SW7 accelerator opens applications for 2015 intakes

In mid 2014, we told you about SW7, the latest in a line of tech startup accelerators which don’t take equity from its participants. What set it apart was that the fact that much of the programme took place after office hours, allowing to participants to build their startups while still working at their day jobs.

The accelerator, which now calls itself the largest in Africa, has opened up applications for its 2015 intakes. The next semesters will kick off in Johannesburg on 3 March and late May in Cape Town.

The programme is run over nine-weeks part time, one night a week, usually on a Tuesday.

“We have over sixty-five CEO’s and Founders that Mentor for us” says SW7 co-founder Odette Jones. “The quality of the applicants has increased over the last two years and we are finding that competition for the places is increasing significantly, which is very exciting as it reflects not just the growing reputation of the programme, but reflects a significant upswing in the activity in the sector. We are looking for applicants that are Founders that are post Ideation and want to take their businesses to the next level”.

Read more: 8 exciting African startup programmes and accelerators to watch in 2015

Jones runs SW7 along with her husband and co-founder Keith, who also helped launch the Founder Institute in 2013.

“Sw7 is a combination of a Mentor lead networking community and a Strategy definition and execution workshop,” he says. “It covers all the principles needed to create a product-based business that can scale. The best analogy is that it is an applied MBA for technology businesses. The content and structure is pragmatic and hands on, businesses are stepped through the rigourous Sw7 Strategy definition process. Ideal applicants would have a product in the market, or will be getting to market in the next couple of months. The funding and support from Microsoft Bizspark means we can offer the programme at a price point that offers successful applicants great value. We also have a number of scholarships on offer”

Applications can be made through SW7’s site.