BaseTrack 2 · Youth Founders 18–25 · Opens second half of 2027
Win a place to build, and a sponsor who backs you for up to four years.
For students, graduates and first-time founders aged 18 to 25 in the mining towns. Start in the 12-week Youth Cohort, pitch at PitchRoom Open Pitch, and the strongest founders win a BaseLab Founder Fellowship funded by a mine or oil and gas operator. Support is released in tranches as you hit milestones.
- Step 1Apply onlineYour idea and why it matters in your town.
- Step 2Assessment dayGroup challenge and interview at the hub.
- Step 3Youth Cohort12 weeks, evenings and Saturdays, with a mentor.
- Step 4Open PitchPitch at PitchRoom to an independent panel.
- Step 5Fellowship awardSponsored for one year, renewable up to four.
- Every yearMilestone reviewHit your milestones and the next tranche is released.
Launch
- Sponsored desk and Wi-Fi
- Business registration and tax set-up
- Mentor and confidence coaching
- Start-up grant, paid against invoices
Build
- Desk, Wi-Fi and mentor continue
- Work attachment with a contractor
- Supplier Passport at Bid-ready
- Growth grant tranche
Supply
- Vendor registration with operators
- Solve a posted operator challenge
- PitchRoom showcase
- First tender support
Scale
- Moves into the core supplier programme
- Ready for supplier finance conversations
- Mentors new fellows
- BaseLab Fellows network for life
Register your interest
Aged 18 to 25, living in or near a mining or oil and gas town, with an idea linked to what mines and operators buy. Places are awarded on merit by an independent panel. The Youth Track is open to every young Namibian aged 18 to 25, whatever their gender.
An independent panel. Sponsors fund fellowships but never choose who wins.
Nothing. No obligation to borrow from anyone.
Ask the BaseLab Coach to help you shape it, or browse the operator challenges for problems worth solving.