THE UCT GRADUATE SCHOOL OF BUSINESS

Gain an understanding of the field of impact investing and its ecosystem

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Running on empty - they wish they didn't

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Enjoying lunch in the park with friends

A SPACE TO CALL HOME FOR LEAN STARTUPS

The Venture Incubation Programme (VIP) is a keystone initiative that is designed to help entrepreneurial teams to test and validate their business models. The early stages of a startup are full of questions and unknowns. Who is my customer? What can I do for my customer? How does my customer acquire my product? How do I make money? How do I scale? VIP aims to help founders answer these questions and identify and validate the foundational assumptions of their business model.

The 12-week, mentor-led programme combines mentorship, workshops and a community of startups to create a holistic approach to testing and validating a business model.

Run on a bi-annual basis, the programme selects 10 startups based on a few key criteria.

Stage of idea
Market research conducted
Team ability and commitment
Investment potential

The programme is based on lean methodologies of testing and validating the business model. The lean model teaches entrepreneurs to shorten the development cycle, effectively allowing them to minimise the use of resources and maximise their models chances of success.

Additionally, participants have access to a range of resources (co-working space, private workshops, mentor-matching programme, weekly check-ins and staff advisors), and a community of peers who learn and grow together.

APPLICATION DATES

Applications for the 2017 Winter School have closed. Please check this page for updates on the next cohort.

SELECTION PROCESS

Once your application has been submitted online, our VIP committee will evaluate your application and produce a shortlist of founders to attend a Â½ day pre-selection boot camp. Based on the bootcamp, the VIP selection committee produces a shortlist of founders to give a 5 minute pitch to our selection committee.

SELECTION CRITERIA

Startups selected for the programme are able to demonstrate the following:

Initial concept demonstrates deep and intimate understanding of problem and market need/opportunity
A Minimum Viable Product (MVP) ready to conduct early-market testing and further establish product/market fit
Team has the right balance of skills/ability to build, test and deliver
Founder must be the lead participant and attend on full-time basis (present at the Solution Space 30+hrs/week during the 12 week programme)
Entrepreneurs are hungry, committed, disciplined, doers, and coachable
A desire to help other teams and contribute to the community as a whole

PROGRAMME BENEFITS

A hybrid between an incubator and an accelerator, the VIP provides a select cohort of startups with a wide range of services and expertise at the value of approximately R300k!

Advice from seasoned entrepreneur, investor, mentor
Mentors, one-on-one support and guidance from seasoned entrepreneurs
Co-working space
Skills development from best business school in Africa
Know-how, networks and new business opportunities
Advisory Services Specialist expertise, e.g. Legal, HR, Digital, Venture Capital
Access to Funding
Networks Introduction to industry contacts, partners and our alumni
Exposure and Recognition
Company profiles, media releases and association with the GSB