SmartStart
Early childhood education really matters. So does quality daycare. Most kids in South Africa get neither.
The Idea
Quality-daycare Microbusinesses
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Total Investment
750000
Grants
0
Equity/SAFE
0
Debt/Convertible Debt
Funded Since
2021
Geography
Sector
Structure
The Mission
Get South African kids school-ready.
How It Works
SmartStart trains and equips women to run childcare businesses. They help them find and equip the right space and teach them how to deliver a play-based curriculum that builds cognitive, social, and emotional skills. Owners learn basic business skills and operate under the SmartStart franchise brand.
The Dream
Universal quality early learning and daycare delivered by regulated and subsidized small businesses.
Why We're In
Kids everywhere need early learning, and parents in Africa's burgeoning cities need daycare. SmartStart supplies both. They have professionalized 12K businesses that reach 130K kids in South Africa, and their kids make big gains in early learning when compared to national benchmarks. Quality daycare costs more than parents can pay—something that has long been the biggest barrier to industry growth—but SmartStart’s advocacy has led directly to breakthrough subsidies that make daycare affordable and businesses viable.
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Are you a serious funder and want to learn more?
This is just a snapshot of what we know about the organization. If you're an investor or funder that might send some serious dough their way, we're always delighted to share more. Reach out and we'll connect you with the right person on our team.
*this is not monitored for funding requests.