Flag of South AfricaSouth Africa · 2026 intakeBolt Accelerator Programme

Are You a Driver on the Bolt Platform with a Business Idea?

Bring your idea to life with Bolt — training, mentoring and seed funding for the strongest ideas from our driver community.

Until applications close

What you get

Bring your idea to life with Bolt!

Top 100 Ideas get access to the Bolt Academy for training and development

Top 20 Academy students get access to the Bootcamp

Top 10 Business pitches receive 2,000 Euros of Seed Funding as well as mentoring

About the Programme

Bolt is thrilled to roll out its second Bolt Accelerator Programme in South Africa.

We are actively seeking innovative ideas from within our community, including drivers and their spouses or children. This programme will support qualifying ideas through training and development in the Bolt Academy.

The most developed ideas will have the opportunity to pitch for seed funding and receive mentorship in rolling out their plan.

Bolt is committed to accelerating innovation and entrepreneurial spirit across Africa, and this programme is a testament to that commitment.

Buckle up for a ride that goes beyond the roads!

Who can apply

Eligibility Criteria

To participate in the Bolt Accelerator Programme, candidates must meet the following eligibility criteria:

  1. 1

    Driver: You must be an active driver operating on the Bolt platform with at least 100 trips completed.

  2. 2

    Spouse or Child: Verification will be conducted through the account of the driver linked with the Bolt platform. The child must be 18 years and above.

  3. 3

    Family Limitation: Only one member per family, either the driver, spouse, or child is eligible to apply.

  4. 4

    Residency: Candidates must be residents of South Africa.

  5. 5

    Time Commitment: Successful applicants should be available to dedicate off-peak hours over a period of 10 weeks for an intensive hybrid training and mentoring session.

What you could build

Business Categories

Your business needs to fall into one of the categories listed below to qualify.

Tap a category to see examples of eligible ideas.

Ideas that tackle the operational, financial and safety challenges of vehicle-based mobility for drivers and fleet operators.

Example ideas

  • Fleet management platforms & dashboards
  • Telematics & real-time vehicle monitoring
  • Driver training & licensing support
  • Fuel optimisation & management tools
  • Vehicle inspection & certification centres
  • In-vehicle safety technology (dash cams, alerts)
  • Driver financial tools (savings, expense tracking)
  • Shared fleet & pooled vehicle models
  • Maintenance scheduling & parts procurement
  • Vehicle leasing & hire-purchase solutions

Ideas that build on Bolt's delivery and logistics infrastructure to improve last-mile connectivity, courier productivity and commerce for SMEs and informal businesses.

Example ideas

  • Last-mile delivery networks & platforms
  • Bulk & B2B freight solutions
  • Smart dispatch & intelligent routing
  • Fulfilment & micro-warehousing services
  • Hyperlocal delivery for informal SMEs
  • Rider productivity & earnings tools
  • SME aggregation & marketplace platforms
  • Parcel tracking & locker networks
  • Cold-chain & temperature-controlled logistics
  • Cross-border commerce & customs facilitation

Solutions that speed up the adoption of electric vehicles and clean energy in emerging-market mobility.

Example ideas

  • EV charging infrastructure (stations, networks)
  • EV conversion kits for petrol vehicles
  • Battery-swap networks for 2- and 3-wheelers
  • Green logistics & carbon-neutral delivery
  • EV financing, leasing & hire-purchase
  • Carbon tracking & offsetting tools
  • Solar-powered mobility & charging hubs
  • E-bike & e-scooter leasing programmes
  • Battery recycling & second-life programmes

Businesses that grow the food delivery and merchant ecosystem, helping formal and informal operators reach more customers digitally.

Example ideas

  • Cloud kitchens & dark store models
  • Produce aggregation for small vendors
  • Virtual restaurants & shared kitchens
  • Vendor API integration & middleware
  • Merchant onboarding & digitisation tools
  • SME e-commerce & digital storefront tools
  • Sustainable packaging solutions
  • Mobile food, street food & catering networks
  • Inventory management & restocking platforms

Technology and services that improve urban mobility infrastructure, reduce congestion and make cities more accessible for everyone.

Example ideas

  • Smart parking management systems
  • Public transport integration platforms
  • Traffic monitoring & routing optimisation
  • Accessibility solutions for riders with disabilities
  • Multimodal mobility hubs & transfer points
  • Safe waiting areas & rest stops for drivers
  • Micro-mobility (scooters, bikes, trikes)
  • Urban navigation & mapping tools

Financial products built for gig workers, drivers and informal earners — improving access to savings, credit, insurance and investment.

Example ideas

  • Driver savings & wealth-building platforms
  • Alternative credit scoring for unbanked earners
  • Gig worker income protection & insurance
  • Pension schemes & micro-investment products
  • Revenue-based financing for micro-SMEs
  • Expense management & tax filing tools
  • Cooperative & community financing models

Products and programmes that expand economic participation in the mobility ecosystem for women and young people.

Example ideas

  • Women-focused fleet & driver support models
  • Safety solutions designed for women riders & drivers
  • Youth driver training academies & bootcamps
  • Upskilling & reskilling platforms for gig workers
  • Inclusive mobility programmes for under-served groups

Frontier technologies and next-generation mobility models with a credible path to market — not purely conceptual.

Example ideas

  • Drone logistics & aerial delivery networks
  • Mobility-as-a-Service (MaaS) aggregators
  • Autonomous vehicle & delivery robot pilots
  • Smart transport infrastructure & IoT
  • Vehicle-to-grid (V2G) energy solutions
  • AI route, pricing & demand optimisation
  • Shared mobility & carpooling platforms

Not eligible

Prohibited Categories

None of the businesses listed below will be accepted:

  • Any illegal, unlicensed, or unregistered activity under applicable local law
  • Unlicensed regulated financial services, lending, or banking products
  • Weapons, arms, explosives, or security services
  • Adult entertainment, gambling, alcohol, tobacco, or controlled substances
  • Any concept that exposes Bolt to reputational, legal, or regulatory risk
  • Businesses that directly compete with Bolt's core ride-hailing or food delivery products
  • Ideas with no credible connection to Bolt's mission, markets, or driver/partner community

*Terms and Conditions Apply

Key dates

Application Timeline:

Monday 16 November 2026

Applications Open

Sunday 6 December 2026

Applications Close

Need a hand?

For Enquiries

start@pranary.com+27 68 264 5121

Office hours: Weekdays, 9 am - 5 pm (SAST)

Join a Free Webinar

Get guidance on the application process and answers to your questions. Choose a session that suits you.

Thu 19 Nov

11 am - 12 pm

Thu 26 Nov

11 am - 12 pm

Thu 3 Dec

11 am - 12 pm

Buckle up for a ride that goes beyond the roads!

Applications close Sunday 6 December 2026. Take your idea further with Bolt.

Highlights from last year's programme