Gaborone, Botswana, October 8, 2025 – The MIT Kuo Sharper Center, in partnership with the Government of Botswana, marked a historic milestone with the first-ever Demo Day of its Early-Stage Program. Made possible through the generous support of the Government and in close collaboration with the Botswana Digital & Innovation Hub, the event underscored a pivotal step in Botswana’s journey toward a knowledge-based economy—advancing the country’s national vision of economic diversification, innovation, and inclusive prosperity.
More than 1,300 applications were received for the program, from which 31 inspiring entrepreneurs were selected. Over the past 12 weeks, these founders have taken part in an intensive program led by MIT faculty and leading African entrepreneurs, honing solutions in agriculture, climate resilience, mining, health, and digital services.
They showcased their ventures before a distinguished audience, including His Excellency Ndaba Nkosinathi Gaolathe, Vice President and Minister of Finance of the Republic of Botswana, as well as investors, partners, and leaders shaping Africa’s innovation ecosystem.
H.H. Vice President Ndaba Nkosinathi Gaolathe underscored the event’s significance: “This partnership — between Government, MIT, and the Innovation Hub — sits at the heart of the Botswana Economic Transformation Plan (BETP). The BETP is not just a policy document; it is our national design for growth, diversification, and competitiveness. Through its Model Lab approach, we bring together government, private sector, academia, and civil society to co-create solutions, test them rapidly, and scale what works. What we are celebrating tonight is a living embodiment of that process — an innovation laboratory that converts bold ideas into tangible impact.”
A panel of judges, including Aditya Ram, Managing Director, Acumen Property Group, Mythri Sambasivan George, Founder & CEO, Vetri Consulting, Wayne Stocks, Managing Partner, University Technology Fund, Ananth Ram, Pro-Vice Chancellor Strategy, Botho University, Zachariah George, Managing Partner, Launch Africa Ventures and Matlhogonolo Mponang, Chief People Office, Debswana, offered invaluable insights—highlighting the most promising ideas, providing constructive feedback, and celebrating the incredible entrepreneurial talent emerging from Botswana and across Africa.
“This Demo Day is more than a showcase of ventures—it’s a demonstration of what becomes possible when world-class knowledge is paired with investment, strong policy, local talent and coordinated support,” said Dina H. Sherif, Executive Director of the MIT Kuo Sharper Center. “The energy and innovation we’ve seen in this first cohort reinforces our commitment to
Botswana and its journey toward becoming a leading hub for entrepreneurship and innovation in Africa.”
As the first cohort concludes, the Demo Day signals the beginning of a new chapter in Botswana’s innovation story—one that positions the country at the forefront of Africa’s entrepreneurial transformation.
The Demo Day is part of a broader agenda launched through the Botswana–MIT Kuo Sharper Center collaboration. Building on the momentum of the Early-Stage Program, the Center will debut two additional initiatives before the end of 2025:
Deep Tech Program (November 10–16, 2025 | Gaborone, Botswana): Designed for scientists and researchers working at the cutting edge of technology, this program will support participants in commercializing and scaling their ventures, strengthening Africa’s R&D and innovation capacity, and connecting them with investors and mentors who understand the unique challenges of deep tech.
Growth Stage Program (December 2025 | Nairobi, Kenya): This initiative will convene growth-stage entrepreneurs who are scaling companies, significantly expanding their customer bases, and driving revenue growth. Participants will be plugged into an expanded ecosystem of resources and the extended MIT Kuo Sharper Center community, gaining the networks and tools needed to take their ventures to the next level.
Together, these three programs—the Early-Stage Program in Botswana, the Deep Tech Program in Gaborone, and the Growth Stage Program in Nairobi—form a comprehensive pipeline that supports entrepreneurs at every stage of their journey, from idea to impact. They reflect Botswana’s bold commitment to becoming a hub for Pan-African innovation while advancing MIT Kuo Sharper Center’s renewed commitment to defining a new calculus for prosperity in global growth markets.