As South Africa's innovation ecosystem matures, one reality has become increasingly apparent. Startups are no longer peripheral experiments on the margins of economic policy they are now central to growth, job creation and global competitiveness. Yet, despite their growing importance, many founders continue to face structural barriers that slow their ability to scale, restrict access to capital and fragment the support systems designed to help them succeed.
The South Africa Startup Act Progress Report 2023/24 , launched in 2024, offers a timely and necessary assessment of where the ecosystem stands today and what must change if startups are to move beyond survival towards sustained success. Its findings underline a simple truth: progress has been made, but it remains uneven, and without deliberate reform the country risks falling short of its entrepreneurial potential.
The report arrives at a symbolic moment. SiMODiSA, one of South Africa's most influential ecosystem builders, enters its eleventh year of operation, marking more than a decade of active participation in shaping the country's startup narrative. From early ecosystem mapping to founder advocacy and policy engagement, the organisation has remained a consistent voice for entrepreneurs navigating an often complex and uneven environment.
