Programme: Grindstone Accelerator
Organisation: Knife Capital
Type of Support
Programme Description
Grindstone is a year-long entrepreneurial development programme to assist innovation-driven businesses in accelerating strategy execution. Grindstone supplies 10 companies annually with knowledge, networks and funding readiness through growth measurement, gap analysis and deep interventions designed to build a foundation for growth, transfer skills, create relevant business networks and enable these companies to take advantage of market access opportunities. Business support resources and services include elements of training, corporate advisory, coaching, mentorship and funding.
The programme can be customised for any Corporate wanting to ensure that the companies in its supplier development programme become sustainable and can scale to the next level by measurably addressing the gaps in each participating SME.
Target Market
Innovation-driven Small and Medium Enterprises
Application Process
An online application needs to be submitted for consideration.
Success Stories
In the first year of Grindstone, the ten participating SMEs achieved the following results:
In January 2015 one of the Grindstone participants: Radar specialist iKubu was acquired by NASDAQ-listed navigation giant Garmin. Garmin is establishing research and development centre in Stellenbosch via iKubu.
This year Knife Capital accepted thirteen businesses on the programme, enabled by the nature of the opportunities presented combined with corporate partnerships reached.
Contact Details
Email: grindstone@knifecap.com
Website: http://www.knifecap.com/grindstone.php
Twitter: @GrindstoneXL
Applications are to be made online via the website
Organisation: Knife Capital
Type of Support
- Entrepreneurial Development
- Investment Readiness
- Growth Strategy
Programme Description
Grindstone is a year-long entrepreneurial development programme to assist innovation-driven businesses in accelerating strategy execution. Grindstone supplies 10 companies annually with knowledge, networks and funding readiness through growth measurement, gap analysis and deep interventions designed to build a foundation for growth, transfer skills, create relevant business networks and enable these companies to take advantage of market access opportunities. Business support resources and services include elements of training, corporate advisory, coaching, mentorship and funding.
The programme can be customised for any Corporate wanting to ensure that the companies in its supplier development programme become sustainable and can scale to the next level by measurably addressing the gaps in each participating SME.
Target Market
Innovation-driven Small and Medium Enterprises
Application Process
An online application needs to be submitted for consideration.
Success Stories
In the first year of Grindstone, the ten participating SMEs achieved the following results:
- Created 43 new direct jobs;
- Added R43 million in revenue across the ten companies;
- Grew by 61% year-on-year in revenue;
- Increased their number of key customers by 120%;
- Doubled their company valuations on average;
- Increased their mastering of business fundamentals index by 20% – from 65% to 78%.
In January 2015 one of the Grindstone participants: Radar specialist iKubu was acquired by NASDAQ-listed navigation giant Garmin. Garmin is establishing research and development centre in Stellenbosch via iKubu.
This year Knife Capital accepted thirteen businesses on the programme, enabled by the nature of the opportunities presented combined with corporate partnerships reached.
Contact Details
Email: grindstone@knifecap.com
Website: http://www.knifecap.com/grindstone.php
Twitter: @GrindstoneXL
Applications are to be made online via the website
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