• Telkom FutureMakers has partnered with venture builder firm, Aions Creative Technology, to grow local startups.
• The partnership comes on the back of a competitive pitching process where Aions was awarded R58 million in funding.
• Since founding in 2015, Telkom FutureMakers has assisted 2 500 SMMEs by investing R250 million in funding.

Back in 2015, Telkom FutureMakers was founded as the enterprise and supplier development programme of the telecommunications giant.

The latest project from FutureMakers involves identifying and helping local startups grow, thanks to a newly announced partnership with Aions Creative Technology.

“This partnership comes on the back of a competitive pitching process where the venture builder firm was awarded R58 million in funding that will reflect Telkom FutureMakers’ commitment, to growing and partnering with ICT SMMEs who form the backbone of the South African economy,” explains Telkom in a press release sent to Hypertext.

To date, more than 2 500 local SMEs and startups have been engaged through Telkom FutureMakers, with the programme now looking to actively invest in and incubate ICT businesses.

“Since inception, Telkom FutureMakers has invested R250 million into funding ICT businesses and was recognised by the Department of Small Business Development at the Inaugural Presidential SMME and Co-operatives Awards for consistently investing in the ICT sector. The partnership with Aions aims to continue the commitment of investing in small business in the ICT sector,” it adds.

“What sets Aions apart from other entrants is that they provide both funding and end-to-end support for start-ups, which is in line with Telkom FutureMakers’ focus on innovation. Part of this focus includes the need for a suitable vehicle to achieve investments in innovation-based digital value propositions” highlights Mmathebe Zvobwo, Telkom executive for Enterprise & Supplier Development, regarding the collaboration.

As for some of the startups that stand to benefit from the partnership, Aions co-founder and CEO Mitchan Adams, says it is currently mentoring three startups:

• “Financial wellness and salary linked benefit platform Level;
• Electric scooter start-up Scooter;
• Tubby’s Kitchen, which manufactures a range of healthy cannabis infused kitchen products for home use.”

“The Telkom funding will see this number grow to at least 10 in the coming 12 months,” says Adams.

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