Top Startup Accelerators & Incubators in Johannesburg, SA 2026 (Updated)

📋 Table of Contents

• Why Join a Johannesburg Accelerator?
• Top Programs in Johannesburg
• How to Apply
• FAQs

Why Choose a Johannesburg Startup Accelerator in 2026?

Johannesburg offers a thriving ecosystem with 200+ active startups and strong investor networks. Key stats: $2B+ invested annually, 85% startup survival rate post-accelerator.

Johannesburg is Africa's business hub and home to a growing startup scene. The city blends its business strength with creativity to help new companies grow. South African entrepreneurs are solving local problems while creating solutions that work worldwide, making Joburg an important startup center in Africa.

This guide explores the leading accelerators and incubators shaping Joburg's evolving startup landscape. These programs support domestic and international startups seeking to establish themselves in the African market.

 

 

Top 16 Startup Accelerators & Incubators in Johannesburg, South Africa

1. Riversands Incubation Hub

Target Audience: Small and medium businesses

Niche: Business development support

Riversands Incubation Hub is a large campus that helps small businesses grow in Johannesburg. It provides workspace, training, and one-on-one guidance for entrepreneurs. Through its network of partners, it connects business owners with potential customers. It also builds a community where businesses can work together and share resources.

2. The Innovation Hub

Target Audience: Tech startups

Niche: Science and technology development

The Innovation Hub is Africa's first official science park, helping tech companies grow. It offers labs, testing spaces, and areas for collaboration. It runs programs to help startups at different stages of growth and connects new companies with researchers and industry partners.

3. Black Umbrellas

Target Audience: Black-owned small businesses

Niche: Support for underrepresented entrepreneurs

Black Umbrellas is a program focused on helping black-owned small businesses succeed. It offers structured programs that address the challenges these entrepreneurs face. It provides business support, including help with money management and market access. It also helps connect these businesses with corporate opportunities.

4. Founder Institute South Africa

Target Audience: Early-stage tech founders

Niche: Startup basics for new companies

Founder Institute South Africa is the local branch of a global startup program for very early businesses. It helps entrepreneurs turn ideas into real companies through a step-by-step program. It provides guidance from experienced business owners and covers all startup basics. It also connects founders to a worldwide network of resources.

5. Founders Factory Africa

Target Audience: Early-stage tech startups with growth potential

Niche: Building and scaling tech companies

Founders Factory Africa is a program that builds and grows promising tech startups. It invests money directly in selected companies while providing hands-on support. It gives startups access to teams that help with design, engineering, and growth. Through its global connections, it also helps startups reach international markets.

6. Seed Academy

Target Audience: New tech companies

Niche: Tech startup support

Seed Engine is a program that helps early-stage tech companies in South Africa. It provides seed funding, investment money and intensive business training. It offers guidance from successful entrepreneurs who understand the local market. It also helps connect startups with additional funding and potential customers.

7. Raizcorp

Target Audience: Growing businesses

Niche: Business growth support

Raizcorp is one of Africa's most established business support programs. It runs comprehensive "Prosperator" programs that help with all aspects of business management. It gives access to business experts with deep knowledge in different business areas and creates a supportive environment where businesses can learn from each other.

8. Impact Amplifier

Target Audience: Businesses with social goals

Niche: Social enterprise support

Impact Amplifier is a program focused on businesses that solve social problems. It provides grants and investments for social enterprises they select. It runs programs that help businesses balance doing good with making money. It also connects these companies with impact investors and partners.

9. Fetola

Target Audience: Small and medium businesses

Niche: Business growth programs

Fetola is an organization with proven success in helping entrepreneurs grow. It offers specialized business programs for different industries and growth stages. It provides mentoring from experienced business professionals with practical knowledge. It also helps businesses access markets through partnerships.

10. LaunchLab

Target Audience: Innovative startups with growth potential

Niche: University-linked startup support

LaunchLab is a university-backed program supporting innovative new businesses. It offers specialized help for startups at different stages of development, gives access to university resources, research facilities, and academic experts, and connects entrepreneurs with corporate innovation departments.

11. Injini

Target Audience: Education technology startups

Niche: Education innovation

Injini is Africa's first program focused specifically on education technology startups. It provides funding and comprehensive support for these startups, connects them with schools and educational institutions for testing, and helps them expand across African education markets.

12. TuksNovation

Target Audience: University-linked tech startups

Niche: Academic innovation

TuksNovation is a program supporting tech businesses from the University of Pretoria. It helps with both product development and business growth for university innovations. It offers access to labs and technical resources for developing products. It also creates paths for university research to become successful businesses.

13. Savant

Target Audience: Tech startup founders

Niche: Technology product development

Savant is a program that helps tech ventures grow from idea to market. It provides hands-on support throughout the entire product development process, gives access to technical experts and resources for building and testing prototypes, and helps connect startups with funding and market opportunities.

14. OneBio Africa

Target Audience: Biotech entrepreneurs

Niche: Biotechnology support

OneBio Africa is a program supporting biotechnology startups across Africa. It provides resources specifically for the unique challenges of biotech development, connects founders with research institutions and regulatory experts, and helps biotech innovations reach commercial success.

15. Aurik Business Accelerator

Target Audience: Established small and medium businesses

Niche: Business growth systems

Aurik Business Accelerator is a program helping established businesses achieve significant growth. It provides comprehensive support through structured mentoring and training. It teaches system-based approaches to growing operations and increasing business value. It also helps businesses reach new markets and find funding.

16. The Cortex Hub

Target Audience: Tech startups with social impact

Niche: Technology for social good

The Cortex Hub is a program supporting technology ventures that address social challenges. It focuses on developing tech startups that create positive social impact while being successful businesses. The program provides mentoring and resources tailored to social tech ventures and connects these startups with partners and impact investors.

 

 

AcceleratorApp's Closing Thoughts on Startup Accelerators and Incubators in Johannesburg, South Africa

Johannesburg's startup scene is growing fast and changing what entrepreneurship means in Africa. What makes this ecosystem special isn't just the programs or the money; it's the practical, resilient approach to solving real problems.

Johannesburg's entrepreneurs have gotten really good at creating solutions that work with limited resources in a country that has overcome major challenges and still faces many obstacles. This isn't just starting businesses for fun; it's creating companies that provide jobs, address inequalities, and unite communities.

As Johannesburg grows into Africa's startup capital, it stays true to South African realities while creating innovations that matter worldwide. From banking apps that help more people access financial services to health technology that improves healthcare access, Joburg's entrepreneurs aren't just building businesses; they're showing what African innovation can achieve on the world stage.

Explore More Startup Ecosystems

Looking for accelerators in other cities? Check out our guides:

• Lagos Startup Accelerators & Incubators 2026

How Do You Apply to Johannesburg Accelerators?

Submit your pitch deck, financials, and team info. Most programs have 2-4 application cycles yearly with 5-15% acceptance rates.

Frequently Asked Questions About Johannesburg Accelerators