OST Unveils Third Cohort of GROW Program, To Back Africa’s Most Promising Startups

Open Startup (OST) has announced the launch of GROW 3.0, the third cohort of its flagship Investment Readiness Program, designed to equip advanced African startups with the knowledge, tools, and connections to scale their businesses and attract funding.

GROW is a 12-month program that supports African startups in strengthening their investment readiness and capacity to scale, sell, and fundraise. Developed in collaboration with AfricaGrow, AfricInvest Group, BPI France, and Go Ventures, the program connects founders with seasoned mentors, investors, and ecosystem leaders who help them refine their business models, expand into new markets, and navigate the fundraising process with confidence.

Now entering its third edition, GROW 3.0 builds on the momentum and lessons of the two previous cohorts, which have demonstrated the program’s tangible impact on Africa’s startup ecosystem.

Since its inception, GROW has supported 32 startups spanning 13 industries across 10 African countries, helping them raise over USD 10.7 M in investment and generate more than USD 12 M in cumulative revenues. It claims many alumni have gone on to expand internationally, secure partnerships with global organizations, and become leaders in their respective markets.

The program’s second edition, GROW 2.0, was particularly transformative, combining deep mentorship with targeted ecosystem support. Over the course of the year, OST facilitated 106 mentorship sessions, 31 focused training workshops, 75+ investor meetings, and 4 venture capital clinics, engaging more than 40 expert mentors. Participants also benefited from 18 international-exposure fellowships and 13 access-to-talent placements, giving founders first-hand exposure to global startup ecosystems and access to key technical and strategic talent.

Set to build on this experience, GROW 3.0 is expected to introduce an even more customized and immersive learning journey. The new cohort emphasizes individualized mentorship, refined investor matchmaking, and increased international exposure opportunities to help startups position themselves for sustainable growth and global visibility.

Startups selected for GROW 3.0 will participate in a series of interconnected activities designed to address their core business and fundraising needs, including:

• An in-person bootcamp focused on investment readiness, featuring clinics on data rooms, metrics, and investor storytelling
• Curated investor access through introductions, pitch reviews, and deal-readiness sessions
• Global exposure via international immersions and fellowships in leading startup ecosystems
• Talent support for key hires, backed by stipends and expert referrals
• Hands-on assistance with go-to-market strategy, partnerships, and market entry planning
• Tailored training blending business strategy, product development, growth, and fundraising, led by international experts
• Personalized mentorship matched to each startup’s stage and sector, with structured milestones and actionable feedback
• Access to OST’s pan-African community of founders, mentors, investors, and ecosystem partners

Eligibility and Applications

The program targets seed-stage startups that have been operational for less than four years and have 2–4 co-founders, including at least one African co-founder. Eligible startups should be operating in or making a measurable impact in Africa and must have raised up to USD 0.35 M to date

Applications for GROW 3.0 are open until November 2, 2025. Interested startups can apply via this [link].

Finalists selected to join the program will be asked to allocate a symbolic 1% equity to Open Startup (OST) as a contribution to the long-term sustainability and expansion of the initiative across the continent.

Through programs like GROW, Open Startup (OST) continues to position itself at the forefront of Africa’s innovation landscape, fostering entrepreneurship, education, and cross-cultural collaboration. It aims to bridge the gap between African founders and global networks, helping startups move from local traction to international recognition.