Grant Funding’s Ability to Plug the Pre-Seed Funding Gap

From the 4th to 9th November 2024, the 22 On Sloane Cape Town Hub came alive with energy, innovation, and collaboration as we hosted our first major ecosystem activity, The Google Startup Bootcamp. This milestone not only marked the debut of our facility in the heart of Green Point but also underscored our commitment to nurturing Africa’s dynamic startup ecosystem. The Google Startup Bootcamp is part of the Google for Startups Black Founders Fund initiative, which has pledged over $30 million in equity-free funding to empower Black-led startups across the globe. For one week, participants engaged in transformative workshops, one-on-one mentorship sessions, and invaluable networking opportunities. It wasn’t just about learning, it was about building relationships, refining ideas, and laying a stronger foundation for their ventures.

28 Nov

South Africa to create 1 million new startups and SMMEs by 2030

A key takeaway from the summit was the reaffirmation of the importance of strategic partnerships. The NISED Framework mandates biennial summits to track progress and engage stakeholders on collective goals. Attendees were encouraged to consider actionable steps, posing the questions: “What quick wins and impactful interventions should we prioritise, and what actions must each of us take to bring them to fruition?” The summit also marked progress on policies that prioritise inclusivity, such as support for spaza shops and informal traders to upgrade their infrastructure and comply with regulations...

25 Nov

Unlocking rural entrepreneurship through data-driven insights

The future of South Africa’s rural economy holds great promise, but realising this potential requires bold, coordinated action. SMMEs have the potential to be powerful drivers of rural transformation, catalysing growth across sectors from agro-processing to sustainable energy and tourism. To achieve this, the current knowledge gap must be bridged through comprehensive research and data collection. This call to action demands collaboration between government agencies, research institutions, and private sector partners. Only with a solid foundation of empirical evidence can targeted policies and interventions truly support rural entrepreneurs and unlock the potential of South Africa’s hidden economic gold.

24 Nov

22 On Sloane Officially Launches an Entrepreneurship Hub in Cape Town

The 22 On Sloane Cape Town Hub, located in the heart of Green Point, is designed to support Africa’s growing startup ecosystem. This facility offers co-working spaces, innovation space, Game development studio, ecosystem events and unparalleled networking opportunities to entrepreneurs and innovators. Since the establishment of the Johannesburg Hub in 2017, 22 On Sloane has directly supported over 1,156 entrepreneurs, who have collectively created 2,232 jobs and generated over R500 million in revenue during their time in the programme.

22 Nov

The South African System: a hindrance or an enabler to Township Economies?

...According to the World Bank only 25% of the money generated in townships is spent there. It is suggested that Government ought to develop new or revisit existing policies seeking to address legacy dysfunctions of Apartheid in the townships and their economies. The Government’s Strategic plan and theme for the years 2024-2027 is “Leave no one behind”, if the government seeks to accomplish this, the following should be considered to ensure townships are included in progression and economic sustainability...

14 Nov

Exploring Leadership Through an African Lens: Insights from 22 On Sloane’s “Leadership with an African Perspective” Workshop

Ubuntu, which emphasises compassion, collective responsibility, and ethical behaviour, was a central theme throughout the workshop. Venile spoke about how Ubuntu counters the greed and profit-driven mindset that can undermine ethical leadership. She highlighted the importance of businesses acting as community centres, where decisions are made not for individual gain but for the greater good. This shift from a “me-centred” to a “we-centred” approach fosters collaboration and shared value, promoting a society where business leaders aim to serve others.

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About Us

22 On Sloane is the largest startup campus in Africa. The campus offers disruptive startups and innovative SMEs a complete turnkey solution to scale, from the initial idea all the way to commercialisation, funding opportunities and access to markets. Its aim is to nurture the entrepreneurial mindset, ensure their sustainability, and explore development of new industries and contribute towards job creation in Africa.