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Please note: Visit the organisation’s website for more information.
***FUNDING & LOCAL BUSINESS OPPORTUNITIES***
Agri-Industrial Fund (Agro-processing)
This fund aims to support to a wide range of economically viable activities in the agriculture and agro-processing (food and non-food) sub-sectors.
The qualifying criteria includes that funds must be used for purchasing capital equipment and infrastructure (“CAPEX”).
The terms of the fund are:
– Debt and grant to qualifying applicants only (quasi equity/equity on a case-by-case basis).
– The grant cannot be used on its own but in conjunction with IDC funding.
– The assessment and approval process will be guided by existing IDC processes.
– Business owners will also be required to contribute financially towards their business.
Information is available for Download here
Joint Fund by NFVF And Netflix for Micro-Budget Films (Film)
The National Film and Video Foundation (NFVF), an agency of the Department of Sport, Arts and Culture, announced its partnership with the streaming service, Netflix, where the agreement will see both partners contributing R14 million each in support of the production of local films, which will include exclusive debuts on Netflix.
The join fund of R28 Million will provide funding to six local films, categorised into two streams: 4 feature films will get a budget of R4 million each and two feature films will get a budget of R6 million each.
Visit https://nfvf.praxisgms.co.za/ from the 1st of April 2021 to check eligibility and to apply.
For more information, keep an eye on www.nfvf.co.za or @nfvfsa on all social media platforms.
TikTok Rising Voices Incubation Program (South African Creatives)
TikTok launched the Rising Voices incubator project, an initiative open to all Black South African creators. The project is endorsed by the National Film and Video Foundation (NFVF), an agency of the South African Department of Arts and Culture.
Rising Voices runs for six weeks and supports local Black creators through digital skills development and content amplification. The project aims to do so by upskilling creators, offering grants, and providing the community with opportunities to make a career of content creation.
Creators selected for the grant will be tasked with creating a series of paid content and will be given a one-on-one mentor session to analyse their content plan.
Applications are open until 9 April 2021.
Small Enterprise Manufacturing Support Programme (Manufacturing)
Provision of financial and non-financial support will be given to small enterprises in the manufacturing industry sub-sectors:
To apply, you must register your business on the Small Business Economic Development Portal – here.
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***COMPETITIONS***
Deadline for Applications Extended for the Sab Foundation’s 2021 Social Innovation And Disability Empowerment Awards
The SAB Foundation has extended the deadline for applications for its 11th annual SAB Foundation Social Innovation Awards and 6th annual Disability Empowerment Awards to midday on Wednesday 8 April. The winning social innovator stands a chance of winning up to R1.3 million in funding for their business and eligible entrepreneurs are strongly encouraged to enter.
The Social Innovation Awards are aimed at innovators, social entrepreneurs, institutions and social enterprises with prototypes or early-stage businesses that can solve social problems. These products, services, business models and processes should directly address the challenges faced by low-income women, youth, people living with disabilities, or people living in rural areas.
The Disability Empowerment Awards seek and award social enterprises that have come up with innovative solutions that improve access to the economy and/or solutions for people living with disabilities, while generating enough revenue to become sustainable over time. People with disabilities in South Africa face a number of social and economic barriers with and currently the unemployment rate stands at 70% in this sector.
Only online applications submitted on the SAB Foundation website are accepted: https://sabfoundation.co.za
For more information please visit https://sabfoundation.co.za/social-innovation-awards
2021 Africa’s Business Heroes Prize Competition (All)
Entrepreneurs from all over Africa can apply for a spot among ten finalists. The ten finalists will receive the opportunity to present their businesses and share their visions to a panel of judges, to win a share of US$1.5 million grant funding.
The Africa’s Business Heroes Prize Competition is the Jack Ma Foundation’s flagship philanthropic program in Africa.
The deadline for applications is 7 June 2021. The top ten finalists for 2021 will be announced in September.
For more information and to apply, visit: www.AfricaBusinessHeroes.org
Inqola FEED Innovation Prize (Digital)
The 2021 Prize will focus on Internet-based solutions (i.e. apps, platforms and websites), which highlights ideas and solutions that have the potential to create meaningful impact on the food system in South Africa.
The winner will receive R100,000 and the runner-up will receive R50,000.
The Solutions can be existing or new.
Other requirements are:
– If you have an existing Solution, enter and tell the judges about the next stage of your development, an innovative or interesting idea that would take you to the next stage of your development or your plans for future success.
