Fikile Mlangeni | July 21, 2023
22 On Sloane is situated in the heart of Sandton, Johannesburg. We are a dynamic and thriving hub for innovation and entrepreneurship – a beacon for startups, tech enthusiasts, and visionaries looking to transform their ideas into successful businesses. With our vibrant ecosystem, state-of-the-art facilities, and robust support network, we have become a catalyst for economic growth and a driving force behind Africa’s emerging startup culture.
A brief background, 22 On Sloane is dubbed the largest startup campus in Africa. It is a legacy project born from the Global Entrepreneurship Congress (GEC) by the Global Entrepreneurship Network (GEN) hosted in Johannesburg, South Africa in 2017 and its’ vision is to Power the Next Generation of Entrepreneurs. The Global Entrepreneurship Network (GEN) operates in 180+ countries with the aim to make it easier for anyone, anywhere to start and scale a business. On the continent, GEN is in 43 African countries and 22 On Sloane serves as its headquarters and leads GEN’s activities on the continent.
Our campus offers disruptive startups and innovative SMEs a complete turnkey solution to scale, from the initial idea – all the way to commercialisation, funding opportunities and access to markets through various programmes. The aim is to nurture the entrepreneurial mindset, ensure their sustainability, explore the development of new industries and contribute towards job creation in Africa.
Our mission is to become a platform of choice for startups to scale and become global brands, and our efforts are driven by our Strategic Objectives to:
- Provide access to Finance for startups.
- Provide access to Markets for startups.
- Provide effective Value-Add Programmes for startups.
- Instil Good Governance in our startup.
We believe collaboration is the key to success, and we foster through our 3000+ sqm lettable area (co-working spaces) that can be occupied by over 100 startups and their staff, where we also host quarterly exhibitions with the main purpose of the exhibition being to encourage co-creation, collaboration, and networking.
Our State-of-the-Art Facilities are designed to inspire and empower entrepreneurs. We offer modern, fully equipped workspaces, meeting rooms, and event spaces. Other added values that we offer are; High-speed internet, 3D printers, prototyping equipment, and cutting-edge technologies that is readily available to facilitate innovation and product development.
Through 22 On Sloane, startups and entrepreneurs can gain access to expert guidance, mentorship, and training that help them refine their business models, secure funding, and scale their ventures. We connect startups with a vast network of investors and corporate partners, opening doors to funding opportunities and strategic collaborations. We also recognize the importance of funding for startups; hence we host regular pitch events, investor showcases, and demo days, providing a platform for startups to pitch their ideas to potential investors.
To nurture a culture of entrepreneurship, we offer comprehensive educational programs and skills development initiatives that entrepreneurs can benefit from such as mentor-led training sessions. We also have a youth development programme which is aimed at instilling and nurturing the entrepreneurship mindset within young people between the ages of 13-18, the GEN Juniors. The newly launched Gen Juniors is focusing on developing young minds in business, more so in technology.
That’s 22 On Sloane in a nutshell. You can subscribe to our newsletter for updates on our events and activities in/around our campus. We share insightful articles in our newsroom tab on our website and tools/resources that can help your business.
For more information, visit our website on: www.22onsloane.co
