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Biz Opps: Are You Still in This Fight?

“Everyone has a plan until they get punched in the mouth.” – Mike TysonFor many entrepreneurs, this COVID-19 pandemic (including the lockdown) felt like getting punched in the face. Some decided they’re not getting back up after that punch, and some just couldn’t go on.For those who are still fighting, we ask: what area of your business do you need help with? Have you sought help yet?

SME South Africa has a GIVEAWAY this week where four people can WIN X4 Business Coaching Sessions with Klaus Lombardozzi, an organisational relationship coach.

What’s on offer:

- 4 sessions each of 90 mins coaching session.

Enter the Competition HERE – the competition ends Friday 8 May.

In this Business Opportunities newsletter!

- Proposals for business opportunities.- Where to seek funding.

- Competitions you can enter.

- COVID-19 online resources.

- Free DOWNLOADABLE financial management templates. 

Be safe and take care!

A Call for Applications

If you're not sure where to start looking for business opportunities, we have a list of proposals that you can apply for:- The Innovation Hub calls for submissions for African solutions that address the direct and indirect societal effects of Covid-19. - Applications for the Youth Business Relief Fund are open.  - Request for Proposals for architecture and design suppliers for the Propella Township Incubator (“PTI”).

MORE INFO ON HOW TO APPLY HERE

Funding

In addition to debt relief for SMEs, there are funding opportunities available. Here's a few:

  • ZAR488 million (US$26.9 million) Green Outcomes Fund launched this year to incentivise fund managers to invest in small, medium-sized and microenterprises (SMMEs) that are able to generate verifiable green outcomes and jobs in the energy, water, waste, infrastructure and land-management sectors.

  • Willowton Group, with Al Baraka Bank, has announced the launch of a R100m fund to provide relief to ailing small businesses. 

  • GoFundMe - Apply To Get Your Business Listed On the SAveabusiness COVID-19 Relief Fund.

  • The Innovation Fund for Mobile Internet Adoption and Digital Inclusion will back startups in Africa and Asia that help to increase mobile internet adoption and usage. MORE INFO ON HOW TO APPLY HERE

Competitions

Competitions allow entrepreneurs to receive funding and exposure for their businesses.

  • Jack Ma Foundation’s Africa Netpreneur Prize (African entrepreneurs)

  • The 2020 GoGettaz Agripreneur Prize (Agrifood entrepreneurs) 

  • GAP Innovation Competition (Innovators, researchers) 

  • SANTAM Women of the Future Awards 2020 (Women entrepreneurs) 

  • EOY’s BUSINESS/PARTNERS Entrepreneur of the Year® competition (All sectors) 

  • Mest Africa Challenge (African entrepreneurs)MORE INFO ON HOW TO APPLY HERE

- The following content is paid for by DPO South Africa -

Banks team up with DPO SA to bring turbocharged e-commerce to local SMEs

Working closely with the major banks, the country’s largest payment enabler, DPO South Africa, has launched a first-of-its-kind, fully managed, payment solution that gives small businesses the same power and access to services as enterprise companies. The offering has been designed to fast track South Africa’s ecommerce growth. The solution is perfect for companies looking to quickly take their products and services online, but with none of the hassle and at a fraction of the cost of traditional offerings PayGate Plus gives organisations of any size all the benefits of a merchant account, without any of the hassle or wait. Offering a traditional payment page, payment link, or electronic billing system, PayGate Plus supports all available digital and card payment methods, including:

PayGate Plus takes care of online business admin from transaction reconciliation to an improved fraud management system, so merchants can focus on growing their business, rather than worrying about the risks. With PayGate Plus, merchants have complete control and they can even manage their business from their phone. From startup to enterprise, existing e-commerce website, or not, PayGate Plus will help you grow. 

Online Resources For Businesses During COVID-19

  • Deloitte (Legal information for businesses during Covid-19 lockdown)

  • Endeavor (Webinars, Guidelines for teams, ways to manage your business through a recession- business, leadership & management)

  • EY (Advice for businesses on reshaping post Covid-19)

  • Retail Capital (Business Insights, tips, surveys and critical information on how to combat Covid-19)

  • Raizcorp (Podcasts by #EntrepreneursAsk, where tough questions about how to manage your business in the time of Covid-19,  are answered by experts like Allon Raiz)

  • YOCO (Information, online events and downloadables on how to manage small businesses through Covid-19)

  • Funding Hub (Where SMEs can get funding)

  • JUMP app (Business support and empowerment for entrepreneurs

  • JOOX app (‘Gig to Earn’ campaign for artists and musicians)

MORE INFO HERE

Government Assistance During COVID-19 – Important Contacts

Regulations and latest amendments to the regulations [LEVEL 4] is found in the Government Gazette.

BizPortal - Apply for your Essential Service Businesses certificate, your company registration, tax registration, domain name registration, B-BBEE certificates, compensation fund registration, UIF registration and business accounts on the BizPortal. Smmesa.gov.za - Apply for the SMME Business Growth Resilience Facility, SMME Debt Relief Scheme, or the COVID Finance Relief Application.

Department: Small Business Development - Its website gives updates to debt relief funds the department has created for SMMEs such as SMME Business Growth Resilience Facility, SMME Debt Relief Scheme, and the COVID Finance Relief Application.

Small Enterprise Development Agency - Get the latest on tenders, applications for proposals and also, e-services available on this website.National Youth Development Agency (NYDA) - Apply for the Youth Micro Enterprise Relief Fund or find out about the campaign called Young Mind Unwind, or get the latest on training programmes or funding opportunities.

MORE INFO ON HOW TO APPLY HERE

FREE Financial Management Templates

Keeping evidence of all your financial transactions such as receipts, statements, invoices, purchase orders, etc. can help you if you need to apply for finance – as many lenders want to see evidence of proper record keeping.Here are templates SME South Africa has available for DOWNLOAD here:

  1. Income Statement (PDF)

  2. Cash Flow Forecast (PDF)

  3. Finding Your Breakeven Point (PDF)

  4. How Much to Charge for Your Services (PDF)