– If you have an idea for a new Solution, enter and tell the judges what your idea or innovation will be, how you intend to develop it, and the team you have put together to execute your plan.
– Solutions must focus on execution in South Africa.
Applications close on 25 June 2021.
Investor of the Year Awards (Property)
The SA Property Investors Network (SAPIN) invites property investors from all over the country to share their property investment stories and enter the annual Investor of the Year Awards. Prizes include cash prizes, vouchers from sponsors and property investment coaching.
Whether you are busy with your first deal or are a veteran property developer, the Investor of the Year Awards are open to all South Africans over 18 who have invested in property between November 2019 and August 2021.
The black-tie award ceremony will be held at the Marriott Hotel in Sandton on the 18th November 2021.
The event can be attended in person or virtually. There are seven categories in which to enter, including Beginner Investor, Most Growth Investor, Investor for Change, and Innovative Investor.
You can enter the competition at www.investoroftheyear.co.za.
Open Call for Malnutrition Solutions (Social entrepreneurs)
Innovation Edge, an innovation catalyst and social impact investor, is calling on innovators, registered non-profit and for-profit enterprises to apply for this initiative.
The open call is for innovative early stage products or services with the potential to mitigate early childhood malnutrition and stop stunting.
According to its website, successful applicants will receive funding and customised non-financial support to help develop, test and implement their solutions.
Deadline for applications: 30 April 2021
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***TRAINING & SUPPORT PROGRAMME OPPORTUNITIES***
FNB Xero Programme for Accounting Practices (Black-owned Accounting practices)
First National Bank (FNB), in partnership with Xero and Edge Growth, announced the launch of the FNB Xero Programme for Accounting Practices (FXP), a developmental initiative that will capacitate small black-owned accounting practices, and by extension the South African SME sector.
Applications for the programme will open from 6 April on the Edge Growth website to registered accounting practices that have been in operation for at least three years.
Businesses must be at least 51% black-owned; have an accreditation with a professional body such as SAICA or SAIPA and have industry experience servicing SMEs.
They must also be keen to embrace technology to improve and have aspirations to grow and attract investment.
A maximum of 15 entrepreneurs will be selected to be part of the programme, which will begin in June 2021 and run for eight months.
Visit the Edge Growth website from 6th April 2021 > click on ‘Services’ > select ‘Programme Management’ > scroll down the page until you reach the section ‘Some of our Current Corporate Programmes’ > click on FNB Xero Programme for Accounting Practices.
Register your details and complete the pre-qualification information before 12th April 2021.
To develop the potential of startups driving the Internet economy, Telecel Group has opened applications for the ASIP Accelerator Program, powered by Startupbootcamp AfriTech. The Program helps startups achieve 18-24 months of growth in just three months. Now, the next generation of early-stage African tech startups disrupting a wide range of industry sectors are being sought.
Applications Open for ASIP Accelerator Program (Tech startups)
Ten startups will be selected to participate in the Program that will give them access to expert-led masterclasses covering scaling fundamentals – from the business model canvas, and lean methodology, to fundraising. They will also receive tailored mentorship from carefully selected mentors who will provide hands-on support and valuable introductions. Plus, they will be connected with venture capitalists and angel investors from around the world and get to meet the leading corporates in their industries for pilot projects and partnership opportunities.
Over and above all this, the successful startups will receive €15,000 in cash and have access to over €500,000 in exclusive partner deals from leading technology providers such as Amazon Web Services, Google Cloud, HubSpot, and SendGrid, amongst others.
The three-month Program will conclude with a digital Demo Day during which startups will present their newly scaled up solutions to hundreds of investors, corporates, mentors and press attendees.
Twenty-nine startups completed the first Startupbootcamp AfriTech Program and 90% of participating startups are still operating and scaling at impressive rates. What’s more, 40% have raised follow-on rounds of funding, with the average increase in valuation being 10x since their Demo Day.
The completely virtual, Pan-African Program kicks off in July 2021. Applications are open now and will remain so until 14 May. To apply, or for more information, go to https://bit.ly/SBC-ASIP
Mobile Business Hubs (SMMEs)
The Business Hub by the City of Cape Town provides SME owners with support to help them start and grow their businesses. They also aim to connect entrepreneurs with business partners, funders and support organisations.
Services offered include access to economic information and research, skills development programmes, and guidance on growing your business, navigating City procedures and compliance requirements, and reducing red tape.
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*** PREVIOUS ISSUES ***
– May 2020
