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Please note: Visit the organisation’s website for more information.
***FUNDING & SMALL BUSINESS OPPORTUNITIES IN SOUTH AFRICA***
Founders Factory Africa Partners with Small Foundation to Support Entrepreneurs (Agri-tech)
Founders Factory Africa and Small Foundation will support over 18 agri-tech startups from across Sub-Saharan Africa with their ideas and ventures to address challenges across the entire agricultural value chain, according to Disrupt Africa.
The Small Foundation investment will allow African early-stage agri-tech business owners to join the Founders Factory Africa Venture Scale or Venture Build programmes, with Founders Factory Africa investing cash of between US$100,000 and US$250,000 and providing hands-on technical support to the entrepreneurs to grow their ventures.
Small Foundation will provide the startups with access to networks, entrepreneurs and investors through the programmes.
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 must be 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 joint fund of R28 Million will provide funding for 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.
SEE ALSO: SME South Africa: Alternative Funding Review
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***COMPETITIONS***
2021 Santam Women of the Future Awards (Women)
Santam, FAIRLADY and TRUELOVE are giving away prizes worth over R540000 for woman entrepreneurs. Participants can enter one of three categories: The Santam Woman of the Future title, The Santam Rising Star title, and The Santam Social Entrepreneur title.
The prizes include a total of R100 000 in cash to the Woman of the Future and R60 000 in cash each to the Rising Star and the Social Entrepreneur from Santam.
You can enter at womenofthefuture.co.za or to nominate an entrepreneur. Entries close on 23 June 2021.
GoGettaz Agripreneur Prize Competition (Youth)
The GoGettaz Agripreneur Prize Competition is open to African citizens between the ages of 18 and 35 years old. They must be founders or co-founders of social or commercial agrifood businesses headquartered in Africa.
Two winners – one woman and one man – will each receive US$50,000 for their businesses.
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). The Prize 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.
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.
SEE ALSO: SME South Africa – Company Registration Services Review
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 stand to win in the annual Investor of the Year Awards. Prizes include cash prizes, vouchers from sponsors and property investment coaching.
Property investors, whether you are busy with your first deal or are a veteran property developer, can enter the Investor of the Year Awards. The competition is 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.
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***TRAINING & SUPPORT PROGRAMME OPPORTUNITIES***
2021/22 Barloworld Mbewu Intake (Social enterprises)
Social enterprises that will be considered for this programme are technology startups and those that are active in agriculture (including agro-processing), industrial services, the green economy, the creative industry and social innovation.
Businesses that enter this programme must be run by South Africans, and be operational for more than one year.
Smart Cities Innovation Programme (Startups)
The Smart Cities Innovation Programme (SCIP) is a six-month accelerator from June to December 2021. It supports tech startups from Rwanda and other African countries in the fields of Mobility, Housing and Fintech.
The benefits of the programme include access to a network of international partners and support from dedicated mentors. Startups will be invited to pitch their solutions to corporates and investors in Rwanda in September.
The criteria include that your startup must have operations in one or more African countries; solutions in Mobility, Housing and Fintech for Smart Cities; launched your product or service and have customers; and have growth and job creation potential.
Mobile Business Hubs (SMMEs)
The Business Hub by the City of Cape Town supports SME owners to help them start and grow their businesses. Their mission is to give small business owners the opportunities to connect with business partners, funders and support organisations in South Africa.
Services offered by these hubs 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.
MSC Business Incubator (Youth)
The MSC Business College Bloemfontein in collaboration with Small Enterprise Development Agency (Seda) is looking for founders of new ventures to participate in this incubation programme.
A total of 20 small businesses stand a chance to win R14,500 in business capital and a free 12 month coaching and mentorship program.
Participants must be between the ages of 18 and 35, and their businesses have been operational for at least six months. They must have the desire to seek support, services, coaching and mentoring from the business incubator to achieve the venture’s mission.
More info here
Webinar: SA Proptech and SAIBPP (Property)
Stakeholders in the property industry will unpack key issues around inclusion and entrepreneurship and the role of proptech in accelerating these. This will be followed by recommendations to help collate expertise toward a sustainable model for transformation.
The event will be hosted on 5 May 2021 at 17:30 in Harare, Pretoria.
Register here
Webinar: The Future of Startups in Africa (All)
The UCT GSB Solution Space is hosting a knowledge-sharing webinar series to engage with ecosystem experts and discuss developments within the startup space.
This online event will take place on 12 May 2021 at 17:00.
Applications Open for the ASIP Accelerator Program (Tech startups)
Ten startups will be selected to participate in the Program which will give them access to expert-led masterclasses covering scaling fundamentals – from the business model canvas, and lean methodology, to fundraising.
Participants will also receive tailored mentorship, hands-on support and valuable introductions.
Successful startups will receive €15,000 in cash.
Startups will also have access to exclusive partner deals from leading technology providers such as Amazon Web Services, and Google Cloud, 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.
The completely virtual, Pan-African Program kicks off in July 2021. The deadline for applications is 14 May. To apply, or for more information, go to https://bit.ly/SBC-ASIP
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