From idea to investor-ready.
Setup A Startup is a community for founders, mentors, investors and ecosystem builders. Our 12-stage programme takes African startups from idea generation and validation all the way to a due diligence room investors can open.
- 100% online, self-paced
- Mentor-moderated work
- Built in Africa, for Africa
Founder dashboard
Your DD Room
7 / 12 sections
- Idea validation evidence
- Founding team & roles
- MVP test results
- Basics of startup finance
- Building business networksIn review
- Sales pipeline
Mentor feedback
"Strong unit economics. Add 3 months of bank statements to finance."
- Building ecosystems since
- 2017
- Building ecosystems since
- Startups supported
- 200+
- Startups supported
- Raised by our ventures
- US$4M+
- Raised by our ventures
- Entrepreneurs trained
- 3,000+
- Entrepreneurs trained
The African startup ecosystem
Capital is flowing again. Most founders still can't reach it.
African startups had their strongest funding year since 2022 in 2025, but the money is concentrated in a few markets and companies, while millions of young people need the jobs new businesses create.
82%
of that funding went to just four countries: Kenya, Egypt, South Africa and Nigeria.
Source: Africa: The Big Deal10–12M
young Africans enter the job market every year; only about 3M formal jobs are created.
Source: African Development BankTalent is everywhere. Readiness isn't.
The problem isn't a shortage of ideas or ambition. It's the gap between a promising founder and a business an investor can confidently back.
- 01
Applying before they're ready
No customer evidence, clean numbers or data room.
- 02
Capital clusters in a few hubs
Founders outside the big four markets and big cities rarely meet investors.
- 03
Informal businesses stay invisible
Without registration, compliance and records, they can't pass due diligence.
- 04
Fragmented support
Hubs, universities and funders each run their own programmes, with no shared standard for "investment ready".
- 05
Too few mentors
Too few experienced mentors to review founders' work.
- 06
Investors pay to find good deals
Too much time screening companies that aren't ready.
Setup A Startup gives the whole ecosystem one clear pathway: founders build the evidence, mentors review it, hubs track it, and investors meet companies that are ready.
How it works
Every lesson leaves you with something an investor can inspect.
01
Learn
Video, written lesson, glossary and resources.
02
Do the work
Checklists, templates and a practical assignment.
03
Get feedback
Mentor moderation, forum and badges.
04
Build your DD Room
Every output lands in a due diligence room investors can open.
The curriculum
Twelve stages. One investable business.
Idea Generation and Validation
Work through the lesson, complete the assignment and get it reviewed by a mentor before it lands in your DD Room.
You'll leave with
Evidence of a real problem and customer demand
DD Room progress
In every lesson
Who it's for
One community. Five ways in.
Wherever you are, start building evidence.
- ExploringValidate your idea
- BuildingTest an MVP
- OperatingFormalise and grow
- RaisingOpen your DD Room
Run investment-ready cohorts
License the programme, track every founder's DD Room and support Demo Days.
Get in touchReview real founder work
Moderate assignments and give feedback that moves startups forward.
Get in touchMeet companies that are ready
Open organised DD Rooms instead of screening unready pitches.
Get in touchGrow the ecosystem with us
Sponsor cohorts, host events or bring the programme to your region.
Get in touch
In the room
Online learning, offline connections.
Our cohorts meet mentors, investors and each other at workshops, pitch sessions and Demo Days.
Pricing
Plans for founders and the institutions that back them.
Founder
Self-paced
On request
Monthly or annual
- All 12 lessons
- Checklists & templates
- Your own DD Room
- Community forum
Guided founder
With mentor support
On request
Fixed term
- Everything in Founder
- Mentor feedback
- DD Room review
- Pitch prep
Hub & institution
For cohorts
On request
Annual, quoted per cohort
- Founder seats
- Admin accounts
- Staff training
- Mentor hours
- Demo Day support
Pricing depends on cohort size, mentor hours and setup. The programme prepares founders for investment but doesn't guarantee funding.
Testimonials
Trusted by investors and ecosystem builders.
"[The programme] is an important missing piece to the ecosystem. It brings transparency to founders and investors alike, with its secure data room for due diligence and a thorough checklist to prepare founders for the investment process. It saves investors time in finding investor-ready startups."
"With only 5% of startups getting access to funding, the challenges are bigger than funders declining thousands of applications. [The programme's] focus on getting them ready for a positive response is timeous and needed."
MD, GrowthWheel SA
"By educating entrepreneurs, we will improve the number of startups actively engaging with investors to scale, ultimately driving economic growth."
MD, Business Mechanic Process
"If used properly, entrepreneurs will learn the approaches they need to make a complete and compelling case for investment."
Partner, HYBR
FAQ
Questions, answered.
Ready to become investment ready?
- info@setupastartup.co.za
- WhatsApp +27 810 859 737
- +27 105 009 497
- 18 Southway Road, Kelvin, Sandton, 2090 Johannesburg