The Mashauri Revenue Accelerator is a ten-week programme for the USSAVI 26 teams invited to pitch at Demo Day, with one aim: to help your team win its first paying customers. Revenue is the only route to a business that lasts, whether you plan to fund it yourselves or bring in investors.
This is not another course, and there are no modules to work through. You spend your time selling. A mentor coaches you twice a month. You send a short report every Monday and get a written reply. You meet the other teams in a founder session every two weeks, and you can book a monthly office-hours call with Mashauri.
At week 6 you show evidence that customers will pay. On the Direct track that means money from a customer. On the Organisation track it means a paid pilot or a signed letter of intent. Teams with that evidence go on to grow their sales and pitch at Demo Day in February to investors, funders and partners.
Joining is optional. It is for committed teams of two to five founders who are willing to do the work every week. Each founder pays a R250 subscription to start, and a second R250 only if the team continues after week 6. Mashauri takes no share of your business.
Key dates: registration is open from 27 October to 6 November. Week 0, which covers your founders’ agreement, your track, your offer, your list of 20 prospects and your choice of mentor, must be finished by Friday 27 November. The programme starts on Tuesday 1 December, the checkpoint is from 18 to 24 January, and Demo Day is in the week of 22 February.
Full details: https://mashauri.org/programme-reports/files/Mashauri_Revenue_Accelerator.html
The United States – South Africa Virtual Incubator (USSAVI) is an entrepreneurship development program that was initiated through a diverse network of influential organizations and advisors. The project is supported by the United States Embassy in South Africa, is part of the United States-South Africa Higher Education Network, is based at Guilford College, and is being developed in partnership with Mashauri.
Further details of the program may be found at https://ussavi.org
This Problem Validation Virtual Incubator has been designed for the USSAVI (United States - South Africa Virtual Incubator Program). You may find details of the program and applications at www.ussavi.org
The Problem Identification and validation Incubator is a 4 week program Designed to help participants clearly define the problem they are solving for their customer, identify who that customer is, and validate that the customer faces that problem and does not have an ideal solution. This is a critical step for any new venture development - one which is often foregone or skipped over superficially by many would-be entrepreneurs. The impact is later on the journey. They find they do not have a clear idea of their problem or customer, which can significantly slow them down or even result in venture failure.
The 4-week Problem Validation Virtual Incubator Program will provide students with the tools and experience to define and validate real-world problems, identify target customers, and understand their needs.
Program Components:
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Knowledge-Building Modules: Focus on learning startup best practices such as lean startup, customer discovery and problem identification
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Venture-Building modules: Students build a real venture idea and submit assignments and self-reflection assessments..
The 4-week Problem-Solution Validation Virtual Incubator Program will provide students with the tools and experience to define and validate real-world problems, identify target customers, and develop viable solutions. It will equip up to 100 students with hands-on experience in the early stages of venture creation.
Program Components:
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Knowledge-Building Modules: Focus on learning startup best practices such as lean startup, customer discovery and problem identification
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Venture-Building modules: Students build a real venture idea and submit assignments and self-reflection assessments..
Entry is for students or faculty at participating universities and is by invitation only.
The Ashoka Forge Problem-Solution Validation Incubator program is the inaugural program of this initiative. It has been developed for students at Ashoka University
The 4-week Problem-Solution Validation Virtual Incubator Program will provide students with the tools and experience to define and validate real-world problems, identify target customers, and develop viable solutions. It will equip up to 60 students with hands-on experience in the early stages of venture creation.
Program Components:
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Knowledge-Building Modules: Focus on learning startup best practices such as lean startup, customer discovery and problem identification
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Venture-Building modules: Students build a real venture idea and submit assignments and self-reflection assessments..
Entry is for students or faculty at participating universities and is by invitation only. Anyone who has an interest in joining should contact Apoorv Bamba
The Wolves Idea-To-Impact Incubator program is the inaugural program of this initiative. It has been developed for students at the University of Wolverhampton
The 4-week Problem-Solution Validation Virtual Incubator Program will provide students with the tools and experience to define and validate real-world problems, identify target customers, and develop viable solutions. It will equip up to 60 students (20 from each institution) with hands-on experience in the early stages of venture creation.
Program Components:
-
Knowledge-Building Modules: Focus on learning startup best practices such as lean startup, customer discovery and problem identification
-
Venture-Building modules: Students build a real venture idea and submit assignments and self-reflection assessments..
