SA Startup Act Movement

📢 The South African Start-Up Act: Fuelling Growth, Innovation, and Transformation 🌍 Imagine a South Africa where startups aren’t just surviving but thriving in an ecosystem built for growth, resilience, and global competitiveness. The proposed South African Start-Up Act is a groundbreaking initiative to make this vision a reality. Here’s why this Act could be a game-changer: Economic Bill for High-Growth Enterprises 🌱 The Act is designed to support high-growth startups in their early formation and growth phases, creating a foundation for South Africa’s economy to flourish through successful, innovative enterprises. Accelerating Socio-Economic Growth 🔄 With a clear purpose of driving economic development, competitiveness, and transformation, the Act aligns with the National Development Plan, aiming to expand the role of small and medium-sized businesses as key contributors to the national economy. Boosting Economic Inclusion & Market Access 🌐 Building on National Treasury’s policies for inclusive growth, this Act aims to break down barriers to finance and market access, allowing more diverse and innovative startups to emerge and scale. Fuelling the Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR) 💡 Inspired by the Presidential Commission on the Fourth Industrial Revolution, the Act places small enterprises at the forefront, ready to commercialize homegrown innovations and establish global relevance. Recognizing a Vibrant Ecosystem 🌍 South Africa’s startup landscape is already recognized globally. The Act will provide the necessary legislative framework to unlock further potential, enabling startups to contribute even more significantly to job creation, economic resilience, and tech-driven transformation. This proposed Start-Up Act has the potential to reshape South Africa’s economy by putting innovative startups at the center of our national growth strategy. 📢 Dive in to learn more and see how you can join us in building a startup-friendly South Africa! Explore our Position Paper: https://bit.ly/3YxohSU

🌍 Tough Choices for SA Founders: Stay or Go? South African startups are facing a critical decision: 👉 Allow foreign talent to contribute locally OR 👉 Move operations offshore Here’s a real example: A local startup needed specialized skills to advance its development. The challenge? South Africa’s restrictive foreign skills visa process made it impossible to bring their subcontractor—based in Europe—into the country. The result? The startup had to subcontract remotely, missing the opportunity to grow locally. 💡 Why It Matters: These choices aren’t just about visas—they're about: ✔️ Minimizing the impact of South Africa’s regulatory hurdles, like Exchange Control. ✔️ Positioning startups where skills, resources, and markets align. Without streamlined policies, founders are forced to look abroad, weakening the potential for South Africa to build a thriving startup ecosystem. 🚨 The Call for Change: This case underscores the urgent need for reforms, like a Startup Act, to attract talent and investment, keeping innovation firmly rooted in South Africa. Read more on this on our Case study report sharing real life insights: https://lnkd.in/gG45wWvU

💡 Did You Know? We’ve released a FREE and easy-to-navigate Startup Act Progress Report this year in July! 📄✨ 🚀 What’s Inside? ✅ Fresh topics and insights tailored for the startup community. ✅ Pressing matters that impact entrepreneurs and innovators. ✅ The latest on the progress of the SA Startup Act and other african countries for 2023/24. And much more. Wondering how South Africa is advancing towards a Startup Act? Curious about the challenges and milestones? This report has the answers you’re looking for! 🔗 Get your copy now and stay ahead in the conversation. https://bit.ly/3YxohSU

How do Africa’s top venture cities compare with those of other emerging markets? The graphic doesn’t paint a rosy picture. Here are three things this picture doesn’t tell you about South Africa that could change the landscape in the coming years. 🏗️ SA is in the early stages of putting forward its very own SA Startup Act Movement. This initiative is a private/public collaboration that is the brainchild of the Digital Collective Africa (DCA), a group of founders and investors. The act aims to create a conducive environment and reduce the bureaucratic barriers to entry into the SA venture ecosystem. This is done through solidifying startup legislature, implementing targeted tax incentives, and providing further access to funding and support for scaling ventures. ⛓️ South Africa is quickly positioning itself as Africa’s hub for the trillion dollar blockchain and cryptocurrency industry and became the first country in Africa to issue Financial Services Provider licenses to cryptocurrency exchanges. This was exceptionally well timed for the re-emergence of cryptocurrency as a popular asset class. As interest rates continue to decrease and blockchain adoption continues to gain popularity, South Africa is well positioned to ride this wave. 💡South Africa, infamous for its dodgy-at-best energy supply, seems to be turning a new leaf. Energy generation is fast becoming de-monopolized, there is heavy investment in energy infrastructure, and a renewed effort to increase green energy production. Not only should this bring a surge of investment into the energy sector, but serves as a light (because we have those now) to outside capital that a major reason to avoid investment in SA is no longer an issue. While the current comparison of Africa’s top venture cities to their emerging market counterparts might seem less than promising, South Africa is laying the groundwork for a transformation that could reshape its venture ecosystem. These developments paint a picture of a nation not merely responding to challenges but actively positioning itself as a thriving hub for venture activity in the years to come. #venturecapital #Africa

