The team rotates with the work — on purpose.
We exist to compress the distance between a Southern African founder having an idea and that idea having paying customers.
Startup Lab is built on a deliberate principle: the team behind a founder should rotate with the work, not with a job description.
Our roster is dynamic by design — program directors, mentors, and operators rotate based on what the cohort actually needs. That is why this page lists roles, not names.
Roles, not names
- Role
Program Director
Owns cohort outcomes end-to-end — selection, weekly cadence, and the cohort-to-investor handoff.
- Role
Lead Mentor
A working operator embedded with cohort teams. Reviews architecture, scope, and weekly tradeoffs.
- Role
Investor Relations
Runs the investor circle — demo sessions, deal flow into Venture Pulse OS, and warm intros.
- Role
Community Manager
Curates Founder's Tribe, the venue rotation, and the broader Gaborone founder network.
- Role
Operations Lead
Owns the back office — contracts, payments, partnerships with ODC, UNIPOD, BDIH, and Pula Pitch.
Ready to build?
Programs run on a cycle — onboard now and we'll notify you the moment applications open.