IBM South Africa will be presenting its Tech Start Up Smart Camp in October, giving local entrepreneurs the opportunity to participate in the IBM Global Entrepreneurship Program.
Happening for the second time this year, the program will make US$150 million investment available for entrepreneurs and new business opportunities.
The IBM Tech Start Up Smart Camp aims to draw the attention of privately-owned startups running for up to five years or less in the business of software-based products or services.
As part of the global initiative, the startups will be judges and winners awarded mentoring, services, access to industry experts and partnership opportunities with IBM.
Clayton Booysen, independent software vendor and development relations lead at IBM, said more than 20 African startups are already accepted as part of the programme, following a positive response on the programme in South Africa last year.
Kenyan-based Mobile Decisioning (MoDe) has entered the 2013 IBM Global Entrepreneur of the Year programme as a credit provider of nano-credit for prepaid mobile phone users across the continent.
Within 12 months, the business scaled to more than 30 global business opportunities with the help of IBM support, aiding exposure across the continent towards global expansion.
Booysen said: “Adding fuel to these companies spark of innovation means we help these startup companies bring technologies that tackle some of the world’s most pressing issues.”
The Smart Camp event will occur on October 9 and 10 in partnership with Tech4Africa in Johannesburg, connecting finalists with experienced mentors.
