Windhoek Launches Accelerate36 to Position Namibia as Africa’s Next Startup Hub
Windhoek has a project titled Accelerate36 initiative, as a structured program that is targeted at positioning Namibia’s capital as Africa’s next startup hub. This will be achieved by building a pipeline of scalable companies and enabling them to have access to public capital markets.
This initiative will function by connecting early-stage businesses to public capital markets and directing them toward possible listings on the Development Capital Board (DevX) of the Namibia Securities Exchange (NSX). This deliberate process, which starts with validation and ends with growth and public listing, is intended to boost investor confidence, transparency, and governance readiness among Namibian entrepreneurs.
Accelerate36 is supported by Grindstone, a growth accelerator co-owned by Knife Capital and Thinkroom, alongside local angel investors and ecosystem builders.
During the event, Catherine Young, Managing Partner of Grindstone, mentioned that;
“The potential of Accelerate36 is to position Windhoek as a pioneer in Africa’s startup landscape and to create much‑needed liquidity in the region’s funding ecosystem”.
The initiative's larger goals of enhancing Namibia's pool of corporations that can be invested and strengthening its capital markets have been emphasized during the launch event. In addition to that, representatives from government agencies, asset managers, pension funds, regulatory bodies, as well as organizations that help entrepreneurs participate in the discussions.
About Accelerate36
Accelerate36 is a startup ecosystem initiative launched in Windhoek, Namibia, that is designed to transform the country into a structured and scalable innovation hub while expanding its pool of companies that can be invested in.
Not just an accelerator programme but a national framework built to connect startups, investors, regulators, and capital markets into one coordinated system. Its core goal is to build a pipeline of high-growth Namibian startups and guide them from early-stage development to becoming publicly listed companies.