Supercharge your growth with Grindstone Boost
Introducing Grindstone Boost, a comprehensive back-office solution designed to supercharge the growth of startups and scaleups in South Africa. Together with USAID Southern Africa Mobilizing Investment, we are pioneering a new era in entrepreneurial support with bespoke services tailored to your company’s specific needs.
The goal
Supercharge your growth with Grindstone Boost, a comprehensive back-office solution designed to annually help forty innovation-driven startups and scaleups in South Africa. In partnership with USAID Southern Africa Mobilising Investment, Grindstone Boost provides subsidised services to address operational challenges such as limited capacity, high costs of specialised functions, and administrative burdens. By tackling these issues, we enable you to focus on strategic growth and long-term success, improving compliance, streamlining operations, and increasing sales to make your business investment-ready and unlock its full potential.
HOW?
Grindstone Boost was built to address the day-to-day operational challenges hindering your startup's success.
These challenges include:
- your limited capacity
- high costs of external contractors for specialised functions such as finance and legal
- operational and administrative burdens
Grindstone Boost will provide targeted and practical back-office solutions to increase your startup's capacity so that founders can focus more on the strategic direction of the business rather than getting bogged down in the day-to-day operations. This capacity is about getting you to work on your business instead of in it by providing you with tangible outcomes.
These solutions will help startups and scaleups across South Africa with investment readiness by improving compliance, operations, and increased sales.
cost
Grindstone Boost subsidises the cost of service providers, making professional back-office support more accessible. Costs for each company are based on its size, maturity, and specific service needs. This tiered structure ensures affordable support that scales with your business, helping you manage operational expenses effectively while maximising service impact.
grindstone boost outline
Supercharge your growth with Grindstone Boost, a comprehensive back-office solution designed to annually help forty innovation-driven startups and scaleups in South Africa. In partnership with USAID Southern Africa Mobilising Investment, Grindstone Boost provides subsidised services to address operational challenges such as limited capacity, high costs of specialised functions, and administrative burdens. By tackling these issues, we enable you to focus on strategic growth and long-term success, improving compliance, streamlining operations, and increasing sales to make your business investment-ready and unlock its full potential.
WHO CAN APPLY?
Any startup or scaleup that meets our qualifying criteria:
Your company has specific gaps in any of the following business pillars:
- Legal
- Operations
- Technology
- Brand, Marketing & Sales
- Finance & Accounting
Twenty Grindstone alumni and twenty non-alumni who meet the above qualifying criteria will be selected to join the first cohort beginning 1 July 2024.
A rolling intake of cohorts will continue over the next two years, ensuring maximum impact for each cohort of selected companies. Eighty startups and scaleups will be chosen over the two-year programme.
What makes Grindstone Boost different?
Startups and scaleups will have access to professionals who will actively execute and provide hands-on guidance for each business across specific needs ranging from legal to operations, tech, marketing and finance.
Here are some examples of how Grindstone Boost could be used:
01
Your app development company may be focused on delivering fantastic apps but may need to know where to start when submitting your tax returns for the last three years. Grindstone Boost will provide practical support to get these updated and submitted.
02
You might have a winning marketing plan but need a clearly formulated Go-to-Market campaign. Grindstone Boost will assist with compiling the GTM strategy, its creative execution, and its implementation across your digital marketing channels.
This strategic and practical assistance from Grindstone Boost will not only streamline administrative burdens and provide expert coaching but also enhance your startup's compliance and credibility in the eyes of potential investors. Ultimately, Grindstone Boost aims to contribute to a consistent pipeline of investment-ready startups in South Africa, making your business more attractive for potential investment.
Are you ready to boost your startup? Apply today to join Grindstone Boost and transform your business.
Note: Applications are open until 31 May 2024.
Grindstone Boost highlights
Customised back-office support
Dive deep into your business gaps with expert guidance in Finance, Marketing, Operations, Legal, and Technology, addressing specific pain points on a case-by-case basis. Our tailored approach ensures you get the precise help you need to overcome challenges.
Sustainable
growth
Focused on long-term success, enhancing your potential for future funding and partnerships, ensuring your business thrives. We help you build a solid foundation for enduring success.
Exclusive
access
Join one of only forty startups each year to receive this specialised support and take your business to the next level. Benefit from unparalleled resources and expert mentorship.
Continued
success
Become part of a community where over 96% of startups thrive post-acceleration, leading change in the South African entrepreneurial ecosystem. Stay connected with peers and mentors for ongoing support.