SiMODiSA Start-Up
SiMODiSA is a South African nonprofit industry association founded in 2013 that catalyzes the country's startup ecosystem through policy advocacy, events, an ecosystem map, and digital resources for entrepreneurs.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2013
- HeadquartersJohannesburg, South Africa
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What SiMODiSA Start-Up does
SiMODiSA (South Africa Mobile and Digital Innovation Association) is a nonprofit industry association headquartered in Sandton, Johannesburg, founded in 2013 by Pieter de Villiers. Its stated mission is to catalyze and amplify entrepreneurship in the South African startup ecosystem by acting as the 'golden thread' connecting public- and private-sector stakeholders. The organization serves a primary audience of South African high-growth startups and SMEs facing barriers to capital, markets, talent, and enabling regulation, and a secondary audience of township entrepreneurs. The association maintains a lean operating team of 1-10 employees.
SiMODiSA's offerings center on ecosystem coordination rather than proprietary technology. Core products and services include the SiMODiSA Digital Portal (a curated resource hub launched in 2020, including COVID-19 resources), an interactive Ecosystem Map, a policy resources library (White Paper 2014, Top 25 Constraints 2015, Industry Report 2019, Annual Ecosystem Report 2019-2020, ANDE Ecosystem Map 2017, Business Visa Policy Task Team announcement, and guides on Intellectual Property, Regulatory & Red Tape, Funding & Incentives, and Talent & Visa), and an event program encompassing Leaderex, Industry Breakfast, Start-Up Thursday, Venture Train, Policy Dialogue, Fashionomics, KasiGoDigital, and DataHack4FI South Africa. A Membership Program ties these offerings together. Distribution occurs through the website, a Mailchimp newsletter, a YouTube channel, Facebook/Twitter/Instagram accounts, and in-person events.
The business model is that of an industry association, not a commercial technology vendor. No pricing, membership fees, or revenue figures are publicly disclosed; the organization lists no funding rounds and no parent company. Funding is implied through partnerships and member support from entities including SAVCA, Clickatell, Workshop17, and Endeavor South Africa. Leadership comprises Chairman Pieter de Villiers, Vice Chairperson Matsi Modise, Treasurer Keet van Zyl, and a broader board and advisory structure that includes representatives from SAVCA, Edge Growth, and YIEDI.
SiMODiSA Start-Up firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- SiMODiSA Start-Up
- Legal name
- SiMODiSA Association
- Website
- https://simodisa.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2013
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- SiMODiSA is a South African nonprofit industry association founded in 2013 that catalyzes the country's startup ecosystem through policy advocacy, events, an ecosystem map, and digital resources for entrepreneurs.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
SiMODiSA Start-Up industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Industry Association / Startup Ecosystem Services
- NAICS
- Business Associations (813910), Professional Organizations (81392)
- SIC
- Services-Membership Organizations (8600)
- akta.pro primary industry
- SME & Entrepreneurship Development (Trade-Linked) (BPADAMAE)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Business Planning, Pitching & Competitions (Pitch Decks, Demo Days) (EDAMAHAB), Microfinance, Financial Inclusion & Inclusive Markets (BPAGABAM)
Keywords
Where SiMODiSA Start-Up is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Johannesburg
- HQ country
- South Africa
- HQ region
- Africa
Offices1 record
Markets served
SiMODiSA Start-Up business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels7 records
SiMODiSA Start-Up product offering
Product offeringCore offering
SiMODiSA is a nonprofit industry association that catalyzes and amplifies entrepreneurship in the South African startup ecosystem. It provides entrepreneurs with tools, resources, and downloadable policy and ecosystem reports via its digital portal, connects them through world-class events such as Industry Breakfast, Leaderex, Start-Up Thursday, Venture Train, KasiGoDigital, Fashionomics and DataHack4FI, advocates for policy changes with senior government officials, and operates a membership program linked to partner organizations across the public and private sector.
Product overview
SiMODiSA is an industry association, not a traditional product company. It operates a unified ecosystem-building platform consisting of the SiMODiSA Digital Portal (a curated information hub for entrepreneurs), downloadable Policy Resources (white papers, reports, and regulatory guides), COVID-19 Resources, an Ecosystem Map tool, Entrepreneurship Events program, and a Membership Program. These offerings work together to catalyze and amplify entrepreneurship in the South African startup ecosystem by connecting government, private sector, and entrepreneurs.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- SiMODiSA Digital Portal: Digital platform launched to provide curated information and resources for entrepreneurs, including COVID-19 resources.
- SiMODiSA Portal
Products and services
- SiMODiSA Digital Portal
Companies that use SiMODiSA Start-Up
Customer profileSegments2 records
Ideal customer profiles2 records
SiMODiSA Start-Up technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
SiMODiSA Start-Up partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Four partnerships are on record, tiered core.
- SAVCA (South African Venture Capital Association)coreSAVCA is listed as a partner helping to create a sophisticated entrepreneurship ecosystem in South Africa. SAVCA represents the private equity and venture capital industry in South Africa.