Entry is for students or faculty at participating universities and is by invitation only. Anyone who has an interest in joining should contact ginger.nijjar@wlv.ac.uk
Simple Ideation Program
This is a very simple program to support Wolves students about to enter the Idea to Impact Program, but who do not have a venture idea with which to start.
The CRG BioBusiness School is a highly interactive, activity-driven learning process that takes scientists through a concentrated entrepreneurial immersion experience; aiming to instil an entrepreneurial mindset and to ignite the ability to convert lab-ideas into business ones.
The core of the program takes you through the venture building process in small groups of participants; supported by exchange with entrepreneurs and business experts culminating in a pitch event. This online experience, designed by the CRG Technology Transfer and Training office, with the special collaboration of the PROTrEIN project, provides valuable resources such as business templates, educational material and a communication channel to capture and maximise the inputs and outputs of the event.
Participants benefits You will benefit from building an entrepreneurial skillset that will give you the capacity and confidence to pinpoint the added commercial value of your research as well as to envision the creation of your own business. Furthermore, if you decide not to follow the path of entrepreneurship, these competencies are greatly sought after by corporates, NGOs and the public sector - and as such, you will gain an advantage in the job market. The online format of the program widens the networking opportunities with national and international fellows, allowing you to establish bonds with other participants and invited speakers. Besides work, there will also be fun activities to keep the group stimulated and engaged.
IMDP certificate · Module 1 of 8 · Online · About two weeks
Incubator strategic and effective programme design
Most incubator programmes were designed once and then repeated. Founders move along by calendar date rather than by evidence, the support on offer does not match the stage most of them are at, and nobody can show clearly how the activities lead to the results the institution wants.
This certificate takes you through the strategic planning and programme design work that fixes that. You work on your own incubator throughout, not on a case study, and your assignments are reviewed by an experienced incubator practitioner.
What you leave with
- A redesigned programme phase that moves founders on when they have evidence, not when the calendar says so.
- A logic model for your incubator, drafted by you and checked by us, which links what you put in to the impact you want to show.
- A refreshed business model at incubator and programme level.
- A first strategic map of your programme’s impact, assessed with written feedback.
- An IMDP certificate in Strategic Planning and Effective Programme Design.
What the course covers
1. Incubator programme design. How startups actually progress, using Mashauri’s Startup Spiral alongside the classic startup stages, and how to match your support to each stage. You then rebuild part of your own programme around milestones.
2. Adaptive programme design. How to improve a programme from one cohort to the next based on what the evidence shows, with a simulation, a short case study and a redesign sprint on one of your own phases.
3. Building and applying logic models. What a logic model is, why funders and senior managers increasingly expect one, and how to draft one that holds up.
4. Business models for incubators. Explore different business models and the rationale behind them based on what you are trying to achieve and who is paying.
5. Strategic programme mapping. How to map your programme against the impact it is meant to deliver, so you can see where it is strong, where the gaps are, and what to fix first.
How it works
The course is fully online and you work through it at your own pace. Most people finish in about two weeks. Each topic combines short interactive videos and a podcast, a quick quiz, and a practical assignment based on your own incubator. You receive written feedback on each assignment, and you can join the participants’ WhatsApp group to compare notes with other incubator managers.
You can start as soon as you enrol.
Who it is for
Incubator and accelerator managers, programme leads and entrepreneurship development staff, particularly in universities and other public institutions. It suits people who run a programme day to day and want a clearer, more defensible design, whether they are new to the role or have run cohorts for years.
Part of the Incubator Managers Development Programme
This is one of eight standalone IMDP certificates, each covering one area of running an incubator well. You can take any certificate on its own. Complete all eight and you earn the full Incubator Managers Development Programme. The programme draws on more than 14 years of Mashauri’s incubation work with universities in the UK, Spain, the US, South Africa, Kenya, Nigeria, Ghana and India.
Find out more about the full programme on the IMDP information page.
Paying for the course
Your fee counts towards the full programme. If you or your institution go on to buy the full Incubator Managers Development Programme within 12 months, you will be credited with having passed the module and the programme fee will be adjusted accordingly.
You can pay by card below and start straight away. If your institution has a staff training or professional development budget, you may well be able to claim the fee back. If your institution needs an invoice in a different format, email simon.gifford@mashauri.org after enrolment and we will provide what you need.
