Startups Invited to Apply for Innovest Ignite Accelerator

South Africa’s Female-Led Startups Invited to Apply for Innovest Ignite Accelerator

Innovest Afrika has announced the opening of applications for the fourth cohort of the Innovest Ignite Accelerator, an eight-week, fully remote program tailored for early-stage, women-led startups in South Africa. The accelerator aims to empower female entrepreneurs by providing them with the tools and resources needed to scale their ventures and attract investment.

The Innovest Ignite Accelerator is designed for pre-seed and seed-stage startups that are addressing one or more of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The program is industry-agnostic, welcoming startups from various sectors and business models. Each cohort selects 20–30 high-potential startups, offering intensive mentorship, training, and investor readiness support. The program culminates in a live Demo Day, connecting founders with investors, ecosystem partners, and community leaders.

Participating startups will receive:

Entrepreneurial training for investment readiness
Resources and mentorship from over 50 global mentors
Ongoing support and access to funding opportunities
Pitching opportunities during the Demo Day event
Post-accelerator support, including membership in the Innovest Afrika Alumni community.

Eligibility Criteria

To qualify, startups must:

Be women-led or women-founded
Be at the pre-seed or seed stage
Have a team (solo founders are not eligible)
Be addressing one or more UN SDGs
Be based in South Africa

How to Apply

Interested startups can apply through the official Innovest Afrika website. The application process includes submitting a short online application and a three-minute video pitch. Finalists will have the opportunity to present their solutions to a panel of judges and investors during the Demo Day.