Amazon and WomHub recently launched the Amazon Sustainable Sellers Incubator, empowering women-led manufacturing businesses in South Africa.
The nine-month programme will help 35 South African women-led manufacturing businesses to build sustainable, globally competitive enterprises. These hand-selected entrepreneurs from across the country will receive comprehensive training that integrates circular economy principles, sustainable product design, and eco-friendly practices alongside essential business and digital skills. The programme will run for approximately 8-9 months.
“By empowering South African women entrepreneurs to build businesses rooted in environmental responsibility from day one, we’re not just supporting individual success – we’re contributing to a more sustainable future that benefits communities and the planet. This incubator demonstrates our commitment to enabling the next generation of South African sellers to grow and compete globally,” said Robert Koen, Amazon Managing Director Sub-Saharan Africa.
Sustainable Sellers Incubator Core Focus
According to Amazon’s statement, the incubator’s philosophy is that environmental responsibility and business growth are inseparable.
As the programme’s key focus is sustainability, the curriculum covers circular economy principles, ethical sourcing, sustainable packaging, purpose-driven branding, and environmental impact measurement. This focus on environmental stewardship is complemented by comprehensive business development support, including training in financial management, marketing, quality control, and e-commerce commercialisation, one-on-one mentorship and access to patient capital, such as grant funding and low-interest loans.
Participants will also receive assistance in navigating Amazon’s Seller Central information portal for guidance with account registration, optimised product listings, professional catalogue photography, brand registration, and Fulfilment by Amazon (FBA) services – all while maintaining their commitment to sustainable business practices. Additionally, access to co-working spaces and innovation hubs in Johannesburg, Cape Town, and East London provides physical infrastructure for collaboration and growth.
The core outcome is to onboard these businesses to Amazon South Africa’s e-commerce site and begin generating revenue.
Eligibility Criteria
- A South African female founder in the manufacturing sector, ready to scale your business.
- Business must be 51% or more female-owned.
- Your business is registered in South Africa.
- At least 50% of your products are manufactured in South Africa.
- At least one product your business sells.
- Basic familiarity with using websites and online applications.
- Be available to participate between February and October 2026.
Interested individuals can e-mail amazonprogramme@womeng.org.
Partnering with WomHub
WomHub is a South African ecosystem enabler and advisory firm supporting innovation along the Science, Technology, Engineering, Manufacturing (STEM) value chain, and provides business services tailored for female founders. It brings nearly two decades of experience supporting women entrepreneurs in STEM.
“This announcement represents our vision for the future of South African entrepreneurship,” said Naadiya Moosajee, Chief Innovation Officer & Co-Founder of WomHub. “We’re proving that sustainability and profitability go hand in hand. By equipping women entrepreneurs with both business acumen and environmental consciousness, we’re building a new generation of South African brands that compete globally while protecting our planet for future generations.”
The Importance of Incubators for SMEs
The importance of small businesses’ role in the economy cannot be debated. Therefore, both the private sector and public sector have made tangible efforts to support these entrepreneurs. Yet, the true effectiveness of business incubators is controversial.
On the one hand, entrepreneurs need support that goes beyond funding. They require guidance, non-financial support and resources such as mentorship.
On the other hand, whether businesses are truly benefiting from this is controversial because the larger impact seems unclear, despite the impact on individuals who go through these programmes.
Entrepreneurs who apply and participate in these programmes see the obvious benefits. They streamline their businesses and improve operations. Some benefits include:
1. Grow your entrepreneurial savvy. First-time business owners might not know where to start, but mentorship through business incubators helps build confidence and skills.
2. Support business with early-stage development. Many businesses fail in the first five years. Incubators help prevent this.
3. Access development support. Founders receive structured support that helps first-time business owners reduce risk and failure rate.
4. Access to investors who are otherwise hard to reach. Incubators are set up to connect businesses that meet.
5. Business incubators assist with developing a business plan. Businesses don’t always have a business plan in place, but in order to access funding, you need a business plan.
6. Access resources. Incubators allow businesses to access resources that they cannot find on their own.
7. Build your network. Vital connections can be made through the support of these programmes.
8. Increase productivity. Shared knowledge and improved resources allow incubated businesses to increase productivity.
9. Improve skills and knowledge. Incubators teach skills and increase participants’ knowledge about their business. Essentially, incubators help entrepreneurs learn how to run a successful business.