Note: if you are not yet registered at Mashauri, you will need to do so (top right-hand corner) and then return here to pay and enrol.
This program has been designed to support those who wish to act as a mentor to a startup founder or team.
Special price £49.99 for full access to the programme for 3 months (it is planned on taking one month to complete)
Apply here to reach our payment
Purpose
To instruct participants to act as mentors to startup founders or teams.
Who is it for?
Professors, entrepreneurial hub managers, graduate students, students with entrepreneurial experience, coaches with limited startup experience.
Modus Operandi
An online program running over 3 weeks. There will be 3 online group sessions; beyond these events, participants conduct work in their own time.
Anticipated Time Requirement
3 to 5 hours per week for 3 weeks.
Desired Outcome
Participants ready to mentor startup teams.
Startup Level
Aimed at early-stage ventures, although much will also apply to later-stage ventures.
What are the benefits?
- Learn and practice the principles of how to support founders and teams in developing new business ventures.
- Be mentor-ready immediately on completing the course.
- Network with fellow mentors and learn from each other.
- Learn about some of the key startup tools, as well as the mentoring process.
- Obtain a set of useful templates to fast-track you and your mentees in developing a robust and structured relationship.
- Receive a Mashauri Startup Mentor Competency certificate on successful completion of the program.
The course will open once your payment has been confirmed.
Module 1: Exposure to Lean Startup Process and Tools
E.g., business model canvas, customer discovery, and minimum viable products. (Optional if the participant already has this knowledge).
Module 2: Mentoring Process Including
- Building trust & rapport
- The first meeting
- Setting boundaries and objectives
- Key elements of mentoring (e.g., listening, challenging, questioning, motivating)
- Managing the relationship
- Optimizing the process
Module 3: Supporting Mentor and Mentee With
- Tools and templates
- Agendas and report-back standard documentation
- Mentor simulation exercise
Incubator Managers Development Program: Operational Excellence
Review programme details and applications at: IMDP Operational Excellence
Course Description
This course equips incubator managers with essential strategies, tools, and frameworks to enhance operational excellence, financial sustainability, and entrepreneurial support. Participants will develop skills in programme design, resource management, technology integration, mentorship, and impactful alumni engagement.
Course Objectives
- Master strategic planning and effective incubator programme design.
- Enhance financial sustainability through integrated institutional strategies.
- Optimise incubator resources, spaces, and technological tools.
- Build robust monitoring and evaluation frameworks.
- Foster entrepreneurial mindset and cohort excellence.
- Design effective mentorship and peer learning frameworks.
- Deliver customised incubation services and alumni strategies.
Learning Outcomes
Participants will:
- Create strategic plans aligned with entrepreneurial growth stages.
- Develop comprehensive financial sustainability and institutional alignment strategies.
- Leverage technology to maximise operational efficiency.
- Implement effective monitoring and evaluation frameworks.
- Enhance entrepreneurial mindset through structured cohort development.
- Build and manage impactful mentorship programmes.
- Customise incubation services for long-term entrepreneurial success.
Target Audience
- Incubator managers and leaders
- Entrepreneurship development professionals
- Operational leads in university or public incubators
Delivery Style
- Interactive online modules
- Practical assignments, videos, and peer reviews
- Quizzes and assessments
Assessment Strategy
- Weekly quizzes and practical assignments
- Peer feedback and a final integrative project
Problem-Solution Validation Incubator
Problem-Solution Validation Incubator
Most new ventures do not fail because the founder executed badly. They fail because the founder built something before finding out whether the problem was real, and whether anyone other than them actually cared about it. This incubator puts that question first. Over four weeks, working at your own pace, you will pin down the exact problem you are trying to solve, go and talk to the people who face it, and gather real evidence of whether it is worth solving — before you spend another month building.
This matters more now than it used to. AI has made the technology solution itself far easier to build — a working prototype that once took months can now come together in days. That speed is tempting, and it is exactly why skipping validation is so much more costly than it used to be: it is now entirely possible to build something well, fast, that nobody actually needed in the first place.
By the end, you will have:
- A problem statement tested against evidence, not assumption
- A clear picture of who experiences this problem, and how badly they need it fixed
- A written record of the customer conversations behind your conclusions
- A confident decision — carry on, adjust course, or stop early, before the cost of being wrong grows
The course is fully online and self-paced. Most founders finish in around four weeks, and you get three months of access from the day you enrol, so there is room to fit it around a job, a lab, or your studies.
