: 6 months
Equity Taken: Not disclosed

New Economy accelerator is a program targeting high-impact innovative companies. The 6 months accelerator program connects startup entrepreneurs with the knowledge, support programs, and mentorship needed for success. The program provides capital financing of between $10K and $1million.

Apply to New Economy Accelerator, or learn more ➜

7. OneBio

Location: Cape Town, South Africa
Industry: Biotech
Investment Size: R500k - R20M
Program Length: 6 months
Equity Taken: *Equity Free *

OneBio venture capital program targets world-changing businesses venturing into the biotechnology sector. The 6months accelerator program provides investment capital and business coaching to help startup founders build companies that solve global challenges.

In addition, participants gain access to business support, supply of lab facilities and office space, as well as networking and mentorship opportunities. they invest between R500k and R20 Million and do not take equity from the startups.

Apply to OneBio, or learn more ➜

8. OceanHub Africa

Location: Cape Town, South Africa
Industry: Sector Agnostic
Investment Size: Up to $100K, including $25k for IT support and $40k for engineering support
Program Length: 6 months
Equity Taken: Equity Free

OceanHub Africa is an accelerator program that provides startups with physical working space and access to customized mentorship and business leadership training.

The program supports ocean-impact startups that tackle ocean pollution, overexploitation or climate change.

The program provides startups access to up to $25K worth of access to the cloud service, and over $40K worth of mechanical engineering design software licensing.

Apply to OceanHub Africa, or learn more ➜

9. Savant

Location: Cape Town, South Africa
Industry: Technology
Investment Size: Not disclosed
Program Length: Not Disclosed
Equity Taken: *Equity Free *

Savant Technology Incubator program targets technology companies that provide bespoke business development support. The program focuses on highly skilled science and technology companies and aims at helping them through their startup growth journey.

Ideally, Savant aims at bringing unrivaled technology with inventors going through a streamlined journey to provide them with product development skills and prepare them for early market traction.

Apply to Savant, or learn more ➜

10. Grindstone Accelerator

Location: Cape Town, South Africa
Industry: Sector Agnostic
Investment Size: Not disclosed
Program Length: Not disclosed
Equity Taken: Not Disclosed

Grindstone Accelerator is a structured entrepreneurship development program targeting early-stage startups. The program runs for 12 months and takes startup founders and entrepreneurs through an intensive training program to support their entrepreneurship ambitions.

The startup incubator program provides knowledge, networks, and funding to enable the companies to take advantage of market access opportunities.

Apply to Grindstone Accelerator, or learn more ➜

11. Webber Wentzel Ignite Incubator

Location: Cape Town, South Africa
Industry: Sector Agnostic
Investment Size: Not Disclosed
Program Length: 6 months
Equity Taken: *Equity Free *

Webber Wentzel Ignite is a startup incubator program providing law firms financing of up to R100,000. The incubator program takes 6 months and connects the participants to a network of founders and VC firms for potential funding.

Apply to Webber Wentzel Ignite Incubator , or learn more ➜

12. Digital Health Cape Town

Location: Cape Town, South Africa
Industry: Health
Investment Size: Not disclosed
Program Length: 3 months
Equity Taken: *Equity Free *

Digital Health Accelerator Program runs for three months, and targets private and public sector healthcare practitioners. The program includes a face-to-face session where the participants receive coaching and mentorship from the industry leaders.

The top participants are legible for funding and further industry-focused business coaching, along with assistance to launch and expand their businesses. Ideally, the three months incubator program aims at equipping the entrepreneurs with adequate business knowledge and acumen.

Apply to Digital Health Cape Town, or learn more ➜

meet the author

Pat Walls

I'm Pat Walls and I created Starter Story - a website dedicated to helping people start businesses. We interview entrepreneurs from around the world about how they started and grew their businesses.

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