YouThink Innovation Lab program for Entrepreneurs

days to apply

YouThink
Innovation Lab

Pioneering Pathways for Ambitious Entrepreneurs

A world of opportunities awaits! YouThink Innovation Lab is here to nurture your creative ideas and help turn them into thriving business ventures. This journey will provide you with access to mentorship, proven entrepreneurship methodologies, and a supportive community of entrepreneurs just like you.

Free program

Apply before:

Days

Hours

Minutes

Applications open until 25 January 2025

Online

South Africa

5 months

A program designed to unleash the potential of your business!

Connect with a community of entrepreneurs

Connect with like-minded innovative entrepreneurs, a network of mentors and experts to collaborate, learn and grow together in a community that will support you at every stage.

Receive the support of a mentor

Entrepreneurship can be lonely. Receive advice to guide your business decisions, generate new ideas and propel your business forward.

Pitch Perfect

Refine your pitching skills and prepare for our end-of-programme Demo Day. Present in front of your teammates and experts.

About the YouThink Innovation Lab

YouThink Innovation Lab is your launchpad to entrepreneurial success! Designed for bold, innovative thinkers, this program helps you turn your ideas into a thriving business. Whether you’re scaling a side hustle, turning a hobby into a career, or making a social impact, we provide the tools, mentoring, and connections to help you succeed.

Over five months, you’ll receive personalised mentoring, participate in online events, and access an 8-module incubation journey to build your business plan step by step. At the end of the program, you’ll present your project at a Demo Day, connecting with experts and the entrepreneurial ecosystem.

Ready to innovate and make your mark?

Created by

What will you learn during the program?

Discover how to make your business unique, and how to attract more customers.

Learn how to calculate your costs and price points, to drive your profits and growth.

Master the best way to communicate and promote your business.

Aquire skills to calculate your business finances for the next 3 years, so you can can make more informed decisions.

Uncover how your business can positively impact your community, and attract collaborators and investors.

Strategize to to expand your business, scale your operations and attract new customers.

This program is perfect for you if...

You have a innovative business in its early stages (eg, launched within the last 2 years, or Minimum Viable Product)
You are seeking a program to incubate and validate your business plan. You want guidance on developing your business model, marketing, fundraising, or impact measurement.
You're based in Gauteng or Cape Town(Surrounding areas included)
You are a South African or a migrant who’s venture will be based Gauteng or Cape Town Areas
You’re passionate about your venture idea and are open to dedicating 6–8 hours per week for 5 months.
You speak English at a professional fluency level, as all program events will be delivered in English.
You have a reliable internet connection and access to a computer/laptop that you can use regularly.

Elegible counties

Idaho

Benewah
Bonner
Boundary
Clearwater
Idaho
Kootenai
Latah
Lewis
Nez Perce
Shoshone

Oregon

Benton
Clackamas
Columbia
Deschutes
Lane
Linn
Marion
Multnomah
Polk
Washington
Yamhill

South Carolina

Berkeley
Charleston
Dorchester

Washington

All counties

How to apply to the program?

🖊️

Create your profile

1

Start by clicking on the “Apply now!” button.

Fill in your personal information to set up an account on our platform.

Remember your email and password for future access.

📝

2 Complete all sections

Complete all sections of the application, thoroughly filling out each answer.

Once completed, all the checkmarks at the top will turn blue, indicating that you’re ready to submit.

Note: An asterisk “*” next to the question indicates that the field is required.

Hint: An asterisk “*” next to the question indicates that the field is required.

🚀

Submit your application and await further news

3

We recommend that you review your application in detail one last time. If you’re good to go, click “Submit” in the lower right corner.

Make sure to submit your application by 25 January.

Our team will be in touch with a notification about the status of your application.

Apply before:

Days

Hours

Minutes

Submit your application before 25 January

Important dates

Applications

Until 25 January

Start by making a profile on our platform and telling us more about you and your project. After you send in your application, we'll look through all the applicants who are interested in joining program.

Participant announcement

04 February

We'll carefully review all applications to choose 35 participants for this edition. If selected, your next step will be to accept your spot in the program!

Welcome session

February

Join us for a welcome session to dive into the details program! We'll introduce you to the program's schedule, your role, and the tools you'll use to develop your business. Don't miss out on this chance to learn more about what lies ahead.

Entrepreneurship program

From February to July

The online incubation experience begins! From here you'll dive into weekly mentoring sessions, use the practical tools in our digital platform, and follow our entrepreneurship step-by-step plan. You will have 5 months to complete all the modules and develop your business plan.

FAQs about the program

How many hours a week do I need to dedicate to the program?

Your effort will shape your success! The dedication you put into the program will directly influence your results.

We have designed the program so that you can complete all the activities in just 6 to 8 hours per week. This time includes your weekly video call with the mentor and participation in various sessions.

This investment of time will be necessary during the 5 months of the program, ensuring that you make the most of this learning and growth experience.

Esta inversión de tiempo será necesaria durante los 5 meses que dura el programa, asegurando así que aproveches al máximo esta experiencia de aprendizaje y crecimiento.

How much do I need to pay to join the program?

Nothing! This program is free for all our participants, since it has been funded through the Black Community Development Project at BECU.

What gadgets do I need for the program?

For the program, we recommend you use a computer with Chrome, Safari, or Firefox. But you can also use your phone.

Make sure your internet is stable for weekly activities and video calls with your mentor.

What will be the role of my mentor?

Your mentor will guide you each week, helping you refine your strategy and plan for growth, but also offer moral support.

They’ll help you on the platform and check in weekly through video calls to track your progress.

Can my co-founder or teammate work with me on the project?

Of course! Our platform is designed so you can work as a team. Invite your colleagues to join the project and work together on its development.

However, keep in mind that it is not like Google Docs. You will only be able to see your team’s changes after you refresh the page, so make sure you don’t overwrite their contributions.

Should I be concerned about my intellectual property if I apply to the program?

We understand your concerns about intellectual property and want to assure you that the security of your information is a priority for us. At Bridge for Billions, we treat your application data and your participation in the program as confidential information. Everything is protected under our Terms and Conditions and our Privacy Policy. Additionally, your mentor will sign a Mentoring Agreement that includes a confidentiality clause to further protect your information.

Contact Us

Meet Ngata, Program Manager at Bridge for Billions.
You can send her an email with any questions you have about the program.

She’ll be happy to hear from you!

This program has been built by

For more information, please visit our website