Price: £65.00 for the full programme, with three months of access included.
(If you are an institution with multiple students, please review our portfolio and pricing)
Start with the problem. The pitch can wait.
Who is this programme for?
- Anyone who wants to start a new venture using a scientific approach that de-risks it
- Founders with a venture idea to begin with, however vague or half-formed — a hunch about a problem, or a rough idea for a solution, is enough
Note: If you do not have a venture idea yet, start with the Ideation Incubator first; it is built to get you to a venture idea worth testing here
If you wish to take the course you first need to register at Mashauri (top right hand corner) and when you are logged in, you will be able to make the payment via our secure payment system.
Ideation Incubator
Ideation Incubator
Not every founder starts with an idea already picked. Many people know they want to build something, they just have not landed on what yet — and forcing it usually produces something safe, or something copied from someone else. This programme gives you a proper process for finding your own idea, plus enough grounding in what actually separates a promising venture idea from a weak one that you will recognise the difference when you see it.
From there, you work through a milestone-based process: a series of practical steps that take you from a blank page to a venture idea you have properly tested against your own thinking, rather than just your first instinct. You can lean on a lightweight AI assistant built into the programme whenever you want a nudge or a second opinion, or work through the same steps unaided using straightforward, step-by-step thinking prompts — whichever suits you, and you can move between the two as you go.
Most people get through the whole process in a matter of hours; some prefer to take a few days over it. Either way, you have three months of access to come back to it, revisit a step, or start again with a different angle.
Price: £19.99 one-off. 3 Month access.
(If you are an institution with multiple students, please review our portfolio and pricing)
This programme is a natural first step. Once you have a venture idea you believe in, the Problem-Solution Validation Incubator is where you go next to test it properly against real customers.
Who is this programme for?
- Anyone who wants to start a new venture but does not yet have a business idea to work with
- People happy to work through a structured, milestone-based process, with the option of AI support along the way.
Founders who already have a venture idea, even if vague, should go straight to the Problem-Solution Validation Incubator instead, to test it against real customers
If you wish to take the course you first need to register at Mashauri (top right hand corner) and when you are logged in, you will be able to make the payment via our secure payment system.
This series on “Start a Board” is going to talk to you about why you would create a board, how you create a board, what a board does, how to deal with challenges and conflicts that come up in the context of the board, and overall, how to build and develop a powerful board that can help you and your company grow and thrive.
This programme is open and free for any registered Mashauri user - simply signup at the top right hand corner (or press "continue" below).
Entrepreneurial Selling
Because nothing happens until something gets sold, entrepreneurs must develop the knowledge, skill and discipline necessary to succeed in sales or that early momentum may never materialise.
Entrepreneurs face a lot of challenges. One of the first is selling. What's your initial target market? How do you find the first customers in that market? What do you say once you've found them? And how do you get them to buy what you have to offer, and then stay loyal over time?
In this series, we explore a few of the critical skills and tools that entrepreneurs can use to succeed in selling. Our purpose is to help you become as efficient and effective as possible in the sales process, because you don't have a minute to waste.
This course is based on the course of the same name from Kauffman Foundation and has been adjusted slightly for relevance to our students.
Design thinking and product management
A complete guide to design thinking.
Introducing you to the world of design thinking, from conceptualising an idea using design thinking to develop the first version of your product,
What you will learn
- What is design thinking and how it is used
- What are the benefits and challenges in using design thinking
- What are the key steps in the process and how do you undertake them
- How to use design-thinking in product management through every stage of the product life-cycle
As with all Mashauri programs, this one is highly experiential and you will learn by dong. This also means you will walk away form the course as a design-thinking practitioner with a toolbox of techniques, templates, processes and guides.
All successful students will also receive a certificate.
Who is this for
The program will be incredibly useful for anyone who wants to understand what is design thinking and how to put it into practise.
In particular, it will serve:
- Those interested in a career in product management
- Entrepreneurs (early stage or late stage)
- Intrapreneurs wishing to make an impact on their organisation through innovation
- University students looking for a life-skill to help them in problem-solving and decision making (and to give their resume a boost)
- Anyone seeking to unlock their own creativity in a structured manner
The outline syllabus
- Design thinking - an introduction and overview
- The design-thinking process - deep dive into the 5 steps including a free set of insanely useful tools, processes and techniques.
