Software Startup Ecosystem in Namibia

Abstract

AbstractThe number of software startups in Namibia has increased over the last decade, although most of them do not survive for long in the industry. For software startups to thrive, a suitable ecosystem is required to support them as the sustainability of startups is determined by the actions and interactions of the ecosystem actors. We aimed to gain a better understanding of the current software startup ecosystem in Namibia, emphasizing how the startup is connected to and supported by other actors in the ecosystem. Understanding the ecosystem will assist in informing future support needed by software startups to increase their sustainability and the growth of the ecosystem. An online questionnaire was employed to collect data from participants from software startups, as well as institutions that support software startups and entrepreneurs in Namibia. The results show that the Namibian software startup ecosystem is still in its early development stages and offers limited assistance for startups to grow. Access to finance is a challenge for startups, as most of the startups are founded and supported by personal funds, and few are funded by investors and Venture Capital funds and receive little to no financial support from the government. The universities play a role in supporting software startups through software development and entrepreneurial education, and training. Incubators and accelerators, although not a lot in the ecosystem, offer software entrepreneurs mentorship and a supportive environment to grow their businesses. The startups require more funding, access to resources, mentorship, and networking opportunities from other ecosystem actors.