Founders Program
Pre-Entrepreneurship Bootcamp: Entrepreneur Training & Mindset Development
Discover your founder DNA. Develop the core mindset, resilience, and problem-solving skills needed to build a startup from scratch through our intensive entrepreneurship training.
Unleashing the Entrepreneurial Mindset of African Startup Pioneers
The journey to becoming a successful founder begins long before you validate an idea or build a product. It starts with developing the right entrepreneurial mindset — the mental framework that separates those who build lasting ventures from those who give up at the first obstacle.
According to the Global Entrepreneurship Monitor 2024/2025 report, 49% of people who see good opportunities would not start a business for fear it might fail, up from 44% in 2019. Research shows that 60% of small business owners lack confidence in their finance and accounting skills, while 39% of aspiring entrepreneurs cite not knowing how to get started as a major barrier, and 33% are held back by fear of failing.
That's why we created the Pre-Entrepreneurship Bootcamp — a transformative entrepreneurship training programme designed for people without startup experience who want to discover their founder DNA and cultivate the entrepreneurial mindset that drives success.
Who Is This Bootcamp For?
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Aspiring founders
with no prior startup experience seeking to discover if entrepreneurship is their path
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Professionals
considering a career transition into the tech startup ecosystem
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Students and recent graduates
wanting to develop an entrepreneurial mindset before entering the workforce
- ✦
Innovation enthusiasts
curious about their potential as founders
- ✦
Career explorers
looking to understand if they have founder DNA
What You'll Gain from This Bootcamp
1. Entrepreneurial Mindset & Foundations
Self-assessment (Strengths, Skills, Gaps) and personal entrepreneurial development plan.
2. Problem Discovery & Opportunity Mapping
Develop the ability to identify real problems worth solving, understand user pain points, and recognise market gaps.
3. Solution Design & Lean Validation
Unlock innovative thinking; approaching challenges with fresh perspectives and designing validated solutions.
4. Pitching & Presenting Your Startup Ideas
Build confidence in presenting ideas and prepare for incubation.
Your Personal Entrepreneurial Development Plan
Beyond mindset development, participants leave with a customised roadmap including:
Self-assessment results identifying natural founder strengths and growth areas
Action steps for the first 90 days post-bootcamp
Resource recommendations based on unique entrepreneurial profile
Clear pathways to Test & Validation Bootcamp, Incubator, or Accelerator based on readiness
Programme Format
Hybrid Structure
4 weeks total (3 intensive weeks + 1 presentation week).
Testimonials
Participant Testimonials
I never imagined myself as an entrepreneur or anything like that. I always saw myself as an employee, someone who works for a company and is well-paid. But now I know that I too can be an entrepreneur. I too can make a difference by creating my own business
Julcinia Oke (kplonwe Co-founder)
I came in unsure if I had what it takes. I left with a clear development plan and the confidence that my entrepreneurial mindset can be strengthened with the right practices.
Programme Participant, 2024 Cohort
The problem discovery exercises alone were worth the entire bootcamp. I now see opportunities everywhere.
Programme Participant, 2024 Cohort
Frequently Asked Questions
What is an entrepreneurial mindset?
Entrepreneurial mindset is a set of mental attitudes, beliefs, and thinking patterns that enable individuals to identify opportunities, overcome challenges, embrace uncertainty, and create value through innovative solutions. It encompasses resilience, problem discovery, creativity, adaptability, and a growth orientation.
Can an entrepreneurial mindset be learned?
Yes. Research consistently shows that entrepreneurial mindset is developed through practice and experience, not inherited. The Pre-Entrepreneurship Bootcamp provides structured development of these mental models through proven frameworks and exercises.
Do I need a business idea to join?
No. This bootcamp is for people without startup experience. You don't need an idea — you need the entrepreneurial mindset first. Ideas come later, through the problem discovery skills you'll develop.
What's the difference between entrepreneurial mindset and business skills?
Entrepreneurial mindset is about how you think and approach challenges. Business skills are technical capabilities like accounting or marketing. The entrepreneurial mindset is foundational — it determines how effectively you'll learn and apply business skills.
What happens after the bootcamp?
You'll receive a personalised development plan. Many participants proceed to the Test & Validation Bootcamp to apply their mindset to validating real ideas, while others continue developing before joining the Incubation Programme.
How do I know if I have founder DNA?
That's exactly what this bootcamp helps you discover — through assessments, exercises, and guided reflection, you'll gain clarity on your natural founder strengths.