- Design thinking - product development and cases
- Design thinking - final assignment
Application modes
Application is open to two categories of student
- Open to individuals
- Open to Belong students
The methods of enrolment of the two categories are explained below. Note: you must be registered on Mashauri before you can enrol (both categories).
Application open to all individuals (by payment):
The fee is US £149.99 to undertake the course, including the certification.
Step 1: you need to register at Mashauri (see menu in top right hand corner)
Step 2: after registration, return to this program and click the "Pay now" button.
Step 4: once you have paid, you will receive confirmation of payment and be given immediate access to the program.
EDHE Moonshot Virtual Incubator
"Propelling Visions to Reality"
The EDHE Moonshot Virtual Incubator is your gateway to transforming visionary ideas into viable businesses. Designed for the dynamic university student founders who have won this reward from their efforts in the EDHE UniterVarsity competition.
We will help you build on your captivating idea and help you develop it into a real business.
Objectives and Planned Outcomes:
- Provide participants with the tools to clarify their problem statements and business models.
- Guide startups in the development and execution of effective go-to-market strategies.
- Prepare participants to meet potential investors and stakeholders with confidence.
- Enable the creation of both bootstrapped and funded business models, tailored to the individual needs of each startup.
- Foster an environment of collaboration and innovation among peers across B2B and B2C streams.
Expectations from Participants:
We anticipate participants to invest 4 to 6 hours per week to maximise their experience. This includes attending interactive webinars, where you'll engage with industry experts and fellow founders.
Commitment and proactive participation are key to leveraging the full potential of this incubator.
"The moonshot becomes a reality when vision meets relentless determination."
Adapted from John F. Kennedy
This is an introductory program to Mashauri for NEOKUL students.
What is NEOKUL? Let us give you a taste from their introduction to potential students:
"At Neokul, you will be just as inspired by the person sitting next to you as the person speaking to you. You will be joining a tribe of extraordinary individuals. And the best part is it’s not just attending one program. It’s joining a community of brilliant people who meet regularly and support each other in their journey to make an impact on the world."
Entry is for Wits students or faculty and is by invitation only and anyone who has an interest in joining should contact Nic Cloete-Hopkins at nic.cloete-hopkins@wits.ac.za
Centria University of Applied Technology is part of an EIT consortium: DEETECHTIVE. Within this project, they will incubate a number of student businesses to guide them from ideation through to a tested business model.
The program's objective is to support founders in advancing their venture development. It includes a comprehensive curriculum with lectures on essential entrepreneurial tasks, real-world case studies, entrepreneurial narratives, interactive quizzes, and assignments like creating a business model canvas. The program culminates in a live or virtual pitch to potential investors.
The hands-on training component involves targeted activities to train, demonstrate, and support entrepreneurs in specific steps of their venture development, guided by mentors. This training aims not to make entrepreneurs experts but to provide them with just-in-time information and tools for rapid venture progression. The program is grounded in a set of entrepreneurial competencies, ensuring the development of these skills in students. Performance is evaluated through various methods, including a before-and-after self-assessment.
The course outline is shown schematically below:
Discover the future of entrepreneurship: a lean and scientific approach
The University of Venda is hosting the Ecoverse Incubator: "where ideas and ventures take flight"
Background
Over the past decade, revolutionary and evidence-based methods for launching a business have emerged. Yet, many budding entrepreneurs, particularly among university students, remain in the dark about these low-risk pathways. They often set out on ventures that are riddled with pitfalls and potential failures. But here's the silver lining: it's never too late to pivot and embrace these cutting-edge strategies, significantly boosting your chances of success.
Introducing the University of Venda's Ecoverse Incubator program tailored for the ambitious student entrepreneur, whether you've already taken the plunge or are just kindling the flames of a fresh idea. Dive in, elevate your venture, and let's redefine the entrepreneurial journey together!
Syllabus
Students will dive into a hands-on learning experience, covering vital entrepreneurial insights and directly applying them to hone their business ideas:
- Problem-Centric Thinking: Pivot from solutions to understanding the core problem.
- Social Entrepreneurship: Grasp how entrepreneurial efforts can address societal challenges.
- Lean Startup Methodology: Streamline your venture's inception process.
- Embracing Failure: Comprehend failure's nature and how to harness it constructively.
