"Tech to Titans" is a transformative programme developed to empower high-growth South African tech ventures and enable successful onboarding onto the JSE Private Placements (JPP) platform. The programme was conceptualised and designed by the JSE Private Placements team in collaboration with UK-SA Tech Hub and UVU Accelerate.

The JSE Private Placements in collaboration with the UK SA Tech Hub, an initiative of the UK government, and implemented by UVU Africa, Africa’s original tech incubator, are proud to unveil this impactful initiative.

Recruitment for the inaugural cohort is now open, and entrepreneurs from 20 high-growth start-ups will be selected to commence the 10-month programme from August. "We encourage ambitious tech entrepreneurs who meet the criteria to apply and take advantage of this unique opportunity," said Lara Rosmarin, Head of Entrepreneur Development & Incubation at UVU Accelerate. "Tech to Titans will provide provide invaluable support to selected ventures, preparing them for accelerated growth and visibility in the marketplace.”

Tech to Titans aims to prepare selected ventures for accelerated scaling on the JSE Private Placements – an instrumental fintech platform connecting private companies with potential investors for equity, debt or fund financing.

Amid a contracting African venture capital market, South African tech start-ups face funding challenges exacerbated by economic factors and investor uncertainty. "Tech to Titans" aims to address these challenges by providing structured support and enhancing the attractiveness of start-ups to investors. UVU Accelerate, the Entrepreneur Development and Incubation arm of UVU Africa, will deliver comprehensive support through specialised mentorship, training and skills development tailored to equip selected ventures with the knowledge, competencies and frameworks necessary to navigate the JSE Private Placements onboarding process. Successful completion of the programme aims to enhance participant ventures' investor readiness and facilitate access to crucial capital, as part of a wider vision to bolster the region's burgeoning tech ecosystem.

“As Africa’s largest stock exchange, we are excited to leverage our expertise and brand through our subsidiary JSE Private Placements (JPP) to help entrepreneurs access much needed capital to support their growth ambitions. In the two years that we’ve been operation, we’ve helped raise over R100 million for SMEs and we are looking to exponentially grow that figure. In addition, our investor base has over R30 billion worth of capital ready to be deployed. Given the critical part that SMEs play in growing the economy and creating employment, it is essential that we foster an environment that streamlines the fundraising process and makes it simple for qualifying institutions to access to the correct form of capital to match their requirements. That is at the core of what we are aiming to achieve at JPP and with our strategic collaboration with the UK Tech Hub and UVU Africa," said Preshan Govinder, JPP Sales and Business Development.

Milisa Mabinza, Director of the UK – South Africa Tech Hub, stated: "With South Africa’s tech landscape boasting over 500 start-ups and the most venture exits in Africa, the industry holds the potential to drive economic growth, employment and foster innovative solutions to socio-economic challenges. However, the slowdown in venture capital fundraising we've seen on the African continent since 2022 has limited the growth and scale-up potential of South African start-ups. As the UK-SA Tech Hub, it has been important for us to explore start-up fundraising initiatives that match the current needs of the market, which is why this collaboration with the JSE Private Placements and UVU Africa is of such significance. This programme aims to position start-ups to access multiple capital alternatives on the JSE's Private Placements Platform and support these start-ups with investor readiness training. As an initiative of the British government, this aides us in achieving our strategic vision of supporting South Africa's tech ecosystem by enabling start-up fundraising.”

Guiding these tech ventures through our comprehensive scaling programme, combining strategic business support with specialised industry-specific training, we are excited to lead as the implementation partner for the selected cohort,” said Rosmarin. “UVU Accelerate’s approach is considerate of the unique needs of each founder and our goal is to empower these ventures to scale effectively and sustainably, preparing them for success on the JSE Private Placements platform. We are committed to their journey, driven by our vision to strengthen South Africa’s tech landscape and enhance access to vital capital opportunities.”

For more details about the "Tech to Titans" programme and how to apply, click here: https://uvuafrica.com/programmes/tech-to-titans/. The application deadline is 26 July 2024.