A tech accelerator for builders who’d rather not wait.
Six programmes, one platform. 100+ startups supported. Programmes run on a cycle — onboard now and we'll notify you the moment applications open.
- Startups supported
- 100+
- Capital facilitated
- $100K+
- Jobs created
- 50+
- SADC markets
- 4
One pathway for every stage a founder is at.
Tech Accelerator
A twelve-week build sprint ending in a Dragons Den-style pitch finale, with founders in the running for up to P50,000 from Dialektos Investments.
Founder's Tribe
Once a month, we move the room. A standing gathering for Gaborone's founder community — revolving venues, peer-led, no theatre.
About Founder's Tribe
Venture Pulse OS: one platform for the entire venture ecosystem.
Founders, investors, hubs and ESOs all work in the same place. Pick the path that fits you.
Founders
You are building a startup.
- Create your startup profile once
- Apply to programmes, accelerators and competitions
- Share your numbers and documents with investors
Investors
You back startups with capital.
- Discover startups by stage and sector
- Manage your deal flow in one place
- Curated founders from Startup Lab Africa cohorts
Hubs
You run an innovation hub, incubator or accelerator.
- Run your programmes and cohorts on the platform
- Take applications and follow your founders’ progress
- Connect your founders with investors
Choose “Investor / Ecosystem Builder” when you sign up.
ESOs
You are an ecosystem support organisation: a funder, agency, corporate or government programme backing founders.
- Run calls for applications and competitions
- Keep track of the founders you support
- Partner with hubs, investors and other programmes
Choose “Investor / Ecosystem Builder” when you sign up.
“Startup Lab was the difference between us shipping a prototype and shipping a product customers actually pay for.”
— Founder, Tech Accelerator cohort“Their investor circle is not theatre — every intro we got was a real check writer at our stage.”
— Founder, Investor Readiness cohort“The Go-to-Market Programme taught us the art of pitching — how to articulate the problem we're solving, the value we create, and why it matters. Startup Lab also opened doors to investor networks that are helping turn our idea into real impact.”
— Founder, Go-to-Market cohort, 2025
One journey, three partners.
You don't need to visit three websites to understand how this works. Here's who does what.
- 1 · Founder programmes
Startup Lab Africa
Runs the programmes, mentorship and community (like Founder's Tribe) that help founders build and get investor-ready.
- 2 · The platform
Venture Pulse OS
Where you onboard and apply. Your founder profile and documents live here and work across every programme.
Visit Venture Pulse OS ↗ - 3 · The TV show
Pula Pitch
Botswana's first-ever entrepreneurial reality TV show. Startup Lab Africa is its founder programming partner, training the founders on the show.
Visit Pula Pitch ↗
Ready to build?
Programmes run on a cycle — onboard now and we'll notify you the moment applications open.