- Crafting a Problem Vision Statement: Define and articulate your mission.
- Design Thinking: Employ a user-centric approach to ideation and solution crafting.
- Customer Profiling: Identify your target audience, understand their needs, and strategise solutions.
- The Comprehensive Framework: Seamlessly integrate problem, solution, customer, and transformation.
- Pitch Mastery: Articulate your idea persuasively and compellingly.
Embark on a transformative journey to refine, develop, and pitch your entrepreneurial vision!
Modus operandi
Dive Deep into Our Online Learning Experience on the Mashauri Platform
- Program Duration: Mark your calendars! The journey begins on 4th September and culminates on 13th October, 2023
- Flexibility at Its Best: Being fully online, you have the liberty to engage with the content at your convenience. However, following our recommended schedule optimizes your chances for a successful completion.
- Commitment Estimation: Allocate 4 to 5 hours weekly. This includes engaging with videos, articles, quizzes, and tackling assignments.
- Self-Evaluation and Mentorship: While we guide you to appraise your work independently, a seasoned mentor is just a click away, ready to offer support when needed.
Embark on a structured yet flexible learning experience designed for your success!
University of Johannesburg Technology Transfer Office provide a virtual mini incubator that will help you develop and refine your “problem-to-solve”. This is one of the most critical steps in starting a business. Doing this well will greatly increase your chances of successfully starting a business.
The University of Johannesburg Technology Transfer Office continues to support their top entrepreneurs with their latest program: UZIMA!
UZIMA: Swahili for "life"!
This program is designed to help a cohort of ventures move from early business model to being ready for funding and/or having paying customers.
It is very practically focussed and includes areas such as:
- Company and domain registration
- Power networking
- Funding and finance
- Social media and advertising
- Banking
- Negotiation
- Co-founders, equity sharing and cap tables
There will be a range of real entrepreneurs and subject matter experts giving 'fireside chats" and all entrepreneurs will be mentored by an individual mentor.
This program is by invitation only.
For further information, contact simon.gifford@mashauri.org with UZIMA in the subject matter.
Sefako Makgatho Health Sciences University (SMU) have launched a 3 stage entrepreneurial development program to support students and faculty in launching a new business venture.
Stage 1: entrepreneur basics and idea pitching.
A 3 week "mini-incubator" competition where students receive some foundational entrepreneurial education and with the use of tools, are guided through developing their competition entry that culminates in a pitching competition.
All applicants receive some exposure to entrepreneurship and the top 30 (based on idea, engagement and pitch) are selected to enter stage 2.
Stage 2: entrepreneurial immersion bootcamp
This activity-based process takes students through a concentrated entrepreneurial immersion experience designed to instil an entrepreneurial mindset - and to develop the ability to convert lab-ideas into business ideas. The core of the program is a highly interactive, group-based venture development process supported by exposure to entrepreneurs and culminating in a pitch event.
The top 20 are selected to enter the virtual incubator.
Stage 3: 8 week virtual incubator
This is a virtual incubator that supports cohorts of students (individuals or groups) in designing and building new business ventures. Learning content and competency development are synchronised with project management and mentor support. Online independent activity is boosted by network events such as webinars, peer-to-peer group and mentor support.
Applications closed. Program underway.
The University of Johannesburg's Technology Transfer Office support innovators in the commercial implementation of novel technologies or business processes. One of their important initiatives is an Incubation and Acceleration program for both students and staff of the University who are engaged in innovation.
They support the incubatees in a number of ways - one of which is to offer them best practice tools and training in the key stages of venture development. This program: Fast-Forward is for the venture team who have demonstrated some evidence of a demand with perhaps some early traction. The founders are looking to confirm their value proposition, define a business model and test the key elements of such
This program provides education, tools, examples and development support for a number of critical steps in the venture development process.
Sefako Makgatho Health Sciences University (SMU) have launched a 3 stage entrepreneurial development program to support students and faculty in launching a new business venture.
Stage 1: entrepreneur basics and idea pitching.
A 3 week "mini-incubator" competition where students receive some foundational entrepreneurial education and with the use of tools, are guided through developing their competition entry that culminates in a pitching competition.
All applicants receive some exposure to entrepreneurship and the top 30 (based on idea, engagement and pitch) are selected to enter stage 2.
