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Please note: Visit the organisation’s website for more information.
***COMPETITIONS***
Shoprite Hustle Competition (Small businesses)
Shoprite is once again throwing its weight behind small businesses with the launch of the 2020 Hustle competition.
This year the popular competition will award 20 established small business owners with prizes valued at R1.4 million. Each winner will receive R50,000 in cash, and a short course from Get Smarter valued at R20,000. The winners will also get R5 000 in media exposure in Shoprite’s print publications and digital platforms.
Success in the competition, which was first launched in 2018, has served as a launch pad for previous winners including one that has gone on to become a national supplier to Shoprite and Checkers. Entries must be submitted online between 3 August – 4 September 2020, and winners will be announced from 14 September – 31 October 2020.
MTN App of the Year Awards (Tech)
The MTN App of the Year Awards celebrates local talent and out-of-the-box thinkers that drive disruption and change. The competition page does not yet reveal what the prizes are, but promises that all entrants, finalists and winners will gain massive media exposure and publicity.
The submission deadline is 29 September 2020. Apply here
#AcerInstaPitch campaign (All)
Acer launched a #AcerInstaPitch campaign where you can pitch your best business idea on Instagram. Share your best business idea on Instagram Stories in 10 frames or less, and you could win a share of R125 000’s worth of Acer equipment, as well as business coaching with Martine Solomon, CEO at Mzansi Financial Education and Media (Pty) LTD.
You must tag @AcerAfrica on Instagram to submit your entry.
AppsAfrica Innovation Awards (Tech)
The awards aim to celebrate the best in mobile and tech in Africa; it is open to corporates, established ventures or startups who have launched services in at least one African market across 14 categories.
Winners will be invited to Africa Tech Summit Kigali 2021 where they will join over 400 tech leaders from across the continent. Applications close on 20 October. A shortlist will be announced on 1 November.
***PROPOSALS***
“Driving Force for Change” Pilot Youth Support Initiative (Youth)
R1 million has been reserved to fund youth-led projects tackling issues of climate change, waste management, biodiversity and ecosystems.
Eligible applicants can apply by submitting an application as per the application template with supporting documentation by the deadline to the Department Environment, Forestry and Fisheries.
Applications close on 31 August 2020. Successful applicants will be announced by the Minister of Environment, Forestry and Fisheries in November 2020.
Swiss-South African Venture Leaders Programme (Youth)
SMEs, entrepreneurs and innovators who are not older than 35 years old, are invited to submit a proposal for assistance for business growth and/ or to expand an existing enterprise.
This initiative by the Technology Innovation Agency (TIA), in partnership with the University of Basel (Switzerland), will give selected applicants the opportunity to be exposed to top South African and Swiss entrepreneurial expertise and market, plus to participate at the SA Innovation Summit.
Other benefits include access to a wide network of peers, mentors and industry experts, and you can become part of the South African– Swiss entrepreneurs’ community. Deadline for applications is 7 August 2020. More info here
‘1000 Youth-Owned Enterprises in a 100 days’ (Youth, rural & township)
This Presidential Intervention is in the form of a grant. The initiative aims to support businesses operated by young people in township and rural economies and to stimulate township-rural economies.
The project threshold is funding requirements of between R1,000 and R100,000 for individuals and enterprises, including cooperatives. Application deadline is 5 August 2020. More info here
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Scale Out for Impact (SOFI) Programme (All)
SOFI aims to build partnerships between innovative UK small and medium enterprises and suitable South African innovators or enterprises, with the aim of co-creating new ventures based on inclusive business models for their products and services aimed at income poor consumers in townships and rural areas.
The programme is a partnership between TIA, UK Innovate, the Newton Fund and the Black Business Council.
Africa Online Safety Fund (Online)
Impact Amplifier with the support of Google.org, has created the Africa Online Safety Fund, a USD 1 million initiative that seeks innovative solutions to online safety challenges. The Fund will favour solutions which address women and children’s online safety specifically, as they are the most targeted communities in this regard.
Applications for the first phase of the application process can be submitted until August 21. Shortlisted applicants will announced by September 7.
DOWNLOAD Your FREE Copy of the Female Entrepreneurship & Funding Case Studies and Get Instant Access to the Funding Stories of 4 Powerhouse South African Women Entrepreneurs
Entrepreneurs for Entrepreneurs Africa (Financial services, healthcare, the sustainable agriculture value chain, etc.)