- ClickatellcoreClickatell is listed as a partner contributing to the South African entrepreneurship ecosystem. Clickatell is a mobile communications company.
- Workshop17coreWorkshop17 is listed as a partner providing workspace and community for entrepreneurs. It is a collaborative workspace provider in South Africa.
- Endeavor South AfricacoreEndeavor South Africa is listed as a partner supporting high-impact entrepreneurs. Endeavor is a global organization that identifies, funds, and supports high-impact entrepreneurs.
Recent moves5 records
Expansion highlights5 records
SiMODiSA Start-Up competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Aspen Network of Development Entrepreneurs (ANDE): Global network of organizations that support entrepreneurship in developing countries. SiMODiSA published the ANDE Ecosystem Map in 2017, demonstrating direct operational overlap in mapping and developing the SA SME support ecosystem.
- SAVCA (South African Venture Capital and Private Equity Association): Industry body representing the SA private equity and venture capital industry. Listed as a SiMODiSA core partner; comparable as a membership-based association supporting capital flow to SA growth businesses and providing policy advocacy to government.
- Workshop17: Collaborative workspace and community operator for entrepreneurs across South Africa. Listed as a SiMODiSA core partner; shares the convening/community model aimed at SA founders, SMMEs and growth-stage ventures.
- Endeavor South Africa: Identifies, funds and supports high-impact entrepreneurs in South Africa and emerging markets. Direct peer: SiMODiSA is itself a SiMODiSA listed partner and both organizations share the explicit mission of accelerating high-growth, high-impact South African entrepreneurship through ecosystem convening and mentor networks.
- Edge Growth: SA enterprise and venture development firm co-founded by SiMODiSA advisor Jason Goldberg. Comparable as both an entrepreneurship ecosystem builder and an investor, with overlapping founder/investor target segment in South Africa.
- Black Umbrellas (Shanduka Black Umbrellas): South African enterprise and supplier development organization supporting SMMEs and emerging entrepreneurs. Highly comparable to SiMODiSA's township entrepreneurship and SMME transformation mission and target entrepreneur segment.
Broad incumbents
- Technology Innovation Agency (TIA): South African government agency funding and supporting technology innovation and entrepreneurship. Comparable as a publicly-funded actor in the same SA innovation ecosystem, with overlapping mandate to grow high-impact startups and produce reports such as the TIA/SiMODiSA Tech Funding Landscape review.
Regional players
- Wesgro: Official trade and investment promotion agency for the Western Cape, South Africa. Comparable as a South African regional association carrying out economic development, policy advocacy and SME/entrepreneurship support, with regional rather than national focus.
- The Innovation Hub (TIH): Gauteng-based innovation center and incubation/acceleration operator. SiMODiSA Vice Chair Matsi Modise sits on its board; comparable in mission to commercialize and accelerate high-growth South African entrepreneurs through ecosystem support.
Emerging players
- YIEDI: Innovation, incubation and entrepreneurship development firm led by SiMODiSA advisor Jayshree Naidoo. Comparable as a smaller, niche ecosystem participant delivering incubation design, supplier development and digital/eLearning solutions to SA entrepreneurs.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
SiMODiSA Start-Up social profiles
Digital presenceSiMODiSA Start-Up financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
SiMODiSA Start-Up leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles10 records
SiMODiSA Start-Up funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
SiMODiSA Start-Up M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about SiMODiSA Start-Up
What does SiMODiSA Start-Up do?
SiMODiSA is a nonprofit industry association that catalyzes and amplifies entrepreneurship in the South African startup ecosystem. It provides entrepreneurs with tools, resources, and downloadable policy and ecosystem reports via its digital portal, connects them through world-class events such as Industry Breakfast, Leaderex, Start-Up Thursday, Venture Train, KasiGoDigital, Fashionomics and DataHack4FI, advocates for policy changes with senior government officials, and operates a membership program linked to partner organizations across the public and private sector.
Is SiMODiSA Start-Up a public or private company?
SiMODiSA Start-Up is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was SiMODiSA Start-Up founded?
SiMODiSA Start-Up was founded in 2013. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is SiMODiSA Start-Up based?
SiMODiSA Start-Up is headquartered in Johannesburg, South Africa, in the Africa region.
Who are SiMODiSA Start-Up's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Aspen Network of Development Entrepreneurs (ANDE), SAVCA (South African Venture Capital and Private Equity Association), Workshop17, Endeavor South Africa, Edge Growth and Black Umbrellas (Shanduka Black Umbrellas). Technology Innovation Agency (TIA) is listed as a broad incumbent. Regional players are Wesgro and The Innovation Hub (TIH). YIEDI is listed as an emerging player.
Does SiMODiSA Start-Up have an API?
No public API is recorded for SiMODiSA Start-Up.
What industry is SiMODiSA Start-Up in?
SiMODiSA Start-Up's product category is Industry Association / Startup Ecosystem Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPADAMAE, SME & Entrepreneurship Development (Trade-Linked), with a secondary code of EDAMAHAB, Business Planning, Pitching & Competitions (Pitch Decks, Demo Days). Its NAICS code is 813910 and its SIC code is 8600.