Stage 2: entrepreneurial immersion bootcamp
This activity-based process takes students through a concentrated entrepreneurial immersion experience designed to instil an entrepreneurial mindset - and to develop the ability to convert lab-ideas into business ideas. The core of the program is a highly interactive, group-based venture development process supported by exposure to entrepreneurs and culminating in a pitch event.
The top 20 are selected to enter the virtual incubator.
Stage 3: 8 week virtual incubator
This is a virtual incubator that supports cohorts of students (individuals or groups) in designing and building new business ventures. Learning content and competency development are synchronised with project management and mentor support. Online independent activity is boosted by network events such as webinars, peer-to-peer group and mentor support.
Applications closed. Program underway.
The UWC Startup Sprint is a virtual incubator aimed at helping student entrepreneurs take an already-developed idea and bring it to life.
The entrepreneurs will work through a proven scientific startup process and supported with tools, webinars, mentors, templates and dashboards as they accelerate their idea towards paying customers.
Applications are now closed and selection is underway.
Stage 1: entrepreneur basics and idea pitching.
A 3 week "mini-incubator" competition where students receive some foundational entrepreneurial education and with the use of tools, are guided through developing their competition entry that culminates in a pitching competition.
All applicants receive some exposure to entrepreneurship and the top 30 (based on idea, engagement and pitch) are selected to enter stage 2.
Stage 2: entrepreneurial immersion bootcamp
This activity-based process takes students through a concentrated entrepreneurial immersion experience designed to instil an entrepreneurial mindset - and to develop the ability to convert lab-ideas into business ideas. The core of the program is a highly interactive, group-based venture development process supported by exposure to entrepreneurs and culminating in a pitch event.
The top 20 are selected to enter the virtual incubator.
Stage 3: 8 week virtual incubator
This is a virtual incubator that supports cohorts of students (individuals or groups) in designing and building new business ventures. Learning content and competency development are synchronised with project management and mentor support. Online independent activity is boosted by network events such as webinars, peer-to-peer group and mentor support.
Applications closed. Program underway.
The Wolves Idea-To-Impact Incubator program is the inaugural program of this initiative. It has been developed for students at the University of Wolverhampton
The 4-week Problem-Solution Validation Virtual Incubator Program will provide students with the tools and experience to define and validate real-world problems, identify target customers, and develop viable solutions. It will equip up to 60 students (20 from each institution) with hands-on experience in the early stages of venture creation.
Program Components:
-
Knowledge-Building Modules: Focus on learning startup best practices such as lean startup, customer discovery and problem identification
-
Venture-Building modules: Students build a real venture idea and submit assignments and self-reflection assessments..
Entry is for students or faculty at participating universities and is by invitation only. Anyone who has an interest in joining should contact ginger.nijjar@wlv.ac.uk
The 4-week Problem-Solution Validation Virtual Incubator Program will provide students with the tools and experience to define and validate real-world problems, identify target customers, and develop viable solutions. It will equip up to 60 students (20 from each institution) with hands-on experience in the early stages of venture creation.
Program Components:
Knowledge-Building Modules: Focus on learning startup best practices such as lean startup, customer discovery and problem identification
Venture-Building modules: Students build a real venture idea and submit assignments and self-reflection assessments..
Entry is for students or faculty at participating universities and is by invitation only. Anyone who has an interest in joining should contact thobekani.lose@mandela.ac.za
This virtual incubator has been designed for the winners of the Mashauri COVID-19 Idea Competition to develop their ideas further and to begin to further test and build out their ventures.
The University of Johannesburg's Technology Transfer Office support innovators in the commercial implementation of novel technologies or business processes. One of their important initiatives is an Incubation and Acceleration program for both students and staff of the University who are engaged in innovation.
They support the incubatees in a number of ways - one of which is to offer them best practice tools and training in the key stages of venture development. This program: Fast-Forward is for the venture team who have demonstrated some evidence of a demand with perhaps some early traction. The founders are looking to confirm their value proposition, define a business model and test the key elements of such
This program provides education, tools, examples and development support for a number of critical steps in the venture development process. The program will continually be refined and updated, but the initial modules are detailed in the table below:
For more information on access to the program contact:
Simon Gifford (Mashauri) at simon.gifford@mashauri.org; or
Vuyisile Phehane (UJ TTO) at vphehane@uj.ac.za
The University of Johannesburg's Technology Transfer Office support innovators in the commercial implementation of novel technologies or business processes. One of their important initiatives is an Incubation and Acceleration program for both students and staff of the University who are engaged in innovation.
