Windhoek Launches Accelerate36 to Build Africa’s Next Startup Hub

Windhoek is making strides toward becoming one of Africa’s emerging startup hubs with the launch of the Accelerate36 Initiative, a collaborative effort led by Grindstone,  the growth engineer co-owned by Knife Capital and Thinkroom. The initiative seeks to strengthen Namibia’s startup ecosystem by creating a pathway for high-growth startups to access public capital markets.

The launch event brought together policymakers, regulators, investors, founders, and ecosystem builders to discuss strategies for unlocking economic growth through the development of scalable startups. The initiative focuses on enabling startups to list on the Development Capital Board (DevX) of the Namibia Securities Exchange (NSX), providing a structured growth and investment framework.

Accelerate36 aims to position Windhoek as a thriving startup hub while expanding Namibia’s investable universe and deepening its capital markets. The initiative establishes a progression for startups, guiding them from validation and growth stages to public listing and eventual graduation to the NSX Main Board. This approach addresses the current challenges where relatively few Namibian startups scale into governance-ready companies capable of attracting institutional investment, while domestic capital markets face a shrinking pool of investable opportunities.

The model emphasizes startup preparation for public markets, strengthening governance, transparency, and investor confidence. By building a disciplined pathway, Accelerate36 is expected to expand Namibia’s pool of investable companies, creating opportunities for entrepreneurs, investors, and institutional capital.

During the launch event, three Namibian startups—Yyeni, PatientCare, and Mindsinaction—pitched their ventures, demonstrating innovation across AI-driven education technology, digital healthcare, and STE[A]M skills development. These startups illustrate the potential for scalable businesses that address critical societal challenges while contributing to Africa’s digital and innovation economy.

The initiative is driven by collaboration among ecosystem partners, with attendees including representatives from government, regulators, pension funds, asset managers, accelerators, and entrepreneurs. Catherine Young, Managing Partner of Grindstone, noted that the initiative could establish Namibia as a pioneer in development exchanges, creating much-needed liquidity in the funding landscape. Eben van Heerden, Partner at Knife Capital, expressed optimism that within five years, ten Namibian startups could achieve significant exits, generating remarkable returns for investors.

The Accelerate36 discussions in Windhoek mark a significant step toward building a stronger startup ecosystem and unlocking new pathways for innovation-driven growth in Namibia. For Grindstone, the initiative reinforces its commitment to supporting entrepreneurs across Africa and fostering ecosystems where startups can grow, scale, and thrive.