500 Global’s Pre-Acceleration Academy is an immersive 5-day bootcamp. Based in Nairobi, this bootcamp is part of UNDP’s timbuktoo initiative, and is designed for founders at the early stages of their entrepreneurial journey, looking to gain the foundational knowledge and tools to take their startup to the next level!
Priority deadline: August 29, 2025
Applications received by the priority deadline will initiate an earlier start of the review process.
Application period closes on September 19, 2025.
Join the 500 Global team for the Pre-Acceleration Academy in Nairobi. As part of UNDP’s timbuktoo initiative, this immersive 5-day bootcamp is designed for early stage founders to learn fundamentals of business growth, from defining your ideal customer profile to strategies that support converting your initial customers.
Born in Silicon Valley, but with a track record of supporting more than 3,000 startups and 6,000 founders globally, from pre-seed to IPO, and boasting a team of 150+ team members across 20 countries, we offer expertise as entrepreneurs, investors, and operators, uniquely supporting founders through every step of their journey. With the Pre-Acceleration Academy, you’ll take the first step toward taking your idea to the next level with the 500 community.
We encourage you to submit an application if you are:
Discover a tailored curriculum attuned to regional and global trends.
Engage with local and global industry experts to embrace the entrepreneurial mindset, map out your ideal customer profile, and develop your business model.
Realize your strategic vision by breaking down goals into actionable steps through personalized support from our global team.
Access 500’s global network of founders, community events, partners and more.
With a proven track record of accelerating startups, 500 Global expanded from it's roots in Silicon Valley to make its first investment in Africa in 2011. Since then, 500 has invested in and supported 100+ portfolio companies headquartered in Africa, notably backing Chipper Cash, Smile Identity, Stitch, Money Fellows and Asaak.
Read more about the opportunity we see working with African founders to scale globally.
15+
years of experience in startup acceleration
190+
100+
African startups supported
1. FIGURE IS BASED ON INTERNAL ESTIMATE AS OF 28 FEBRUARY 2025 AND HAS NOT BEEN EXTERNALLY VERIFIED.
2. FIGURE IS BASED ON INTERNAL ESTIMATE AS OF 31 DECEMBER 2024 AND HAS NOT BEEN EXTERNALLY VERIFIED.
THIS PROGRAM IS OPERATED BY 500 STARTUPS INCUBATOR, L.L.C (TOGETHER WITH ITS AFFILIATES, “500 GLOBAL”) AND THE FUNDS ADVISED BY 500 GLOBAL MANAGEMENT COMPANY, L.L.C. DO NOT PARTICIPATE IN ANY REVENUE GENERATED BY THESE ACTIVITIES. ALL CONTENT PROVIDED IN THIS WEBPAGE IS PROVIDED FOR GENERAL INFORMATIONAL OR EDUCATIONAL PURPOSES ONLY. 500 GLOBAL MAKES NO REPRESENTATIONS AS TO THE ACCURACY OF INFORMATION CONTAINED IN THIS WEBPAGE. WHILE 500 GLOBAL HAS TAKEN REASONABLE STEPS TO ENSURE THAT THE INFORMATION CONTAINED IN THIS WEBPAGE IS ACCURATE AND UP-TO-DATE, NO LIABILITY CAN BE ACCEPTED FOR ANY ERROR OR OMISSIONS. NOTHING IN THE CONTENT ON THIS WEBSITE OR DELIVERED THROUGH THIS PROGRAM SHALL CONSTITUTE OR IS INTENDED TO CONSTITUTE LEGAL, TAX OR INVESTMENT ADVICE BY 500 GLOBAL (INCLUDING INVESTMENT ADVICE AS DEFINED IN THE U.S. INVESTMENT ADVISERS ACT OF 1940). FURTHER, NO CONTENT OR INFORMATION CONTAINED ON THIS WEBSITE IS OR IS INTENDED AS AN OFFER TO PROVIDE ANY INVESTMENT ADVISORY SERVICE OR FINANCIAL ADVICE BY 500 GLOBAL. UNDER NO CIRCUMSTANCES SHOULD ANYTHING HEREIN BE CONSTRUED AS FUND MARKETING MATERIALS BY PROSPECTIVE INVESTORS CONSIDERING AN INVESTMENT INTO ANY 500 GLOBAL INVESTMENT FUND. THIS WEBPAGE IS UPDATED AS OF APRIL 2025. PARTICIPATION IN THE PROGRAM DOES NOT GUARANTEE INVESTMENT BY A 500 GLOBAL FUND. HOWEVER, PARTICIPATION IN THE PROGRAM DOES NOT PRECLUDE 500 GLOBAL AND ITS AFFILIATES FROM CONSIDERING FUTURE INVESTMENTS IN A PARTICIPATING COMPANY.
