Fraser Consulting helps develop tech startup investment course

Fraser Consulting has helped the Western Cape government’s Department of Economic Development and Tourism (DEDT) develop a free online course in tech-startup investments. The DEDT has released a statement indicating that the three-hour course is now available online. 

The programme is focused primarily on early-stage startup investments, and uses video-based modules to provide an in-depth understanding of the current startup investment climate. There are seven modules in all, which include information on potential investment options that are currently open in the market.

The modules will cover fundamental concepts such as sourcing, evaluations, the process of investing as well as the regulatory framework around investing in South Africa. Alongside the modules, 20 interviews with various experts across the startup investment lifecycle are included to provide perspectives from the world of venture capital, impact investments and accelerators.

Cape-Town based Fraser Consulting was among those supporting the development of the programme, alongside PR and communications firm The Loudhailer. Fraser Consulting has been operation across South Africa since 2016, and has experience in areas such as acceleration and programme design, business development & commecialisation, industry analysis & stakeholder engagement, as well as investment readiness & fundraising, lending it a strong foundation to design a course in early-stage investing. The firm is also experienced in conducting lectures and workshops.

In its statement, DEDT said that the programme was now available on its e-learning platform for free. Speed is of the essence when signing up, as the first 35 participants will have the opportunity to attend a closed-door event at this year’s Southern African Venture Capital Association conference at Hazendal Wine Estate in Stellenbosch.

The event is set to take place at the end of this month, and will be attended by the experts that participated in the video packages for the DEDT programme, presenting a significant networking opportunity. Overall, the programme is part of a broader push from DEDT to make the Western Cape a digital hub in South Africa.

South Africa is home to a number of promising tech startups, although the economic climate has not been conducive to significant investments in recent times. Given the broad economic benefits of promoting tech development, promoting investments at the early stage is a sound step towards growth.

Many experts have positioned innovation as the solution to South Africa’s economic woes, and the latest initiative is aimed at realising this scenario. Commitment to this ideal in the Western Cape is further exemplified by DEDT Member of Executive Council David Maynier, who signed a pledge of support for the early-stage investment landscape. Deputy Director General of the DEDT Jo-Ann Johnston also signed the pledge.