Savant
Incubator
Savant’s hands-on approach helps high-tech entrepreneurs overcome major hurdles and grow their businesses
Savant technology incubator is known for its tailored approach to building businesses.
About the Incubator
Savant offers a hands-on support to early stage entrepreneurs to help you to build business, prove concepts, raise funds and take your technology to the next level.
Value Proposition
Savant brings unrivalled technology commercialisation know-how and experience to the South African start-up landscape and offers bespoke commercialisation support to hardware technology inventors through long term, risk-based partnerships. Inventors stand to gain a streamlined journey from minimum viable product development to early market traction, both locally and internationally. Investors stand to gain early access to a pipeline of professionally de-risked technology companies to invest in.
Savant has assisted 29 companies in raising in excess of R200mn in funding. These companies have employed 300+ people and have generated more than R 3.5bn in revenue. Most of the companies that we have worked with have successfully raised finance (or are in the process of doing so) and are either in the commercialisation process or have successfully launched onto the local and global markets. Examples of successful Savant companies include Snuza, Leatt, and Veggie Crisp.
Our Staged Approach
STAGE 1: Source and Build
A journey with Savant typically starts with an introduction from one of Savant’s trusted network partners. These include IP attorneys, VCs, The Technology Innovation Agency, universities and client referrals. We conduct an extensive due diligence, whereby Savant assists the entrepreneur in defining the market, financial modelling, business structuring, and formulating a high-level strategy for the business. If the business meets all the necessary requirements it is presented to one of Savant’s Investment Committees for deliberation and a final decision on funding.
STAGE 2: Seed Incubation
Once ventures progress through Due Diligence Savant invests a minimum of R50 000 in the venture and the business growth process gets underway. Prototyping and proof of concept take centre stage, whilst corporate identity, IP registration, business infrastructure, corporate governance and the like are developed in parallel, guided by Savant. The end of this stage results in substantial further de-risking for the follow-on investor.
STAGE 3: Technology Development
Once proof of concept has been established, further prototyping, and market trials may still be required as a part of industrialisation. During this stage activities may include IP protection, setting up manufacturing relationships, and building the team. At this stage Savant drives the commercial outcome hard and all efforts are made to ensure the technology is ready for market.
STAGE 4: Venture and Grow Locally
STAGE 5: Venture & Grow Internationally
Once the venture is successfully selling products on the local market, Savant assists in finalising Series B Venture Capital investment. The international market entry strategy is set in motion and the brand is launched in key identified global markets. Savant continues to provide strategic support and maintains a board presence.
STAGE 1: Source and Build
A journey with Savant typically starts with an introduction from one of Savant’s trusted network partners. These include IP attorneys, VCs, The Technology Innovation Agency, universities and client referrals. We conduct an extensive due diligence, whereby Savant assists the entrepreneur in defining the market, financial modelling, business structuring, and formulating a high-level strategy for the business. If the business meets all the necessary requirements it is presented to one of Savant’s Investment Committees for deliberation and a final decision on funding.
STAGE 2: Seed Incubation
Once ventures progress through Due Diligence Savant invests a minimum of R50 000 in the venture and the business growth process gets underway. Prototyping and proof of concept take centre stage, whilst corporate identity, IP registration, business infrastructure, corporate governance and the like are developed in parallel, guided by Savant. The end of this stage results in substantial further de-risking for the follow-on investor.
STAGE 3: Technology Development
Once proof of concept has been established, further prototyping, and market trials may still be required as a part of industrialisation. During this stage activities may include IP protection, setting up manufacturing relationships, and building the team. At this stage Savant drives the commercial outcome hard and all efforts are made to ensure the technology is ready for market.
STAGE 4: Venture and Grow Locally
STAGE 5: Venture & Grow Internationally
Once the venture is successfully selling products on the local market, Savant assists in finalising Series B Venture Capital investment. The international market entry strategy is set in motion and the brand is launched in key identified global markets. Savant continues to provide strategic support and maintains a board presence.
Performance Metrics
Our Portfolio
Smartroots aims to solve is the lack of access to affordable, effective and environmentally sustainable fertiliser
Transforming industrial waste water and mining effluents into clean water and commercially saleable products.
Renewco focusses on the design, construction and operation of Biogas Plants.
A specialist mushroom cultivation and extraction company in South Africa.
Partners
News
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