DUST Labs Logo
4 Startups Per Year

From Structure to Intelligence.

DUST Labs is where AI meets ambition. Operating from our Midrand Campus, we transform bold ideas into production-ready AI systems—incubating just 4 startups per year with ruthless precision and unwavering technical excellence.

Submit Your Pitch Explore Ecosystem
0
Years Experience
0
% Success Rate
0
Hour Support
0/yr
Startup Slots
Our Legacy

Discrete Innovation
Specified Precision

Born from Duccis Engineering's legacy—a firm renowned for premium pool fencing with unmatched durability and precision. DUST Labs represents our evolution into the AI frontier.

We apply Discrete User Specified Technology principles to create AI-First Software Architecture that's tailored, robust, and built to scale. Every system we engineer is purpose-built for your unique requirements.

Enterprise-Grade
AI-Optimized
Battle-Tested
24/7
Global Support
AI
First Mentality
ZA
Born & Based
What We Offer

Incubator Services

End-to-end support from concept to deployment. We're not just investors—we're builders.

Idea Acceleration

We take your napkin sketches and turn them into scalable technical blueprints within weeks, not months.

  • Market Validation
  • Technical Architecture
  • MVP Scoping

Production Ready

Our engineering team builds enterprise-grade AI products designed for immediate market entry and scale.

  • AI/ML Integration
  • Cloud Infrastructure
  • Security First

24/7 Reliability

Post-launch support that never sleeps. We monitor, scale, and secure your platform around the clock.

  • Performance Monitoring
  • Auto-Scaling
  • Incident Response

Our Proven Process

1

Pitch & Vet

Initial WhatsApp pitch review and feasibility assessment

2

Blueprint

Technical architecture and project roadmap creation

3

Build & Test

Agile development with continuous testing and iteration

4

Launch & Scale

Deployment, monitoring, and ongoing optimization

Our Arsenal

Cutting-Edge Tech Stack

We use battle-tested technologies to build scalable, production-ready solutions

Python & ML

TensorFlow, PyTorch, scikit-learn

Modern Frontend

React, Next.js, TypeScript

Backend & APIs

Node.js, FastAPI, GraphQL

Databases

PostgreSQL, MongoDB, Redis

AI Models

GPT-4, Claude, Llama, Mistral

Security

OAuth, JWT, Encryption

Analytics

Mixpanel, Amplitude, Custom

AI Agents

LangChain, AutoGen, CrewAI

Cloud Infrastructure

All major cloud providers with local South African data centers for low latency, data sovereignty, and POPIA compliance

Amazon Web Services

SA Region Active
Cape Town (af-south-1)

3 Availability Zones

EC2, S3, RDS, Lambda, ECS
Low Latency POPIA Ready

Microsoft Azure

SA Region Active
Johannesburg (southafricanorth)

Multiple Datacenters

VMs, Azure AI, Cosmos DB, Functions
Enterprise Grade AI Services

Google Cloud

SA Region Active
Johannesburg (africa-south1)

3 Zones Available

GCE, Cloud Run, BigQuery, Vertex AI
ML Focused BigQuery
We architect multi-cloud solutions optimized for South African latency and compliance

Data & AI Capabilities

End-to-end data engineering and AI/ML infrastructure to power intelligent applications

Data Engineering

  • Apache Airflow
  • Apache Kafka
  • dbt (Data Build Tool)
  • ETL/ELT Pipelines

Data Warehousing

  • Snowflake
  • Google BigQuery
  • Amazon Redshift
  • Azure Synapse

Machine Learning

  • Model Training & Tuning
  • MLOps & Deployment
  • Model Monitoring
  • Feature Engineering

Generative AI

  • LLM Integration
  • RAG Systems
  • Fine-tuning
  • Prompt Engineering

Computer Vision

  • Object Detection
  • Image Classification
  • OCR & Document AI
  • Video Analytics

NLP & Speech

  • Text Analysis
  • Sentiment Analysis
  • Speech-to-Text
  • Chatbot Development

Vector Databases

  • Pinecone
  • Weaviate
  • Chroma
  • Qdrant

Real-time Analytics

  • Apache Spark
  • Flink
  • Stream Processing
  • Time-series Data

Certified & Compliant

ISO 27001
SOC 2 Type II
GDPR Compliant
POPIA Compliant
Success Stories

Startups We've Launched

Credutally

Fintech • 2025

Revolutionary crowd lending pool platform democratizing access to capital. Connecting investors and borrowers through AI-powered risk assessment and smart contract automation.

Blockchain AI Risk Scoring Smart Contracts
10K+ Users
R50M+ Funded

Street Art Critic.com

Art & Culture • 2024

The world's premier street art critic platform. AI-powered art analysis, artist discovery, and global street art mapping. Connecting artists, collectors, and enthusiasts worldwide.

Computer Vision Geolocation Content Platform
150+ Cities
Featured in Vogue
Investment Models

Flexible Engagement Options

We offer tailored partnership structures to match your startup's stage and needs

Most Popular

Equity Partnership

We become your technical co-founders, taking equity in exchange for full product development.

10-25%

Equity stake

  • Full MVP development
  • Technical leadership
  • 6 months post-launch support
  • Investor pitch preparation
  • Network introductions
Pitch Your Startup

Milestone-Based

Pay as we deliver. Structured payments tied to key development milestones.

R350K+

Starting from

  • 4-6 payment milestones
  • MVP to production
  • 3 months support included
  • Full code ownership
  • Optional equity component
Contact Us

Hybrid Model

Best of both worlds. Reduced cash + equity stake for maximum alignment.

