LIST | 7 South African Startups, One from Lesotho, Accepted to Join the Inaugural Grindstone Africa Accelerator Program

2026-02-11 17:32:43

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Seven startups from South Africa, and one from Lesotho, have been chosen to participate in the most recent Grindstone Africa program, a globally acknowledged accelerator focused on fostering high-growth entrepreneurship.

Grindstone is a structured entrepreneurship development programme that assists high-growth innovation-driven companies to get the fundamental building blocks in place to scale quickly and become sustainable and fundable.

Established in 2013 and jointly owned by Knife Capital and Thinkroom Limited, Grindstone is well-known for supporting innovative, high-growth companies in scaling their operations. The 2023 program, sponsored by Absa, marks the most recent edition of this renowned initiative.

Among the South African ventures are:

Vambo Technologies: Providing users with access to state-of-the-art artificial intelligence in their native languages
iTorho: Offering a marketplace platform facilitating communication for small businesses, freelancers, and professionals
Paragon Impact: A global sustainability tech and impact advisory company streamlining clients’ journeys toward sustainability
DeafTouch: Specializing in accessible communication solutions for the deaf and blind communities
SupriBuy: An online platform providing e-commerce and retail services
DigiNexus: An online learning platform aiding students in launching careers in software engineering
Esinam Global Business Services: Delivering customized management consulting solutions to both public and private organizations
Chaperone: Which acts as an issuer of electronic payment instruments through its platforms

“We are enthusiastic about our partnership with Absa and the opportunities this programme brings to the selected African startups. A focus on market access readiness is a key differentiator on this programme, as we drive access into further markets. We believe it will be a catalyst for growth, innovation, and prosperity,” said Catherine Young, Managing Partner of Grindstone.

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