Product focus
Sharpen who you serve, the problem you solve and what to build first. We cut scope until the product has a clear job and a path to revenue.
Cape Town · Technology & FinTech Accelerator
We help technology founders build fundable, shippable companies.
Startup Partners is an accelerator for early and growth-stage technology businesses, with a deep focus on fintech. We work alongside founders on product, financials, fundraising and engineering, and take an equity stake because we only win when you do.
6–12 monthsPaced to your progress
7–15%Equity, agreed per startup
FinTechOur sharpest focus
AWS + allCore cloud providers supported
What we do
Hands-on support across the things that decide whether a startup raises, ships and scales.
Mentorship is the start. We bring working operators and specialists into the business to clarify, build and prepare.
Financials & unit economics
Build a model investors will trust: pricing, margins, burn, runway and the assumptions behind them, stress-tested before anyone else sees them.
Fundraising approach
Decide how much to raise, from whom and when. Funding guidance, investor targeting and introductions, and readiness before you go to market.
Collateral & narrative
Pitch decks, data-room material, one-pagers and the story that ties them together, built to survive due diligence.
Technical guidance
Architecture, team structure and engineering practice from people who have run technology at scale. We help you choose what to build, buy or skip.
Rollout & release
Plan and execute launches: environments, release process, security posture and go-to-market sequencing, so shipping is repeatable.
Where we go deep
FinTech and cloud engineering.
Fintech is regulated, trust-sensitive and technically unforgiving. Our focus is on founders building in it, and on the infrastructure that has to hold up underneath.
- AWS specialists. Architecture, security, cost control and scaling on AWS.
- Every core cloud. We also support Azure, Google Cloud and multi-cloud setups.
- Technology-first. SaaS, platforms, payments, data and developer tools.
- Specialists on call. Experts across technical fields and business functions, brought in when a startup needs them.
Typical founders we back
Technology-led companies with a real product direction and the ambition to raise or scale, from early prototypes to growth-stage businesses.
How it works
From first conversation to investor-ready.
Apply
Submit the expression of interest below. It takes about ten minutes and tells us where you are and what you need.
Intro meeting
If there is a fit, we meet to dig into the business and walk through fees, terms and expectations in detail.
Agree & sign
We agree the equity and scope in a Master Services Agreement. The programme starts on signature.
Build & raise
Weekly check-ins, progress assessments, expert sessions, investor introductions and technical delivery support.
Programme terms
What we provide, what we expect, and what it costs.
No hidden mechanics. The programme fee is paid in equity, so you keep your cash for the business.
What we provide
- Mentorship from experienced operators and technologists
- Specialist expertise across technical and business fields
- Strategy, product and financial model support
- Fundraising approach, funding guidance and investor access
- Pitch and data-room collateral
- Technical development and release guidance (AWS and other clouds)
- Networking opportunities, resources and office space
What we expect
- A company registered in South Africa
- Commitment to the full programme. Most teams take 12 months; strong progress can shorten it to as little as 6
- Weekly check-ins and regular progress assessments
- Active engagement with mentors, investors and partners
- Adherence to programme guidelines
- Mutual confidentiality on proprietary information
- Equity allocated to Startup Partners on signature
7–15%
Equity in the startup, set at the current valuation and fixed in the agreement before you sign. The exact percentage depends on your stage and the scope of support, and is discussed in the intro meeting.
| Fee | Participation fee paid in equity, at the current valuation. No cash fee for the programme itself. |
|---|---|
| Allocation | The full agreed equity is authorised and issued to Startup Partners on signature. |
| Vesting | Earned monthly over the programme term. On the standard 12-month term, 1/12 vests each month. |
| Founder protection | If the programme ends early, the startup holds a call option over the unvested portion. |
| Termination | Either party can end the agreement on 30 days' written notice. Startup Partners keeps equity earned to that date. |
| Material breach | Startup Partners may terminate immediately, and the full fee then vests. |
| Your IP | You keep ownership of all intellectual property developed before or during the programme. |
This summary is indicative. The signed Master Services Agreement governs, and we recommend you take independent legal advice before signing.
The team
Operators who have built, scaled and raised.
A core partner group, plus specialists we bring in as each startup needs them.
HW
Managing Partner
Hilton Warmback
Technologist turned operator. Former CTO, CIO and SVP Engineering across e-commerce, messaging and media businesses, now advising founders on strategy, product, engineering leadership and fundraising readiness.
GR
Partner
Grant Rodger
Technology executive with a career spanning Clickatell, Visa, Nokia and Cellulant. Founder and CTO of LedgerFlow, and CTO of Translution. Leads technical guidance for portfolio founders.
PP
Partner
Paul Prinsloo
Serial entrepreneur with deep experience across many types of business. An active private investor who backs founders presented through the programme when there is a strong fit.
Plus an expert network across cloud, security, product, finance, legal and go-to-market, called in when the work needs it.
FAQ
Straight answers.
Who is the programme for?
Technology startups registered in South Africa, from idea and prototype through market validation to scaling. We have a particular focus on fintech.
Why equity instead of a cash fee?
It aligns us with the outcome. Startups conserve cash, and we are invested in getting you to a raise, a launch and growth.
How much equity do you take?
Between 7% and 15% depending on stage and the scope of support. It is agreed in writing before you sign, and vests monthly over the programme term.
How long does the programme run?
The term is set by your needs and how quickly you move through the programme. Most startups take 12 months. Teams that progress fast can complete in as little as 6.
What happens if it is not working?
Either side can terminate on 30 days' written notice. We keep only the equity vested to that point, and you hold a call option over the unvested equity if the programme ends early.
Do you only work with AWS?
No. AWS is our deepest specialism, and we support all the core cloud providers.
Do you help with fundraising directly?
Yes. We help you decide how much to raise and from whom, prepare the narrative, deck and data room, and give funding guidance through the process.
Is my information kept confidential?
Yes. The agreement includes mutual confidentiality over proprietary information shared during the programme.
Apply
Tell us about your startup.
This is an expression of interest, not a commitment. If you are selected, we schedule an intro meeting to discuss next steps and fees in more detail.
- Location16 Nuttall Road, Observatory, Cape Town
- Emailhilton@startuppartners.co.za