South Africa: 15 Green Businesses Qualifies for Grindstone Accelerator Program

The Anglo American Foundation (AAF) has chosen fifteen South African green enterprises for the Grindstone programme, which aims to develop entrepreneurs in the green sector.

According to Disrupt Africa, the AAF has teamed with Grindstone, an accelerator famous for designing high-growth startups, in order to cultivate sustainable practices and promote environmental stewardship, with a particular emphasis on job creation for South Africa’s youth.

The Grindstone accelerator in 2023 will be a six-month program aimed exclusively at post-seed to Series A green sector businesses. Grindstone will recruit 15 high growth and innovation-driven green entrepreneurs for this year’s accelerator, using the ecosystem and strategic partners.

Grindstone will growth-engineer the selected startups over the course of six months, addressing gaps in their knowledge and business abilities through in-depth workshops and monthly coaching sessions. The entrepreneurs will learn from Grindstone’s alumni and experienced ecosystem network partners like Green Cape and Savant, as well as join a community of sustainability-focused investors.

The selected startups are VEZ Technology, Ground 2 Tap, I-N-TECH, Boombadotmobi, First Drop Hydration, Tsehla Holdings, GreenMovement, MKGreen Solutions, The Green Cab, Imperative Energy Group, Lilly Loompa Upcycled Homeware, RE:HEAT Africa, Isphepho Group, PWK Waste Management and Recycling, and Umlilo Energy South Africa.

“From solar power to waste management to water filtration systems, this cohort of 15 startups is driving positive change in South African communities.” We are happy to cooperate with Grindstone at the Anglo American Foundation; together, we encourage entrepreneurship that not only produces great jobs, with a focus on youth, but also paves the path for a greener, more sustainable world,” said Maike Von Keymann, head of the Anglo American Foundation.

According to Catherine Young, managing partner of Grindstone, the green industry is quickly expanding and requires an equal increase in impact investing.

“By supporting innovation in the green sector, including clean energy, decarbonisation, sustainable food production, climate-tech and more, we can improve millions of lives, as well as drive sustainable economic growth and job creation in vulnerable communities,” she went on to say.

“Our collaboration with the Anglo American Foundation will assist South African entrepreneurs who are at the forefront of constructing a more sustainable future.” It is perfectly aligned with our own ESG approach, which is boosted by collaborations like this.”