ENTREPRENEURIAL EDGE
THE
STARTUP
BUS
MAKING
CHANGE
MAKERS
StartupBus is an annual
entrepreneurial road
trip during which the
“Buspreneurs” conceive,
build, and launch a start-up.
In November 2013, for the
first time, the StartupBus
travelled through Southern
Africa, bringing together 15
African and 15 international
entrepreneurs along with
10 mentors. It was a truly
unforgettable journey...
50
WHAT IS STARTUP BUS AFRICA?
StartupBus Africa brought together 40 highly experienced
African and international entrepreneurs on a 5-day
road trip from Harare, Zimbabwe to Cape Town, South
Africa. The goal is to support entrepreneurs in Africa,
help international entrepreneurs understand the African
market and create lasting ties between both – and finally,
of course, the founding of new start-ups in the areas of
interest.
Participants were coders (50%), designers (25%) and
business developers (25%), all focused on the areas of
mobile, healthcare and energy. During the trip they paid
visits to local start-up hubs and worked with mentors
from across their focus fields. At the end, they presented
their work to a panel of highly esteemed investors and
entrepreneurs at eKasi, Khayelitsha. The proceedings
raised from the event are being used to help fund the
StartupHouse in Africa, another first for the continent and
which will offer space for entrepreneurs and their teams.
From an app that can help determine the cost of bribes
to an initiative that wants to help solve Southern Africa’s
unemployment issues, all initiatives presented at the end
of StartupBus Africa aimed at solving local issues.