Cape Town entrepreneurs encouraged to apply for scale-up programme. Here's how...

Are you a young South African entrepreneur based in Cape Town and ready to take your business to the next level?

The City of Cape Town is calling all Cape Town-based entrepreneurs with a product or service that’s innovative and could positively impact your community and beyond to get your applications in for Orange Corners’ Designs, a 12-month scale-up programme that will be implemented by the City-funded Craft+Design Institute.

The project is targeted at local businesses that centre one or more of the UN’s 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

The SDGs include reducing poverty and growing inclusive economic growth and job opportunities.

To qualify for the programme, applicants need to register as a member of the CDI.

Eligibility Criteria:

1. Entrepreneur must be a South African between the ages 18-35 years
2. Business must be managed and/or run by the owner (Entrepreneur)
3. Business must be an existing business with demonstrable history and traction and/or provide credible market research that shows viability if proposing a new product or innovation
4. Business must demonstrate innovation and/or unique proposition that contributes to the SDGs and address pressing needs or opportunities (in sectors such as but not limited to circular/green economy, digital sector, agriculture and creative sectors)
5. Demonstrate the ability to scale in terms of impact and/or job creation
6. Participants must be willing/able to take time off from business and commit for a period of 12 months
7. Must be registered, or confirm a commitment to register, with the Companies and Intellectual Property Commission (CIPC)
8. Applicants need to complete the application form in full providing the basic business information required

For those accepted onto this programme the first round of funding available is R56 000 per business (subject to achieving specific milestones):

• A monthly business enabler grant to support operational costs, while you test for growth (over 6-9 months)
  
• A further prototyping grant of up to R32,000, to test and build on key aspects or growth levers of your business.

For more information on the qualifying criteria and to apply, click here.

Applications close on Thursday, 20 February 2025.

"The City’s Integrated Development Plan aligns with the SDGs and as such, Orange Corners’ Designs is the ideal initiative for this government to support. The focused approach of the programme will include various support and upskilling mechanisms such as workshops, mentorship, and business development tools. In addition, those who are selected could also become eligible for prototyping grants and business loans of up to R1 000 000 from the Orange Corners Innovation Fund (OCIF)."

- James Vos, Committee Member for Economic Growth, City of Cape Town