17 Startups Graduate from Botswana’s Acceleration Programme

17 Startups Graduate from Botswana’s Acceleration Programme. Seventeen innovative startups were formally recognized yesterday at the Acceleration Programme Graduation Ceremony, marking their successful completion of a cycle designed to prepare them for growth and commercialisation.

The programme provided tailored interventions to strengthen business models, enhance technological capabilities, improve investment readiness, and unlock market access opportunities. By equipping participants with these tools, the initiative aims to position startups as key contributors to Botswana’s innovation-driven economy.

The ceremony brought together stakeholders from across the innovation ecosystem, including industry partners, government institutions, and ecosystem enablers. Their presence reaffirmed a shared commitment to advancing entrepreneurship and fostering collaboration in support of local innovators.Delivering the welcome remarks, Diane Mongudi, Director of Finance & Procurement, highlighted the broader significance of the programme.

“The completion of the BDIH Acceleration Programme’s 2026 marks a pivotal step in Botswana’s efforts to diversify the economy beyond mineral resources. This is especially explicit in our aspiration to create a knowledge-based economy — where innovation, digitalisation, and entrepreneurship propel sustainable growth,” she said.

The graduation represents more than a milestone for the 17 startups; it signals Botswana’s growing emphasis on building a resilient, diversified economy. By nurturing entrepreneurs, the programme contributes to reducing barriers to entry and ensuring that innovative solutions can scale effectively.

As the graduates transition into their next stage of development, they carry forward the skills and networks gained through the programme. Their success is expected to inspire other emerging businesses and strengthen Botswana’s reputation as a hub for entrepreneurship and innovation.