Are you an “impact entrepreneur” delivering sustainable solutions to social and environmental challenges in South Africa and looking to grow? Social impact enterprise LifeCo UnLtd SA wants to partner with you, help with funding and support businesses driven by impact.
LifeCo defines impact enterprises as businesses that intentionally seek to grow and sustain financial viability, realise increasing social impact, and influence the broader system in which they operate. Collectively, they have the flexibility needed to adapt to the changing dynamics of problems.
“Through our programme LifeCo UnLtd Enterprizer Network our focus is strategically targeted at emerging and early-growth stage impact enterprises whom we assist scale up with inventive and timely solutions,” says Emanuela Di Rito, LifeCo’s senior manager for Impact Advancement and Opportunity Development.
LifeCo launched the network because of the lack of support for early stage enterprises especially impact businesses. The two-year programme will assist with the building of growth strategies and help open new markets.
LifeCo Unltd Enterprizer Network will select eight businesses to work with through an application process via its website https://www.lcuenterprizer.com/. Applications close on 30 April 2018.
“We currently have a network of 88 impact entrepreneurs we have been working with over the years and we believe with our 20 years of experience in investing and supporting impact entrepreneurs, we can help make a difference to these businesses,” Di Rito says.
“In some instances, LifeCo will present itself as a direct equity partner to high potential early stage enterprises not yet prepared for mainstream investment or lack some skills and/or resources that LifeCo may be able to contribute, in order to effectively scale the businesses’ financial and impact outcomes,” Di Rito added.
