Vodacom Digital Accelerator
Accelerate your growth
About the program
The program will support early-stage and growth-stage technology startups. We invest in disruptive products & services that have the potential to be brought into the market and scale into profitable, revenue-generating businesses.
Vodacom Digital Accelerator reached 500+ local technology startups, over 377 million TZS generated in startup revenue, and more through investment in last year’s program season.
Season 2 of the accelerator will support early-stage and growth-stage technology startups with disruptive products and services that have the potential to be brought into the market. The accelerator will take startup founders through expert training, mentorship, and technical support. It will provide access to tools and funding that will empower them to grow into profitable, revenue-generating businesses.
Benefits To Startups
Vodacom Digital Accelerator supports the visions of startups. Season two offers founders full autonomy and control of the roadmap of their startups. It also aims to motivate and fast-track startup founders’ ability to generate sustainable startups through virtual and physical acceleration and validation activities.
- Equity-free funding and follow-on investment.
- Access to M-PESA for Business services.
- Access to industry experts.
- Access to training and tools.
- Regulatory and compliance support.
- Technology support.
- Go to market strategy.
Eligibility criteria
The accelerator program targets Seed to Series A revenue-generating tech startups with headquarters in Tanzania. Selected startups should be formally registered businesses with their founder and appropriate team members available to join the program. Other specific requirements include;
- A startup founder should be 18 and above.
- A startup should demonstrate traction, ideally between Seed and Series A stages in the Tanzanian market.
- A startup should build a scalable product or service with a significant total addressable market and a defensible growth model.
- A startup should serve the fintech, edutech, healthtech, entertainment, tourism, agriculture, cybersecurity and e-commerce sectors.
Season 1 winners
An online platform matching qualified tutors/experts to learners in remote areas who want to learn basic skills.
An app allowing buyers of the same product or service to purchase in bulk and mutually enjoy maximum price discounts.
A mobile app that makes health insurance accessible to everyone.
A mobile app that enables seamless access to purchase health insurance services for people with smartphones.
Overview
| Organizer | Smart Lab |
| Website | Visit website |
| Targets | Tanzania |
| Sectors | ICT |
| SDG (2) | 11. Sustainable Cities and Communities, 9. Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure |
Team
Portfolio
| Name | Country | Sector(s) | Stage |
|---|---|---|---|
| MedPack Pharmacy Simplified | Tanzania | Fintech, HealthTech, Pharmaceuticals | Growth stage |
Updates
Smart Lab posted an update on the Acceleration Program page Vodacom Digital Accelerator.Smart Lab Presents Limelight on Tanzania Breweries Limited MD, on the 5th Corporate Unwind Event.
On Thursday, September 22, Smart Lab hosted the 5th Corporate Unwind event and featured Jose Daniel Moran Ramirez, MD of Tanzania Breweries Limited. Tanzania Breweries Limited is the country’s top brewing business. Attendees came from various stakeholder groups, including young people, startup founders, professionals, business people, and tech/innovation community members who listened, learned, shared, and connected with the top-level corporates doing excellent work in their fields.
When quizzed on how they have been able to come up with products that consumers love, his response was direct and precise “We use a lot of Science and scientific methods to create brands that customers love.” He reiterated that customer feedback is the art behind understanding what works best for their market but leverages on technology, innovation, and scientific methods to produce the best drinks. His…
- Smart Lab posted an update on the Acceleration Program page Vodacom Digital Accelerator.
Startups Reveal for the Vodacom Digital Accelerator Season 2 to Join the Acceleration Phase.
On September 30th 2022, Vodacom Tanzania and Smart Lab revealed the top 13 technology startups joining the acceleration program at an event held at the Serena Hotel in Dar es Salaam. The “Vodacom Digital Accelerator Season 2” acceleration phase officially began with the announcement, which included startups from the fintech, health, e-commerce, education, agriculture, and cybersecurity industries.
In April 2022, the Vodacom Digital Accelerator Season 2 opened applications to all Tanzanian tech startups with creative solutions with the potential to scale. A media and hub tour of 7 Tanzanian regions, including Arusha, Moshi, Mwanza, Dodoma, Zanzibar, Mbeya, and Iringa, was then conducted to raise awareness of the program and engage innovators from across Tanzania. The Vodacom Digital Accelerator team chose 13 startups that will proceed to the acceleration phase following a two-month…