Disrupt Africa, a pan-African tech media platform, has partnered with app development firm Touch Inspiration to launch Disrupt Launchpad, to offer founders technical development support and access to potential customers and investors.
The two will aim to help entrepreneurs turn app ideas into market-ready products, combining software development services with startup media exposure.
The programme, called Disrupt Launchpad, targets aspiring entrepreneurs and existing startups that have clear application ideas but lack the technical expertise, teams or resources to build them.
Founded in 2014, Disrupt Africa covers Africa’s technology startup ecosystem through news, research publications and podcasts. Touch Inspiration, established in 2017, develops web and mobile applications, artificial intelligence-powered solutions and business platforms.
Under the partnership, Touch Inspiration will build applications at startup-friendly rates, while Disrupt Africa will help participating ventures reach potential users, customers and investors through its platform.
“Funding is important, networking is key, but being able to build your great idea in the first place is absolutely essential,” said Tom Jackson, co-founder of Disrupt Africa.
Robert M., founder of Touch Inspiration, said the partnership was designed to help entrepreneurs move beyond ideas to building products and reaching the people who could use them.
Selected ventures may qualify for equity-based partnerships, potentially reducing the upfront cost of application development in exchange for an ownership stake.
The programme comes as entrepreneurs seek ways to develop digital products without assembling in-house technical teams or committing significant capital before testing their ideas in the market.
Applications are open to aspiring entrepreneurs and existing startups through the Disrupt Launchpad website.