The most recent iteration of Grindstone Africa, a well-known accelerator program that fosters high-growth entrepreneurship worldwide, has chosen seven South African and one Lesotho startup for inclusion.
Founded in 2013, Grindstone is a well-known company that helps high-growth, innovative companies grow. Knife Capital and Thinkroom Limited co-own the company. The most recent iteration is the Absa-sponsored 2023 program.
Seven South African and one Lesothovian startup have been chosen to participate out of the eight. iTorho provides a marketplace platform for professionals, freelancers, and small businesses to communicate; Vambo Technologies allows users to use world-class, highly advanced artificial intelligence in their native tongues; and Paragon Impact is a global sustainability tech and impact advisory company that makes their clients’ complex journeys towards sustainability easier.
The following have also been chosen: Diginexus, an online learning platform that assists students in launching careers in software engineering; Supribuy, an online platform offering e-commerce and retail services; deaftouch, which offers accessible communication solutions for the deaf and blind communities; and Esinam Global Business Services, which offers customized management consulting services to public and private organizations.
Lesotho’s Chaperone, which uses its platforms to issue electronic payment instruments, completes the cohort.
“We are enthusiastic about our partnership with Absa and the opportunities this programme brings to the selected African startups. A focus on market access readiness is a key differentiator in this programme, as we drive access into further markets. We believe it will be a catalyst for growth, innovation, and prosperity,” said Catherine Young, managing partner of Grindstone.
