The Grindstone | E Squared Program, a founder-focused growth engineering journey designed to accelerate the success of high potential Allan Gray Fellows and Pathways Investees, has chosen seven South African startups to participate.
Knife Capital and Thinkroom Limited are co-owners of Grindstone, which was established in 2013. It operates a variety of programs with various partners and is well known for helping high-growth, innovation-driven companies scale their operations.
With a vibrant in-person networking event at the JoziGin Bar in early July, the interactive Grindstone | E Squared Program formally got underway. Founders, the E Squared team, partners, and the Grindstone team gathered to connect, work together, and set the tone for the future.
Software, ed-tech, e-health, food distribution, and other industries were among the seven startups chosen to participate. Among them are Webtoon’s African Saga, a proudly African comic and anime series; Muna Studios, which facilitates zero-waste shopping; Glo’s Cookies, which transforms South African heritage into luxury by producing high-quality artisanal cookies; and Genius UP, a vibrant ed-tech platform that assists students in mastering exams through live, interactive study sessions and tutoring.
Docotela Health, a high-end, reasonably priced telehealth platform; SUTA National Logistics, which offers a tech-driven, stress-free approach to delivery and relocation; and Fleetfund, which is constructing South Africa’s next large fleet and introducing investors to high-growth prospects via a cutting-edge platform that quickly finances and scales logistics assets, round out the cohort.
The cohort is then going through a carefully chosen sequence of workshops and interventions that are intended to unlock quantifiable growth. Startups have access to the Grindstone Academy, a digital learning platform that offers deep baseline assessments to pinpoint gaps and establish a growth benchmark.
Additionally, the founders will receive investor-ready data room development, brand and marketing support, and individualized coaching. Grindstone and E Squared will assist in opening up markets, honing strategies, and arranging cordial introductions to partners, investors, and clients who share similar goals at every stage.
“This venture building programme is about equipping high-potential founders with real world tools, honest feedback, and access to the right people to help them scale smart,” said Catherine Young, managing partner at Grindstone. “We’re proud to partner with E Squared to back entrepreneurs who are purpose-driven and ready to go the distance. This cohort is one to watch.”