E4E (“Entrepreneurs for Entrepreneurs”) is a venture capital fund that is backed by a founding investment from the SA SME Fund. It specialises in supporting early stage ventures in South Africa from very early-stage (pre-series A) to scale up.
E4E focuses on smart business models that have the potential to improve the quality of life for millions. They are looking for business models that employ:
– Digital transformation
– Financial/economic inclusion
– Smart & sustainable value chains
Industry examples:
– Food & water
– Smart cities & energy
– Education & skills
– Health technology
– Financial services
– Energy & climate
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2020 ‘Venture Showcase – Seed’ (Startups)
VC4A in partnership with AWS Activate, AfriLabs and ABAN seeks African startups looking to raise between USD 150,000 and USD 1 million. Ten innovative early-stage startups will be selected to showcase their business to the world.
The 10 selected startups will receive the following:
– The opportunity to participate in the VC4A Venture Showcase deal room, including 150+ early-stage investment firms.
– Professionally edited 3-minute virtual pitch videos.
– 30-minute deep-dive sessions with investors in a private room.
– Mentorship and pitch training by early-stage investor organizations.
– Amazon Web Services credits from AWS Activate worth USD 10,000, as well as tools, resources, and more to get started quickly on AWS.
– Membership to the alumni network and gain exclusive access to fundraising opportunities.
Apply before 11 September 2020. More info here
Film and TV Relief Fund to Help SA Creatives (Film & TV)
The South African Screen Federation (SASFED), supported by the Independent Producers Organisation (IPO), announced the establishment of a Covid-19 film and television relief fund in collaboration with Netflix.
The fund will provide emergency relief to the hardest-hit workers in South Africa’s creative community. The streaming service will donate over R8.3 million, which will be administered by Tshikululu Social Investment, who will screen the applications for eligibility as well as payout the funds to beneficiaries. Apply here
IDC Small Industrial Finance Distress Fund (Manufacturers, assemblers and others value-added services)
The R300 million Covid-19 Small Industrial Finance Distress Fund covers short term operating costs to qualifying businesses across various industry sectors. The fund will assist qualifying IDC clients, as well as new clients, that have been negatively affected by the Covid-19 pandemic.
The fund is open to manufacturers, assemblers and others value-added services in the following sectors:
– Agro-processing and agriculture
– Chemicals, plastics and medical products
– Industrial mineral products
– Clothing and textiles
– Wood and furniture
– Automotive and transportation
– Machinery and equipment
– Electronics
– Energy and infrastructure
– Tourism
– Basic metal producers
Apply online at www.idc.co.za or contact your nearest regional office. Email: covid@idc.co.za; Telephone: 0860 693 888. More info here
Mentorship Marathon for Both Mentors and Startups (All)
Between 18 May – 18 August 2020, the Mentorship Marathon by incubation hub, 22 on Sloane, will take place. It focuses on supporting startups towards rethinking and re-evaluating their business models.
More information available here
SEE ALSO: 6 Business Ideas To Explore During a Recession [Updated]
***ACCELERATORS***
#BUILDFORSDG Challenge 2020 (Tech)
Facebook and Andela have partnered to up-skill developers across all countries in Africa through a seven weeks immersive program where selected developers will work as full-stack developers or in agile remote teams to innovate industry led projects or SDGs.
Why Apply?
– Get to work on projects that matter; add high value and high impact project to your portfolio.
– Access an entrepreneurial starter kit to launch your tech product.
– Grow your Developer skills while building functional projects.
The application deadline for Cohort 2 is 7 August 2020.
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TuksNovation’s Incubation and Acceleration programmes (Biotech, ehealth, agritech)
TuksNovation invites all University of Pretoria and GIBS students, academic staff as well as alumni to pitch their startups and stand a chance to join its incubation and acceleration programmes.
TuksNovation’s incubation programmes will give you access to a variety of start-up support services, including:
– Mentorship and coaching.
– Access to hot-desking and 3D prototyping facilities.
– VI Programme: Technology and business model development support.
– Launch Bootcamp: Due diligence, investor readiness, launch and commercialisation support.
– Acceleration Programme: Business growth support and office space.
Closing date for entries is 8 August 2020.
SEE ALSO: Join the SME South Africa Back to Business Basics Challenge #2WeekBizReset (Week 1)
SEE ALSO: How To Create an App – 10 Tips To Turn Your Game-changing Idea Into Reality
*** PREVIOUS ISSUES ***
– Business Opportunities Monthly – July 2020
– Business Opportunities Monthly – June 2020
– Business Opportunities Monthly – May 2020
– Business Opportunities Monthly – March 2020
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