Thinkroom and The Oracle Group have partnered to launch the Oracle Innovate Lab, a six-month founder-focused programme designed to support Eswatini’s early- and growth-stage entrepreneurs in building resilient, scalable ventures.
The initiative, set to kick off in August 2025, is targeted at ten high-potential small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and is expected to serve as a launchpad for local startups looking to expand into regional and international markets.
Blending Local Innovation with Global Support
Eswatini, formerly Swaziland, has long faced structural limitations to startup development, including limited access to growth capital, networks, and structured mentorship.
However, the Innovate Lab seeks to change that by providing a blend of hands-on masterclasses, one-on-one mentorship, and practical business development sessions tailored specifically to local entrepreneurs.
The programme will operate in a hybrid format, allowing for both in-person and virtual participation, a strategic move aimed at expanding accessibility while maintaining direct engagement and accountability.
“Founders in Eswatini are not short on innovation, grit, or drive,” said Catherine Young, founder of Thinkroom. “However, they need the support infrastructure around them to take that next big step.
“With Oracle Innovate Lab, we are creating a space where we can intentionally build growth in ten high-potential SMEs.”
Building Growth with Purpose
The Oracle Innovate Lab is part of a growing wave of Africa-focused initiatives that combine local knowledge with multinational support. By narrowing the focus to a select cohort, organisers hope to foster deeper transformation in each business, rather than wide but shallow reach.
“This partnership with Oracle is an example of what it means to build meaningful growth with partners who want to make real impact,” Young added. “We are excited to kick off our first cohort with the Oracle Innovate Lab.”
For a country like Eswatini, where economic diversification remains a key policy priority, such initiatives could not be more timely.
Applications Now Open
Applications for the Oracle Innovate Lab are open until July 23, 2025. Selected entrepreneurs will receive tailored mentorship, peer support, and visibility to potential investors and markets across Africa. Application step-by-step guidelines and requirements can be accessed here in details on the application page.
About Thinkroom and The Oracle Group
Thinkroom is a South Africa-based entrepreneurial support organisation focused on developing scalable, high-impact startups across Africa.
Founded by Catherine Young, Thinkroom specializes in ecosystem-building through targeted acceleration programmes, mentorship, and strategic partnerships. The organisation has played a key role in nurturing innovation in underserved markets by connecting local founders with global resources.
The Oracle Group is a development-focused consultancy working at the intersection of business, strategy, and impact across Southern Africa.
Known for its commitment to inclusive economic growth, the Oracle Group partners with both private and public sector actors to implement initiatives that drive entrepreneurship, market access, and SME competitiveness.
Their collaboration with Thinkroom on the Oracle Innovate Lab underscores a shared mission to unlock Africa’s entrepreneurial potential from the ground up.
Why This Matters
The launch of the Oracle Innovate Lab in Eswatini is more than just another accelerator, it represents a critical step toward decentralizing innovation across Africa.
While much of the continent’s startup activity remains concentrated in larger markets like Nigeria, Kenya, and South Africa, smaller nations like Eswatini often lack the infrastructure, exposure, and investment required to nurture local entrepreneurship.
Experts maintains that this programme directly addresses that gap. By offering structured support, mentorship, and international partnerships, it gives Eswatini’s founders the tools to scale not just locally, but regionally.
Unemployment in Eswatini, like in most African countries, remains high, and the private sector is underdeveloped. Empowering SMEs, according to experts, could be key to job creation, digital transformation, and economic diversification.
Moreover, Oracle’s involvement lends credibility, resources, and visibility, potentially positioning Eswatini’s innovators on the global map.
The success of this initiative could serve as a blueprint for ecosystem development in other underserved markets across Africa, making it not just locally impactful, but continentally significant.
Talking Point
Partnerships like the one between Thinkroom and The Oracle Group are essential to unlocking Africa’s full entrepreneurial potential. While innovation is abundant across the continent, many local founders face barriers such as limited access to capital, mentorship, and structured support.
By combining global expertise with deep local insight, such collaborations offer tailored, high-impact programmes that go beyond funding, equipping entrepreneurs with the tools, networks, and guidance they need to build scalable and sustainable businesses.
This model is especially powerful because it prioritizes ecosystem-building over quick wins. When global players like Oracle partner with grassroots enablers like Thinkroom, the result is a mutually beneficial exchange that fosters inclusive innovation in often-overlooked regions.
To truly decentralize Africa’s tech growth and uplift emerging markets, therefore, more intentional, founder-focused partnerships like this must become widespread across the continent.
