Cohort 03 — applications close 30 October 202612 weeks10 teams
Pre-seed · Idea stage

Incubate Idea to First Customer

For technical and domain founders with a sharp problem and no company yet. Twelve weeks to a validated wedge, a working product, and a first paying customer — with capital, workspace and an operator alongside you every week.

Cheque at entry
US$15,000
Terms
4% on a post-money SAFE
Cohort size
10 teams
Who this is for

Pre-incorporation to pre-revenue teams. At least one full-time technical or domain founder. An African market as the beachhead.

The work

What actually happens, week by week.

01
Weeks 1–2

Problem archaeology

Customer interviews, market sizing on real data, and killing the version of the idea that does not survive contact.

02
Weeks 3–4

Wedge and positioning

Narrow to one buyer, one workflow, one measurable saving. Write the one-line thesis you will defend to investors.

03
Weeks 5–7

Build the thin slice

Ship a product a customer can actually use. Agent-native tooling, sovereign data handling, and a deploy pipeline from week five.

04
Weeks 8–9

First revenue

Pricing, pilot contracts, and the procurement realities of selling to African institutions and enterprise.

05
Weeks 10–11

The raise

Cap table hygiene, SAFE mechanics, the data room, and the metrics that actually move an African pre-seed cheque.

06
Week 12

Demo Day

Eight minutes in front of the 7Square investor network and the wider room.

Outcomes

What you leave holding.

Not a certificate. These are the things we hold ourselves to for every team in the cohort.

  • A live product with at least one paying or signed pilot customer
  • Clean incorporation, cap table and founder agreements
  • US$15,000 in the bank plus credits across cloud, AI and legal
  • A data room and deck that survive investor diligence
  • Standing introductions to the angels and funds in the network
Cohort 03 — applications close 30 October 2026

Apply to Incubate today.

No deck required. Tell us the problem, who has it, and what exists so far.