- [ ok ]loading talent........................................................................................................................kzn
- [ ok ]mounting partners........................................................................................................................nxtgen_foundation
- [ ok ]mode........................................................................................................................virtual_first
- [ .. ]cohort_01........................................................................................................................awaiting founders
$ launchport --africa --from durban
Boot up Durban's next ventures
LaunchPort Africa runs 12-week, virtual-first cohorts for vetted founders, backed by partners who share in what launches.
$ cat mission.md
Durban has the talent. Not the launchpad.
Builders leave for Cape Town and Johannesburg, and the ideas leave with them. South Africa's third city sits far down the global rankings.
| City | Relative position | Global rank |
|---|---|---|
| cape_town | #114 | |
| johannesburg | #122 | |
| durban | #601 |
// src: StartupBlink Global Startup Ecosystem Index · 2026
$ ./launch --sequence
Idea to launch in four stages.
Twelve weeks to launchT–12w
- 01vetweek 0Open call selects 5–8 teams solving real local problemsdone
- 02buildweeks 1–1112 weeks, mostly online: mentors, workshops, tech supportrunning
- 03demo_dayweek 12In person: teams pitch to partners, investors and corporatesqueued
- 04launchT+0The strongest teams get backing to grow▲ liftoff
- [founder_01]
- [founder_02]
- ● mentor · live
- 18:00session opened · workshop: pricing your first customer
- 18:02✓ team_03 checked in · umlazi
- 18:03✓ team_05 checked in · pinetown
- 18:05✓ mentor joined · logistics
- 18:41✓ shipped: landing page v2 · team_03
$ status --mode
Build from anywhere in KZN. Meet when it counts.
Weekly workshops and mentor sessions run online, so no one pays to commute every day. Kickoff, a build day and demo day happen in person at partner venues.
$ stats --kzn
The numbers behind the launchpad.
- sa.equity_rank_2025#1#1SA led Africa in equity funding1
- youth_unemployment45.8%45.8%Ages 15–34, Q1 20262
- jobs_growth_q1_2026KZNKZNThe only province adding jobs3
- cohort_length12w12wSelection to demo day4
- // 1. Partech Africa Tech VC Report 2025 · as of 2025
- // 2. Stats SA Quarterly Labour Force Survey Q1 2026 · as of 2026-03
- // 3. Stats SA Quarterly Labour Force Survey Q1 2026 · as of 2026-03
- // 4. LaunchPort Africa programme design · as of 2026-10-30
$ ls partners/
Backed by people who build Durban.
- [partner]
- your_logo_here
- [partner]
Apply or partner
$ ./apply --founder
Build something Durban needs.
The open call for cohort_01 selects 5–8 teams solving real local problems: 12 weeks, mostly online, ending at demo day.
./apply --founder$ ./partner
Back what Durban builds.
Fund the hub, host a session, bring a problem worth solving, or mentor a team. Tell us how you'd like to help.