📢 Startup Acts Are Sweeping Across Africa! 🌍🚀 In just a year, the movement for Startup Acts is gaining momentum across the continent. At least 16 more African countries are now in the process of adopting Startup Acts to boost innovation, attract funding, and create opportunities for their tech ecosystems. 🛠️ Why the Surge? Startup Acts provide the foundation for: ✔️ Easier access to funding. ✔️ Streamlined regulations. ✔️ Attracting international investors. ✔️ Empowering local talent and innovation. ✨ A Proven Formula for Success Countries like Tunisia and Senegal have shown the transformational impact of dedicated startup policies, sparking rapid ecosystem growth and positioning themselves as leaders in the African tech landscape. 🚨 What About South Africa? As more African nations take the lead, the urgency for a South African Startup Act grows stronger. The time to act is now to ensure South Africa remains competitive in the race for innovation and investment. 🙌 How Can You Help Quicken the Process? Join our initiative—the SA Startup Act Movement, a free and open call to action for startups, entrepreneurs, and innovators. By joining, you: ✔️ Add your voice to the push for a Startup Act. ✔️ Engage in shaping policies that impact YOU. ✔️ Help South Africa move closer to a thriving startup ecosystem. 💬 The change starts with YOU! join the movement today: https://lnkd.in/dSuVh8fV

🌟 Investors are looking to explore opportunities in SA’s start-up scene🌟 Angel investor Tendai Shamu has his sights set on South Africa’s growing startup ecosystem, emphasizing that the country is filled with potential but requires stronger support structures to foster innovation. 💡 Shamu believes the time is ripe for investors to dive into South African startups. "We need more accelerators, incubators, and interdisciplinary collaboration," he says. With the right backing, Shamu sees immense potential in the country's infrastructure and entrepreneurial spirit. 📈 Growth and Challenges: South Africa's startup scene is vibrant, led by young, ambitious entrepreneurs—particularly in fintech and edtech. However, it faces hurdles, like brain drain and infrastructure issues. The South African Startup Act and supportive organizations like the Silicon Cape Initiative and Endeavor South Africa are crucial in addressing these challenges and creating a robust foundation for entrepreneurs. 💰 Investor Interest: International investors, especially from Europe, are increasingly eyeing South Africa as an entry point into Africa's burgeoning markets. However, Shamu highlights the importance of trusted local partnerships to navigate the unique landscape. 🤝 Advice for Startups: Shamu encourages founders to validate real problems, test solutions, and focus on significant market opportunities. “If you can clearly show your value to customers, the investors will follow.” South Africa is evolving as a global startup hub—one with challenges but vast opportunities. Let’s continue building an ecosystem that empowers local talent and attracts international investment. 🌍🚀 Click the link in bio to read more on this article: https://bit.ly/4eIHTId #SouthAfrica #Startups #AngelInvestment #Entrepreneurship #Innovation #Investment

