Funding Opportunities for Businesses of ALL Stages & More

 In the Middle of Difficulty Lies Opportunity  📬March 2020 Over 9,000 of you read the first Business Opportunities Monthly newsletter! The pressure is on to make sure we deliver! We want this once-monthly newsletter to open real doors for you. Please remember to TELL US if you have any event recommendations for us to add to the list and what city or town you would like us to include on the SME FORUM here.

Funding & ESD Opportunities – Call for applications, deadlines 

FUNDING(YOUTH, WOMEN) WDB Growth Fund

is looking for black-owned businesses operating for at least 12 months, generating a minimum of R2 million, and requiring growth capital.

(RURAL, TOWNSHIP) 1000 Youth-owned Enterprises in 100 Days, this rural-based initiative aims to support businesses operated by young people in the township and rural economies and to stimulate township-rural economies. They are offering funding of between R1,000 and R100,000. 

MORE INFO ON THESE PROGRAMMES HERE

ESD

(TOURISM & HOSPITALITY)

Apply for the

Sun International Enterprise Supplier Development (ESD) programme

which focuses on black-owned SMMEs within their tourism supply chain, including food and beverages, casino and gaming to logistics and marketing.

(MANUFACTURING)

The Massmart Supplier Development programme

provides opportunities for small and medium manufacturing businesses who are potential suppliers to Massmart and its retail divisions, including Builders, Game and Makro.

MORE INFO ON THESE PROGRAMMES HERE

READ: Where Successful Entrepreneurs Find Powerful Mentors

Accelerators and Incubation Opportunities

(ALL) Raizcorp is looking for black-owned small businesses across South Africa to join their fully sponsored business growth programme. They are looking for entrepreneurs who operate across a range of industries. 

(TECH) Software AG Social Innovation Startup Programme presents an opportunity for women-owned tech-enabled social startups to apply to get assistance in networks, best practices and capital to scale.

(ALL) Hatch by Founders Factory Africa is calling for entrepreneurs who are looking for support to build and scale big businesses. 

(STARTUPS) 22 on Sloane Incubation has three programmes that are currently open for applications, including the

Residency/Incubation programme designed for entrepreneurs who are in the process of starting or launching their new venture; the

Accelerator programme which is designed for startups that are post revenue, ready to scale and attract investments into their company and the

GEN Juniors, their Entrepreneurship Club targeted at participants between the ages of 14 and 18. 

MORE INFO ON THESE PROGRAMMES HERE

READ: 4 Powerful Connections You Make Through Networking

Competitions & Awards 

(ALL) SAB Foundation Social Innovation Awards. 

Applications for the SAB Foundation's Social Innovation and disability empowerment awards 2020 are now open. They are looking for businesses that demonstrate a

sustainable business model while solving a social problem, with a particular emphasis on innovation that benefits women, youth, people with disability or those in rural areas. Applications close on 23 March 2020. 

(TECH) Hackathons for SA #GBV: Digital Solutions for Real-World Challenges targets emerging software developers, IT professionals, trainers, civil society organisations, students, academics and professionals. Prizes range from R5,000 to R25,000. 

28 March at Tshimologong Precinct at 39-47 Juta Street, Johannesburg MORE INFO HERE

EVENTS - Seminars & Conferences

GAUTENG

9th Annual Proudly South African Buy Local Summit & Expo (Conference)23 – 24 March 2020. Sandton Convention Centre, Johannesburg 

Township Shopper Marketing (Conference)17 – 18 March 2020. The Bryanston Country Club, Sandton

Student Accommodation Development Summit (Conference)25 March 2020. The Maslow Hotel, Johannesburg

Women’s Empowerment and Investment Platform (Seminar)28th March 2020. Allan Gray, 8th Floor, Oxford Corner, 32a Jellicoe Avenue, Rosebank, Johannesburg

Bake a Business by FutureproofSA (Workshop), an entrepreneurship programme for children between the ages of 6-12, teaching the core methodologies on how to start a business. Workshops take place either on a Friday or Saturday in March 2020, all hosted in Gauteng. MORE EVENT INFO AVAILABLE HERE

WESTERN CAPE

Women in Tech Africa 2020 (Conference)18-19 March. Century City Conference Centre, Cape Town

The Cannabis Expo (Expo) is the global marketplace for education, innovative products, and businesses serving the cannabis industry and its medicinal, agricultural and lifestyle aspects.19 - 22 Mar 2020. GrandWest Casino and Entertainment World, Cape Town

World Travel Market Africa (Conference)6 – 8 Apr 2020. Cape Town International Convention Centre, Cape Town

Professional Beauty Cape Town (Conference). This is a Cosmetics and Beauty Products Industry trade fair.6 Apr 2020. The River Club, Cape Town MORE EVENT INFO AVAILABLE HERE

KWAZULU-NATAL

Industry’s Information and Communications Technology (ICT) Business Forum. Join us to learn more about the recent Data Service Market Inquiry and the funding options available for startups and Small, Medium and Micro-sized Enterprises (SMMEs) in the ICT sector.10 March 2020 at the Durban Chamber Conference Centre by the Durban Chamber of Commerce and Industry

Social Media Training by UvoLwethu Communications (Workshop)24 March 2020. 97 Innes Road in Berea Youth in Business Forum by the Durban Chamber of Commerce and Industry - with a focus on improving the business pitches of small businesses, the event will present a Pitch Masterclass to upskill youth-owned businesses.27 March 2020 at the Durban Chamber Conference Centre by the Durban Chamber of Commerce and Industry MORE EVENT INFO AVAILABLE HERE

THE REST OF SOUTH AFRICA

The iBhayi Small Business Chamber’s Speed Marketing (Networking event)19 March 2020. Protea Hotel in Summerstrand, Port Elizabeth (Eastern Cape)

Management & Mindset: How to Avoid Burnout by Future Females (Seminar)26 Mar 2020. FNB Conference Centre in Port Elizabeth (Eastern Cape)

Free State Mining Expo (Conference)19 Mar 2020. 20 Melville Dr, Brandwag, Bloemfontein (Free State)

Provincial Tourism Forum (Workshop)17 March 2020. Polokwane MORE EVENT INFO AVAILABLE HERE Dti National Pavilion - The dti has extended the following invitations: South African exporters to get their products and services in the 2nd Intra-African Trade Fair (IATF) 2020 in Kigali, Rwanda; Fruit Logistica Asia 2020 Exhibition to get your fruit exhibited in September 2020 in Singapore; South African exporters to participate at the Automechanika Germany 2020 National Pavilion in Frankfurt, Germany in September 2020. MORE INFO HERE

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