Program Overview

E-Track Programme

The E-Track Programme is a two-phase early-stage venture acceleration and capacity-building programme for high-impact entrepreneurs in South Africa and beyond. It is run in partnership with ayoba and takes a high-touch scale-up approach to support teams in building scalable businesses with international potential.

Programme Structure

The programme consists of two phases:

• Phase one: 5-week Venture Launch course, focusing on validating the venture concept
• Phase two: 12-week Venture Scale course, aimed at accelerating the development of the validated venture

Eligibility Criteria

The programme is looking for:

• High impact individuals and scale-ups with solutions relevant to the African market and with global potential
• Individuals and teams, where individual participants can either explore their own business idea or join an existing venture
• Prototypes or minimum viable products (MVPs) with a working prototype and a minimum feature set ready for early-market testing
• Opportunities and traction, demonstrating a deep understanding of the problem and market need, with evidence of early market testing, customers, revenues, patents, or intellectual property filings

Programme Process

The programme process includes:

• Online application
• Pre-selection: 5-week Venture Launch Programme to validate the venture opportunity and team
• 12-week Venture Scale Programme to accelerate venture development
• Pitch Day, where top candidates pitch to the UCT GSB Solution Space ecosystem network

Benefits

The programme offers:

• Ayoba industry partnership, providing technical support and mentorship from field experts
• Capacity building through a learning-by-doing approach, with masterclasses and practical outcomes
• Advisory services, including access to pro-bono partners and a network of consultants for specialist expertise
• Feedback and guidance from the programme team, mentors, and industry partners
• Co-working and community, with a calendar of regular events and access to the UCT GSB Solution Space's network and co-working space