1. Background

Hive Colab is implementing an Accelerator program designed to support growth stage ventures to scale inclusive solutions and improve outcomes for underserved communities. The Accelerator requires a robust digital platform that supports the full program lifecycle from applications and selection through venture support, mentor engagement, investor visibility, and community building. The platform will function as both a public facing website and an internal program management system.

2. Assignment Objective

Design, develop, test, deploy, and hand over a secure and scalable Accelerator website and integrated platform that enables:

• Online applications and applicant management
• A structured reviewer scoring system with automated tallying
• Venture profile creation and document management
• Mentor venture communication and engagement tracking
• Venture and investor directories with matchmaking functionality
• Events management and program communications
• A program content library for learning resources

3. Scope of Work

The vendor will deliver a production ready platform covering the components outlined below.

4. Public Website

The public website will serve as the main entry point for the Accelerator and should include:

• Program overview, eligibility criteria, benefits, timelines, partners, and frequently asked questions
• Calls for applications with clear guidance
• News, announcements, and updates
• Contact and enquiry forms
• Mobile responsive and accessible design
• Search engine optimization readiness
• Analytics integration
• A content management system allowing staff to update content without developer support

5. Online Application Portal

The platform must support a full digital application process including:

• Applicant account creation with secure login and email verification
• Multi step application forms with save and return functionality
• Configurable application questions per cohort
• Document uploads within applications
• Field validation and submission checks
• Applicant dashboard showing application status
• Automated confirmation and status notification emails
• Administrative ability to export application data

6. Admin Portal and Back Office

A secure admin area must be provided for program management including:

• Cohort and application cycle configuration
• Application pipeline management with statuses and tags
• Bulk communication tools for applicants, ventures, mentors, and reviewers
• Role based access controls for staff
• Data export functionality
• Audit trails for key system actions

7. Reviewer Portal and Scoring System

The platform must include a structured reviewer environment with:

• Secure reviewer accounts
• Assignment of reviewers to applications
• Conflict of interest declarations prior to scoring
• Configurable scoring rubrics and criteria
• Mandatory qualitative comments alongside scores
• Automated weighted score calculations and rankings
• Live dashboards showing scoring progress and completion rates
• Score locking after submission
• Exportable scoring reports for audits and donor reporting

8. Venture Profiles and Document Management

Selected ventures must be able to onboard and manage their presence on the platform including:

• Creation of structured venture profiles covering team, solution, traction, and impact
• A secure document vault for uploading and updating required materials
• Version tracking or date stamped uploads
• Profile visibility controls including private, cohort only, and public views
• Administrative approval of public facing profiles

9. Mentor Engagement and Communication

The platform must support structured mentor venture engagement through:

• Mentor accounts with secure login
• Mentor matching and assignment to ventures
• Direct messaging between mentors and ventures
• Session scheduling support
• Meeting notes, action items, and engagement tracking
• Notifications for messages and scheduled sessions

10. Venture Directory

A venture directory similar in spirit to VC4A must be developed, featuring:

• Searchable and filterable venture listings by sector, geography, stage, cohort, and focus area
• Public and restricted access views
• Featured ventures and cohort showcases
• Connection request functionality with moderation controls
• Safeguarding and reporting mechanisms

11. Investor Directory

The platform must include an investor directory to support visibility and matchmaking:

• Investor profiles including investment focus, ticket size, geography, and instruments
• Search and filter functionality
• Controlled access to investor contact details
• Structured connect request workflows
• Administrative approval and moderation of investor accounts

12. Events Module

The platform must include an events management module covering:

• Public and private event listings
• Event registration and RSVP management
• Automated confirmations and reminders
• Calendar views
• Attendance tracking
• Post event resource sharing

13. Program Content Library

The platform must include a content library for learning and resources including:

• Upload and management of modules, toolkits, templates, videos, and recordings
• Role and cohort based access control
• Search and tagging functionality
• Download tracking and basic usage analytics

14. Technical and Security Requirements

The solution must meet the following technical standards:

• Responsive design across devices
• Secure authentication and role based access
• Encryption for sensitive data
• Protection against common web security vulnerabilities
• Compliance with applicable data protection requirements
• Reliable hosting with backup and recovery mechanisms
• Scalable architecture to support multiple cohorts

15. User Roles

The platform must support at minimum the following user roles:

• Super Administrator
• Program Administrator
• Reviewer
• Applicant
• Venture
• Mentor
• Investor or Partner

16. Deliverables

The vendor will provide:

• Inception report with implementation plan and system architecture
• User experience and interface designs
• Fully functional website and platform
• Configured application and scoring workflows
• Admin dashboards and reporting tools
• User acceptance testing and sign off
• Production deployment and go live support
• Technical documentation and user manuals
• Staff training sessions
• Post launch warranty and support period

17. Implementation Approach

The vendor should propose an iterative delivery approach including:

• Requirements validation workshops
• Design reviews
• Phased development and demonstrations
• Testing and quality assurance
• Training and handover

18. Timeline

The vendor will propose a detailed implementation timeline. A phased rollout is expected:

• Phase one public website and application portal
• Phase two reviewer scoring and admin dashboards
• Phase three venture and investor directories, mentor engagement, events, and content library

19. Acceptance Criteria

The solution will be accepted when:

• All modules function as specified
• Reviewer scoring and tallies are accurate
• Role based permissions work correctly
• Data exports, uploads, and notifications function reliably
• User acceptance testing is completed successfully
• Documentation and training are delivered

20. Vendor Qualifications

The vendor must demonstrate:

• Experience developing application or accelerator management platforms
• Strong security and data management capability
• Proven UX and multi role system design experience
• Capacity to provide ongoing support and maintenance

21. Proposal Submission Requirements

Interested vendors must submit:

• Company profile and relevant experience
• Understanding of the assignment and proposed approach
• Proposed technical architecture
• Workplan and timeline
• Team composition
• Detailed budget and cost breakdown
• References for similar work
• Examples or demos of previous platforms

22. Evaluation Criteria

Proposals will be evaluated based on:

• Relevant experience
• Quality of the proposed solution
• Security and scalability
• User experience design
• Implementation timeline
• Cost effectiveness
• Support and maintenance approach

23. Governance and Reporting

The vendor will report to the designated Program Lead at Hive Colab. Regular progress meetings and milestone reviews will be held.

24. Intellectual Property and Confidentiality

All developed code, designs, and documentation will be the property of Hive Colab upon full payment. The vendor must maintain confidentiality of all platform data.

25. Support and Maintenance

Proposals should include optional post deployment support covering hosting, system updates, bug fixes, and feature enhancements.

How to Apply

Send application to procurement@hivecolab.com and cc honey@hivecolab.com by 15th February 2026.