Telkom, SA’s leading telecommunications company, announces the launch of the Township Innovation Incubator, a virtual technology business programme that is targeted at tech entrepreneurs based in Soweto.
The programme is on the hunt for 15 entrepreneurs based in Soweto, who have developed a technological solution to a problem faced in a community.
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Applications for the Township Innovation Incubator close 11 December
In an official press release, Mmathebe Zvobwo, Telkom’s Executive for FutureMakers explains that the aim of the Township Innovation programme is to address social challenges in communities.
“The project is close to our heart as a business because driving meaningful social impact in and around the communities we operate is imperative; we have to take care of the people who take care of us – there is a very clear correlation between our success as a business and the success of our communities. The devastating rate of unemployment among youth alone is an alarming call to which we need to wake up and actively engage with local businesses and communities in an effort to lessen and ultimately eliminate. The repercussions otherwise are a ripple wave that will stun us all.”
Township Innovation Incubator
Developed by Telkom’s FutureMakers, the Township Innovation Incubator aims to provide technology-driven and social entrepreneurs with access to tech development support along with financial and non-financial business support services.
Hosted over a period of 18 months to 24 months, the Township Innovation Incubator is a virtually-held technology business programme. During the incubator programme, participants will be educated in a number of areas including; digital skills training, access to funding, entering the market, business development, and more.
Requirements
Soweto-based entrepreneurs who focus on tech-driven innovations to solve problems within the community through tech-driven innovations are encouraged to apply online before 11 December.
Interested applicants must adhere to the following requirements:
- Applicants idea must leverage technology to solve a social challenge
- Founders must be based in and intend to operate in Soweto
- Applicants must have a technology-based concept that solves a social challenge
- Businesses must have 51%+ Black-owned South African entity
- Applicants must possess entrepreneurial characteristics such as risk taker, problem solver, curiosity, leadership, strategic thinking, and innovator.
Telkom FutureMakers
Telkom FutureMakers, the Enterprise & Supplier Development initiative of Telkom launched in 2015.
The initiative has reportedly supported more than 2 500 small, medium, and micro-sized enterprises (SMME) by providing incubation, investment, connectivity, and business development support services.
Telkom FutureMakers focuses on four areas of investment (innovation, venture capital, and township economy that include diverse value chain programmes, such as Corporate Innovation Accelerator, the IDF Fund and I’m In Accelerator, and the Township Innovation Incubator.
Read more: Township tech startups accelerator launches
Read more: Absa supports SA tech entrepreneur initiative
Featured image: Tima Miroshnichenko via Pexels
