Eswatini is alive with entrepreneurial energy. Founders here are hustling to build, innovate, and create, but the reality is that many are doing it without the tools, networks, or resources they need to grow. Access to funding is limited, mentorship is scarce, and too often brilliant SMEs and startups remain stuck in survival mode rather than stepping into their full potential.
This is the kind of gap where Thinkroom can make a significant impact.
We know entrepreneurial development in Eswatini is bigger than one business at a time. When founders have access to practical tools, hands-on mentorship, and markets, the ripple effect creates jobs, strengthens supply chains, and contributes to Eswatini’s economic growth.
As the International Trade Centre’s SME Competitiveness Survey shows, around seventy thousand MSMEs already employ more than ninety thousand people in Eswatini, representing roughly half the country’s GDP. Imagine the shift if even a small share of these emerging businesses turned into larger enterprises and scaleups. That’s a game-changer for employment, tax revenue, and Eswatini’s visibility on an international scale.
Ambition alone isn’t enough to scale a startup or SME. Founders need a support ecosystem that challenges them, connects them, and accelerates their growth. That’s where Thinkroom and Oracle come in, bringing SME support to Eswatini.
Thinkroom brings a founder-first approach, backed by more than a decade of experience building ecosystems across Africa, combined with tools like our Thinkubate gap analysis to identify and close knowledge gaps.
Oracle adds a deep understanding of the local market and a commitment to helping businesses access new opportunities. “We’re proud to support some of Eswatini’s most promising entrepreneurs through the Oracle Innovate Lab,” says Oracle Programme Manager Cydney Chambers. “This first group of founders is driven, focused, and full of potential. We’re excited to walk alongside them as they grow their businesses and shape what’s next for Eswatini’s economy.”
Together, this partnership has brought the Oracle Innovate Lab to life, designed specifically to accelerate SME growth and entrepreneurial development in Eswatini.
By creating a space that is founder-first and focused on entrepreneurial development, we’re making sure that founder success directly translates into stronger businesses, more opportunities, and lasting economic change for Eswatini.
The Oracle Innovate Lab entrepreneurial development programme kicked things off in early August 2025, with a two-day visit to Eswatini from Thinkroom’s CEO, Lucie Fink and Chief Coach, Cameron Burt. On the first evening, founders came together for a relaxed networking event, each taking a few minutes to introduce themselves and their businesses. It was the perfect way to spark connections and set the tone for collaboration across the cohort.
The following day, everyone rolled up their sleeves and got to work. Founders dived into practical workshops, tackling AI challenges, exploring people and culture strategies, and working through a full go-to-market session. Every activity was designed to be hands-on and actionable, helping founders tackle the challenges they face today while thinking strategically about the future of their business.
The inaugural Eswatini cohort contains a diverse group of founders, each bringing unique ideas and bold visions for growth. From tech innovators to creative entrepreneurs, they’re united by ambition and curiosity, and ready to take their businesses to the next level.
This entrepreneurial development programme in Eswatini isn’t just about learning, it’s about doing. Founders will leave with practical tools, one-on-one mentorship tailored to their needs, and access to networks that can truly change their company’s trajectory. Every session is designed to move their businesses closer to scaling, whether that’s entering new markets, refining operations, or becoming investor-ready.
Through Thinkubate’s gap analysis, we’ve tailored masterclasses to address each founder’s specific needs, making sure the programme meets them where they are and helps them reach where they want to be. This is how we help entrepreneurs move from surviving to thriving, and create companies that are ready for corporate partnerships and investment.
The magic with this first cohort expands beyond individual businesses. By learning, experimenting, and growing together, these founders are helping to shape a more connected ecosystem for entrepreneurial development in Eswatini and empowering what matters. While building their own companies, these companies are laying the foundation for Eswatini’s future SME ecosystem. And when more businesses scale, entire economies thrive.
Find out more about Thinkroom and what we do here.
