Startup Mzansi

We are entrepreneurs on a mission to build an environment for entrepreneurial momentum and success in South Africa.

We envision young people having the best opportunity to experience and become entrepreneurs; they are now collaborating to make South Africa Africa’s leader in entrepreneurship and innovation. This is our vision.

Startup Mzansi is a grassroots network of entrepreneurs working together to build an environment for entrepreneurship in South Africa.

Through online platforms, grassroots Startup Communities and cross-sector initiatives, Startup Mzansi is advancing entrepreneurial momentum and a culture of entrepreneurship, as the voice of South African entrepreneurs.

Founded by Sandile Shabangu in 2012, Startup Mzansi Foundation is a Non-Profit Company supporting innovative youth entrepreneurship in South Africa. The Foundation is organized under the laws of the Republic of South Africa and governed by a Board of Directors made up of Leadership and Entrepreneurship Specialists.

The reason behind the foundation is to create a more longer-term entity to support its 20-year mission of building a functioning startup ecosystem in South Africa. Startup Mzansi has quickly become the most recognized, energized, and active entrepreneurship organization in South Africa.

Startup Mzansi has mentored more than 20,000 South Africans and has grown to represent more than 80,000 entrepreneurs, 400 enterprise support partners, 300 volunteers, and 13 Startup Communities from district to district.

Our goal is to lay the foundation by bringing together essential elements to create a viable ecosystem, from which startups and young innovative entrepreneurs can accelerate their growth. We do this through online and grassroots networks, mentoring, networking, strategic alliances, developing and recognizing excellence in youth and promoting a vibrant entrepreneurial culture.

Globally, Startup Mzansi is recognized as the best practice in fuelling grassroots entrepreneurship and has educated leaders in both Sub Saharan Africa and the Middle East and North Africa Region.

The Startup Mzansi Foundation is committed to providing a platform for the inspiration and empowerment of youth in business in South Africa and beyond through promoting opportunities to support, connect, and grow youth in business.