In a bold move to accelerate Africa’s entrepreneurship and empower a new generation of agile startups with 21st century digital capabilities, ALX, the award-winning technical training and career acceleration provider, has announced the launch of ALX Ventures in South Africa. Announcing the development.
Source: Provided.
It has already been launched in two other African markets, Lagos and Rwanda, and the first cohort in SA started this month with more than 1,300 applications. The ALX Ventures program supports SA’s top young technology talent and early-stage startups to launch, accelerate and fund promising disruptive ventures that address the world’s biggest challenges and opportunities through business.
Available to young Africans between the ages of 18 and 34, the ALX Ventures program is fully sponsored by qualified candidates and all courses are available online.
Learners also have the option of joining two ALX Technology Hub working spaces in Johannesburg’s Braamfontein and Sophiatown, where they have access to uninterrupted internet connectivity and electricity, and connect with colleagues in expert-led sessions. You will also have the opportunity to connect with industry leaders.
The courses will be delivered sequentially through three channels: Founder Academy, Accelerator Programme, and Venture Capital Fund.
- Founder Academy Program – A three-month curriculum focused on building and launching a startup.
- Accelerator Program – A curated three-month program that provides investor readiness support and initial in-kind investment in the form of legal, product, and marketing support.
- Venture Capital Fund – Co-investment, advisory support, and ongoing access to the ALX ecosystem platform and community, The FutureList.
ALX: South Africa General Manager Dibesh Souka explains: “Africa has the potential to build the next generation of innovative ventures, but it is up to our youth to rise to the challenge.
“As the technology landscape evolves, entrepreneurs will prove crucial in shaping the continent’s transformation, so we are working today to help tomorrow’s leaders get their start and scale.” We are investing heavily in developing real-world technology and professional skills that can be used.” -UPS. “
Despite the challenges facing the continent in terms of digital transformation, including underdeveloped infrastructure, lack of accessibility, a stubborn digital gender gap and limited real-world skills development, Africa will emerge as a hub for innovation. The momentum is extraordinary.
Developing future technology leaders
SA’s technology growth is fueled by problem solvers who are establishing themselves as digital professionals through disruptive technology startups. But for these ventures to realize their potential, it’s important that entrepreneurs are able to move ideas from idea to impact.
ALX Ventures has a vision to transform Africa by developing 3 million ethical and entrepreneurial leaders by 2035, empowering the next generation with real-world skills. This allows ALX Ventures to not only foster the growth of entrepreneurs, but also enable them to build their careers and secure dignity and meaning. Employment opportunities in high growth industries.
While initiatives like incubators, accelerators, and venture capital funds provide support to startups, entrepreneurs need a full range of skills to sustain, develop, and scale their ventures for long-term success. Soft skills and leadership development are just as important as technology skills, and these are essential qualities for personal success and for startups to thrive.
Developing technology-savvy leaders
“Success depends on a variety of soft skills, including leadership, adaptability, resilience, management skills, and the ability to cope with change. These are key attributes of tomorrow’s savvy leaders,” continues Sooka.
Over the years, ALX’s technical training courses have graduated over 97,000 learners. This year, with the goal of rapidly expanding its learner community, ALX has enrolled over 100,000 learners in its first two months of 2024. The success rate for graduates after completing the course is an impressive 85%.
“SA has a wealth of untapped young talent with the potential to develop and solve unique challenges.
“The launch of ALX Ventures is another step forward in empowering this talent with the right tools, firmly setting the stage for African entrepreneurship in the 21st century, and ensuring that SA’s youth are part of the global digital economy. “It enables us to become active players in shaping our own digital economies as well as their economic potential,” concludes Sooka.
