Innovation bridge Portal Showcasing Southern Africa Entrepreneurial Talent
The Innovation Bridge Portal (IBP), an initiative of the Department of Science and Innovation, supported by the Department of Small Business Development South Africa, in partnership with the World Bank Group, Thinkroom and national counterparts in Botswana, Eswatini, Lesotho and Namibia will be hosting a series of hybrid events to showcase young entrepreneurs from the five countries.
Over the past year, a flagship initiative of the IBP has been to partner with the Thinkubate Academy, which enabled the cohorts of young entrepreneurs to receive bespoke solutions to help in their early-stage business development. This was achieved through completing online learning and receiving practical support from mentors to prepare for pitch readiness. A total of 115 entrepreneurs from Botswana, Eswatini, Lesotho, Namibia and South Africa have benefited from the program to date, and the top 35 entrepreneurs will be showcasing their ventures through pitch events from 9 May – 12 May 2023, with a winning pitch selected per country.
The hybrid (in-person and online) events will be hosted by the respective national counterparts in each of the five countries.
Details of the event;
Namibia
Tuesday 9 May 2023: 9:00 – 12:00 (SAST/CAT): co-hosted by the Namibia Investment Promotion and Development Board at
First Floor, Investment House, Cnr Garten Street and Dr A.B. May Street, Windhoek, Namibia.
Eswatini
Wednesday 10 May 2023: 9:00 – 12:00 (SAST/CAT): co-hosted by the Royal Science and Technology Park, Eswatini, First oor,
UN House | Somhlolo Road, Mbabane, Eswatini.
Lesotho
Thursday, 11 May 2023: 9:00 – 12:00 (SAST/CAT): co-hosted by the Lesotho Entrepreneurship Hub, a program of the
Competitiveness and Financial Inclusion (CAFI) project at Letseng Diamonds House, Second Floor, Corner Kingsway and Old
School Road, Maseru 100, Lesotho.
Lesotho
Thursday, 11 May 2023: 9:00 – 12:00 (SAST/CAT): co-hosted by the Lesotho Entrepreneurship Hub, a program of the
Competitiveness and Financial Inclusion (CAFI) project at Letseng Diamonds House, Second Floor, Corner Kingsway and Old
School Road, Maseru 100, Lesotho.
South Africa
Friday, 12 May 2023: 13:00 – 16:00 (SAST/CAT): co-hosted by the Department of Science and Innovation and the Department
of Small Business Development, at CSIR International Convention Centre | Meiring Naude Road, Brummeria, Pretoria, South
Africa.
Click here to register for the event.