Why South African Startups are Relocating Offshore South Africa’s startup ecosystem is facing a critical challenge as more startups are considering moving offshore due to unfavorable exchange rates which is becoming a direct threat to the survival and growth of local startups. Here's why this trend demands immediate attention: Exchange Rate Impact: Startups heavily reliant on international markets and investments are struggling to maintain profitability as the rand’s volatility erodes their revenues. 💼 Operational Costs: High operational costs, coupled with an unstable currency, are pushing startups to seek more stable financial environments abroad. 💡 Loss of Innovation: As startups relocate, South Africa risks losing its brightest innovators, reducing the country’s competitiveness in the global tech landscape. 💰 Investor Confidence: Persistent currency instability shakes investor confidence, making it harder for local startups to attract much-needed funding. 🚀 What Needs to Be Done? To curb this exodus, we urgently need to implement supportive policies that stabilize the economy, provide startups with financial safeguards, and make South Africa a more attractive place for innovation. 📚 Read More If you’d like to dive deeper into this issue, check out our detailed case study report. It provides insights and recommendations on how we can turn this challenge into an opportunity for growth: https://lnkd.in/gG45wWvU Let’s work together to build a resilient and thriving local startup ecosystem. The time to act is now! #SaveSAStartups #InnovationEconomy #EconomicStability #SouthAfrica

🌐 South Africa’s Urgent Digital Skills Gap 🌐 As South African businesses rapidly embrace digital technology, the demand for skilled talent continues to soar. In 2020 alone, 60,000 digital jobs were available, with two-thirds suited for entry-level youth. Yet, barriers like the high cost of education and the rapid evolution of tech have created a significant digital skills shortage. The Impact? Nearly 70% of companies are offshoring digital roles, leading to an estimated R8.5 billion loss in export revenue annually. This trend not only stifles economic growth but also weakens the resilience of local industries. It’s time for a united approach to build South Africa’s digital talent pool, harnessing local skills to drive innovation, competitiveness, and sustainable growth. 🌍💻 📈 Want to learn more? Dive into our latest Progress Report for insights on how SiMODiSA is addressing these challenges and rebuilding South Africa’s digital talent pool: https://bit.ly/3YxohSU #DigitalSkills #SouthAfrica #Innovation #EconomicGrowth #SiMODiSA

🌟 Creating a Unified Startup Ecosystem in South Africa: Join the Movement! 🌟 South Africa’s startup ecosystem has immense potential, but to truly thrive, it needs collaboration and support from every corner—startups, investors, policymakers, and corporates. By building a unified network, we can strengthen access to funding, mentorship, talent, and resources that South African startups need to succeed. Why This Matters: Increased Access to Funding: A connected ecosystem attracts investors and creates more funding opportunities for early-stage startups, reducing the funding gap and enabling more ideas to grow. Policy Advocacy: When stakeholders join forces, they can drive policy changes that make it easier to start, grow, and sustain businesses, reducing bureaucratic barriers and improving the business environment for all. Shared Knowledge and Mentorship: A unified ecosystem encourages established entrepreneurs and experts to share their knowledge with early-stage startups, boosting innovation and learning at every level. Enhanced Talent Pool: By connecting startups with educational institutions and training programs, we can nurture a talent pipeline equipped with the digital and entrepreneurial skills that startups need. Global Competitiveness: With a strong, connected ecosystem, South Africa can position itself as a top tech and innovation hub, attracting foreign investment and creating job opportunities that drive economic growth. Join the Movement to Empower South African Startups! Your support can make a difference in building a resilient, innovative, and globally competitive startup ecosystem. Let’s work together to create an environment where every startup has the chance to succeed: https://lnkd.in/dSuVh8fV #JoinTheMovement #EmpowerSAStartups #Innovation #Entrepreneurship #StartupEcosystem #CollaborateForGrowth

🌍 Visa’s Africa Fintech Accelerator Boosts Innovation for Financial Inclusion! 🚀 Visa’s Africa Fintech Accelerator is making waves in the African startup scene! Since its launch in 2023, this program has pledged US$1 billion toward financial inclusion in Africa by 2027—and it’s already accelerating change. With 45 innovative startups across two cohorts, the program offers mentorship, technology credits, and investor networking opportunities, giving African fintechs the tools to thrive. Among last year’s cohort, four standout startups secured strategic investment from Visa: Oze (Ghana): Revolutionizing business banking for small enterprises. Orda (Nigeria): Empowering restaurant tech for better management. WorkPay (Kenya): Simplifying HR and payroll solutions. OkHi (Kenya): Leveraging AI for address verification. Visa’s accelerator initiative highlights Africa’s potential in fintech and the vital role startups play in enhancing financial access and economic growth. Like to read more? Check out the full article: https://bit.ly/40LWyz7 Visa