Apply For SA's Most Prestigious Start-Up Programme For A Chance At A R16 Million KickstartWhether you are currently working in a corporate or perhaps you're already a fintech or financial services entrepreneur, AlphaCode Incubate could be the big break you've been waiting for.

Rand Merchant Investment Holdings (RMI),Bank of America Merrill LynchandRoyal Bafokeng Holdingsare seeking top applications that could disrupt the financial services sector and grow rapidly locally or internationally throughAlphaCode Incubate, a year-long start-up support initiative of creating the next OUTsurance or Discovery.

What you get

The rewards are significant for the final eight businesses selected: A package valued at R2 million each including R1 million in grant funding and R1 million in support services. This includes mentorship, monthly expert-led sessions, exclusive office space in Sandton, marketing, legal and other business support services as well as access to like-minded entrepreneurs, RMI's extensive network of thought leaders, potential clients and capital.

How you get there

Getting in is tough though. Last year more than 200 start-ups applied. The programme is for highly motivated South African entrepreneurs and those with potential for entrepreneurship, who want to change the face of financial services. Each business needs to be at least 51% black-owned and operating in the financial services space.

What AlphaCode's looking for

You could have a business or idea focusing on insurtech, data analytics, lending, savings and investments, blockchain or any other area of financial services. AlphaCode looks for strong entrepreneurial teams of two or more people with tech or financial services understanding and a business idea or model that they've validated a business case for, at least through some potential customer engagements. AlphaCode will also consider whether it can invest in this business over the longer term.

"Whilst the initial attraction is the money, we have had our previous participants say that they value the top rate mentorship and learnings they get even more," says Andile Maseko, head of ecosystem development at AlphaCode. "We've showcased key learning modules such as regulation in financial services, digital marketing basics and growth hacking with speakers from the Reserve Bank and Luno."

About the programme

The programme, which began four years ago, has disbursed R21 million in funding to 23 black-owned financial services businesses since its inception. The winners last year includedYalu, a self-service credit life insurance platform which replaces a customer's current policy with a more affordable, simpler and rewarding policy and秋叶数字, a gamified savings tool that allows users to save towards their lifestyle goals and get rewarded for it.

What others have to say

Adrian Taylor, a founder ofJamii Cities, is a current participant on the Incubate programme. "The best part of Incubate is the access to some of the sharpest minds that challenged our thinking about fintech," says Taylor. "We're getting the chance to build our business and learn things that would have taken us years to discover. I would leave a corporate to do the programme - whether you succeed or fail, it will give you perspectives very few jobs can."

Dhanyal Davidson, another participant and founder of Prospa, believes that although an MBA is seen as the pinnacle of academic success, her plans changed when she joined the AlphaCode programme. "The programme with AlphaCode has proven to be something more than that. The calibre of the workshop presenters, the advice, the experience of the mentors and the real-time startup lifecycle make for rapid learning on the job."

Getting started

Applications close on Tuesday, 18 June 2019. Thereafter there will be a rigorous selection process involving a business reviews as well as a bootcamp for those shortlisted. The final shortlist of top 16 applicants will stand a chance to impress a judging panel on 1 August 2019 in order to secure one of the winning programme slots.
Apply Here