Custom

Tailored to fit

  • Reduced upfront costs
  • Small equity stake (5-15%)
  • Extended support period
  • Revenue-sharing options
  • Advisory board seat
Discuss Options

Every engagement is unique. These are starting frameworks—we'll work with you to create a structure that aligns incentives and sets everyone up for success. All deals include our 30-day money-back guarantee if we can't validate your concept.

Common Questions

FAQ

Why only 4 startups per year?

Quality over quantity. Each startup receives our full engineering team's focus, ensuring we deliver production-ready solutions, not just prototypes. We're builders, not brokers.

What do you look for in a startup?

We prioritize AI-first solutions addressing real South African market problems. Your team's commitment matters more than your coding skills—we handle the technical execution.

What's the typical timeline?

From pitch to MVP: 8-16 weeks. From MVP to production: 12-24 weeks. We operate in agile sprints with weekly demos to keep you involved throughout the process.

What's the investment structure?

We offer equity partnerships and milestone-based payment models. Each deal is customized based on your startup's stage, market potential, and resource requirements.

2 of 4 Slots Remaining for 2026

Ready to Build the Future?

We're highly selective. Only 4 startups per year receive our full engineering team, capital network, and AI expertise. Make your pitch count.

Fastest Response

WhatsApp Pitch

Our preferred channel. Send a voice note, text, or deck. Get a response within 24-48 hours.

Start Your Pitch on WhatsApp

What to include in your message:

  • The Problem: What pain point are you solving?
  • Your Solution: How does AI make it 10x better?
  • Market Size: Who's your target customer?
  • Your Stage: Idea, MVP, or revenue?
  • Team: Who's building this with you?

Upload Pitch Pack

Submit your pitch deck directly

PDF, PPT, or DOC (Max 10MB)

Email Your Deck

Send a detailed pitch deck or business plan

dinoducci@gmail.com

Book a Discovery Call

Pre-Qualified

30-min video call for serious founders (after initial vetting)

Schedule on Calendly

Connect on LinkedIn

Reach out to our founding team directly

Message on LinkedIn

Visit Our Campus

Midrand Innovation Hub, Gauteng

By appointment only • Book via WhatsApp

Get Directions

What Happens After You Pitch?

1

Initial Review

24-48 hour response with feedback or next steps

2

Deep Dive

30-min video call to explore technical feasibility

3

Proposal

Custom partnership terms, timeline, and deliverables

4

Kickoff

Week 1 sprint planning and team onboarding

Why Founders Trust DUST Labs

  • Your IP is Protected

    NDA signed before any technical discussions

  • No Hidden Fees

    Transparent pricing, clear milestones

  • Proven Track Record

    100% of our startups reached production

  • Founder-Friendly Terms

    We protect your equity and control

Pitch FAQs

Do I need a technical co-founder?

No. We can be your technical team.

What stage should I be at?

Idea to early revenue. We help at all stages.

How much equity do you take?

Depends on the model. 0% to 25% based on terms.

Do you provide funding?

We build your product. We can intro you to VCs.

What if I'm rejected?

We'll tell you why and how to improve. Reapply later.

Average Response Time: 36 Hours

Don't Wait. Slots Fill Fast.

The best time to pitch was yesterday. The second best time is right now.

Pitch on WhatsApp Now Or Send via Email
Investment Opportunities

Invest in Innovation

Back our AI-first startups and be part of the next generation of South African tech success stories

Credutally

Fintech • Crowd Lending Platform

Revolutionary crowd lending pool platform democratizing access to capital through AI-powered risk assessment and smart contract automation.

10K+
Active Users
R5M+
Loans Processed
Blockchain AI Risk Scoring Smart Contracts

Street Critique

Art Tech • Global Platform

The world's premier street art critic platform. AI-powered art analysis, artist discovery, and global street art mapping.

50K+
Artworks Mapped
120+
Countries
Computer Vision Geolocation Social Platform

Investment Registration

Register your interest and our team will contact you with detailed investment opportunities, terms, and documentation.

Proven Track Record

100% success rate with our incubated startups. Every company we build reaches market.

De-Risked Investments

Our technical team builds and validates products before seeking investment.

Hands-On Support

Ongoing engineering, mentorship, and strategic support from the DUST Labs team.

Join Our Team

Developer Careers

Build the future of AI-powered startups with us. We're looking for talented developers who are passionate about innovation.

Midrand Campus • Cape Town Hub Opening Soon

Why Join DUST Labs?

Work on Cutting-Edge AI Projects
Build solutions using GPT-4, Claude, and the latest AI technologies
Backed by Duccis Engineering
15+ years of engineering excellence and innovation
Flexible Work Options
Work from our Midrand campus or remotely from Cape Town (Kennilworth office opening soon)
Midrand Campus Location
Modern facilities in the heart of South Africa's tech hub
Startup Environment
Fast-paced, collaborative culture with real impact
Professional Growth
Learn from industry experts and work on diverse projects

Apply Now

Accepted formats: PDF, DOC, DOCX (Max 5MB)

What to Expect After Applying

1. Application Review

We'll review your application within 3-5 business days

2. Initial Interview

30-minute virtual call to discuss your background

3. Technical Assessment

Practical coding challenge relevant to our stack

4. Final Decision

We'll make an offer to the right candidates

Stay in the Loop

Get monthly insights on AI trends, startup case studies, and exclusive early access to our open incubation slots.

We respect your privacy. No spam, unsubscribe anytime.

AI Trend Reports Startup Playbooks Early Slot Access