They support the incubatees in a number of ways - one of which is to offer them best practice tools and training in the key stages of venture development. This program: Switch-On is the venture team that is still refining their ideas, getting to grips with the problems they are solving and getting to an understanding of their potential customer base.
This program provides education, tools, examples and development support for a number of critical steps in the venture development process. The program will continually be refined and updated, but the initial modules are detailed in the table below:
The program is open to all registered in the incubator program and other student startups approved by the UJ Technology Transfer Office.
For more information on access to the program contact:
Simon Gifford (Mashauri) at simon.gifford@mashauri.org; or
Vuyisile Phehane (UJ TTO), at vphehane@uj.ac.za
Is this course for you?
Many people think about starting their own business and even have an idea they have been considering - but just never get around to starting it.
Are you one of those people? Or would you like to join the ranks of successful entrepreneurs who create value by bringing their idea to life?
If you would like to be in the latter group and you wish to bring your idea to life, then this course is for you.
Objectives of programme
- To expose you to entrepreneurship
- To assist in refining your business idea to increase your probability of success
- To help you clearly define the problem you are solving
- To guide you in clarity around your target market
- To help you construct a clear value proposition
Curriculum
Entrepreneur mindset
- Understanding what is entrepreneurship
- The benefits and risks of entrepreneurship
- Characteristics of successful entrepreneurs
- A questionnaire-based assessment of your entrepreneurial competencies
- Introduction to The Golden Circle
Idea development
- Idea clarification
- The problem you are solving
- Development of the problem vision statement
- Target market and personas
- Initial competitor analysis
- Value proposition development
- Value proposition testing
- Value proposition pitch development
Modus operandi
Each exercise will be preceded by an introduction to the concept in the form of an online lesson. The practical exercises will be posed by way of an assignment to complete. All assignments will be supported by templates to allow you to efficiently conduct the exercise.
A question and answer forum will be provided that will allow you to ask questions of your colleagues and/or the professor running the course.
Timing and duration
The programme will run from 22nd January to 29th January and will be hosted on online (on Mashauri: an international entrepreneurial education platform). It is anticipated that you will require 20 hours to complete the course: 5 of which will be in the form of instruction and the balance in practical exercises in developing and refining your idea.
As this is an online programme, you will be able to complete it at your own pace although you must finish all the work by the deadline. There will be a suggested schedule and you will be reminded if you fall behind that schedule.
Support and evaluation
You will be evaluated on the basis of correct submission of all the assignments as well as a final quiz (which will be repeatable if you do not at first receive a passing grade.
Prerequisites
The student needs no prior knowledge of entrepreneurship but must have a business idea that they wish to investigate. They will need to have a basic understanding of Google tools (sheets, docs and slides) and a Google account (which is free and quick to set up).
Access to the internet and a laptop or desktop computer will be necessary to complete the assignments.
Course instructor
The instructor will be Professor Simon Gifford who is CEO of Mashauri. He is an entrepreneur who has founded a number of companies (including Mashauri) and acts as an advisor to a number of startups and scale-ups. , He currently also lectures at IE Business School in Madrid and has a rich background of giving strategy support to large companies all around the globe..
Mashauri
Mashauri is a UK based organisation that provides an entrepreneurial education platform to universities and other institutions in Europe, Africa and India. The platform uses best practice from modern entrepreneurial thinking (such as lean startup) as well as advanced digital teaching methodologies including gamification and flipped-classroom techniques.
The organisation has a vision that all university graduates should be offered the opportunity to develop an entrepreneurial mindset. More details of this is given n the "what we do" and "why we do it" sections at the top of this page.
Price
The course is free to all users.
The Food Science Venture Accelerator has been designed to support students who graduated from the EIT Food GFVP Summer School in June 2019 and wished to continue developing a business idea. The programme design is based on what the students said they wanted in a survey following the event. Only those students who completed the survey will be enrolled on this programme.
It is aimed at supporting both those who wished to continue with the idea they started in the School and those who wished to pursue a new idea. It is anticipated that this programme will act as a bridge between the ending of the School and a number of other activities that EIT Food are launching including a mentoring programme and the Lausanne workshop. Furthermore, this will be useful to those students who are not selected by EIT Food to partake in these events but still wish to pursue an entrepreneurial idea.