South Africa’s R58 million boost aims to elevate next generation of tech entrepreneurs

A new partnership between Telkom FutureMakers and Aions Creative Technology channels funding, mentorship, and strategic support to help emerging startups scale and secure investment.

A R58 million investment is set to inject new momentum into South Africa’s technology sector, through a strategic collaboration between Telkom FutureMakers, the enterprise development initiative of telecom leader Telkom, and Aions Creative Technology, a venture-building company focused on African startups.

The program targets high-potential ventures, with a strong emphasis on young, black, and women-led businesses, providing them with operational resources, strategic guidance, and hands-on mentorship. The goal: to help these companies transition from the survival phase into scalable, investor-ready enterprises.

According to Telkom’s enterprise development head, Tshepo Phetla, the initiative is designed to prepare a new wave of South African tech businesses for sustainable growth and long-term success.

Unlike traditional investors, Aions takes an immersive approach, embedding its team within each supported company. This includes refining go-to-market strategies, strengthening back-end operations, and building processes that create long-term value, rather than chasing short-term returns.

The R58 million funding has enabled the establishment of the Aions ICT Venture Builder in 2023, a platform that nurtures tech companies from the seed stage through early growth, while connecting them with further investment opportunities.

By combining targeted capital with active, in-depth support, the partnership aims to foster a stronger and more inclusive tech ecosystem in South Africa, and potentially shape the next generation of African technology leaders.