LaunchLab launches seventh edition of The Ideas Programme

Stellenbosch-based business incubator LaunchLab has launched the 2018 edition of The Ideas Programme.

LaunchLab announced the latest edition in a tweet today. The initiative — the incubator’s longest running support programme and now in its seventh year — aims to assist early-stage startups looking to validate their concepts or improve their technology offering to the market.

LaunchLab achieves this by providing participating startups with access to its client network of corporates, who in turn, assist with idea validation.

The programme is aimed at startups that either do not have a prototype or, for that have not yet seen significant sales.

Launchlab’s Ideas Programme helps early-stage startups validate their concepts

The incubator is looking for startups with concepts or ideas in the following industries: education, smart cities, cleantech, Internet of Things (IoT), artificial intelligence (AI), advanced manufacturing, safety, blockchain, fintech, insurtech, agritech and food innovations, social enterprises, and more.

Programme participants will be provided with six months of incubation support valued at R50 000.

How it works

Interested applicants have until 11 May to submit a three-minute video pitch online, either by uploading files on the incubator’s website, sending the video via email or by sending it using file-sharing service WeTransfer.

LaunchLab will hold info sessions at campuses around the country to provide context on the opportunities at the incubator.

After the submission deadline, the incubator will shortlist between 20 and 40 startups to go through a business development crash course.

Four minute pitches

Thereafter, selected finalists will be invited to pitch to a panel of judges at the incubator’s Ideas Platform where they will participate in four minute pitches of their businesses, culminating in the winners joining the six-month long programme.

Featured image: The LaunchLab via Twitter