OCTOBER Business Opportunities, Funding News + More!

For many of us this is a do-or-die quarter so let's get to work! ++++ IN THIS MONTH'S BUSINESS OPPORTUNITIES NEWSLETTER ++++- The latest Business Opportunities, Funding News and Competitions.- Find out more about iKhokha's POS system in the SME Tech Solutions section.  Be safe and take care!

***** APPLY! APPLY! APPLY ****

**** Business Opportunities & Support Programmes ****

SMME Development Programme (SMMEs)

This programme by the Consumer Goods Council South Africa assists SMMEs to be retail-ready; it offers things such as food labelling and GS1 standards and Identifiers (barcodes). 

Visa’s Small Business Directory (Small businesses)Small business owners will be connected with consumers via Visa South Africa’s online Small Business Directory. 

Mr Price + Creative Collabs (Students, Fashion)Student designers can apply to win an opportunity to get an exclusive Mr Price X Creative Collabs range sold in over 40 Mr Price stores in 2021.

MORE INFO ON HOW TO APPLY HERE

 StepUp! Young Health Global Grants Programme (Youth)Grant seekers must address the health needs of young people aged 10-30, and/or be youth-led; be focused on health promotion; and show innovation in approach, settings or implementation.

Western Cape Covid-19 Business Relief Fund (Small businesses)The fund will provide financial assistance in the form of a financial grant to businesses that can apply to either the formal or informal business category. 

Locally Yours Market – Port Elizabeth (All)The Locally Yours Market permits only handmade products made by residents of the Eastern Cape and the owner of the business will need to be in attendance at the market. 

NYDA’s 30 Seconds Pitch (All)Send a video to the NYDA, they want to help you market your products and services through their social media platforms. 

Vodacom Business’ Vodalend Funding (All)Whether you need to fund moving into a bigger office, buy equipment or property or just to get the cash flow you need to act quickly, Vodalend can give you the cash you need within 24 hours. 

Entrepreneurs for Entrepreneurs Africa (Financial services, healthcare, the sustainable agriculture value chain, etc.)

E4E (“Entrepreneurs for Entrepreneurs”) is a venture capital fund that specialises in supporting early-stage ventures in South Africa from very early-stage (pre-series A) to scale-up. 

The IDC’s Agro-processing and Agriculture Strategic Business Unit (Agriculture)

The IDC encourages new or existing companies within the agro-processing and agriculture sector that plan to create new or expand industrial capacity within the economy to apply for this fund.

MORE INFO ON HOW TO APPLY HERE

The following content is sponsored by Sterian.

Protect Your Employees and Business!

Introducing New Sterian Surface Disinfectant This compound-based disinfectant chemical is specifically formulated to adhere to bacterial efficacy specifications and to replace more harmful, toxic and corrosive disinfectants. 

• Has demonstrated virucidal activity against enveloped viruses (e.g. coronavirus)

• Readily biodegradable

• Low-toxicity and non-mutagenic

• Corrosion inhibitors (non-corrosive metals)

• Conforms to food grade specifications (SABS)

• Non-corrosive to surfaces at the prescribed dosage

• Reduces mould and yeast levels

• Disrupts biofilm

• Contains no heavy metals

READ: How to Write A Press Release For Your Small Business

The following content is sponsored by Visa South Africa.

Win BIG with a Visa!

Visa's Small Business Directory connects small businesses with consumers via their online Small Business Directory. Interested businesses can register for the directory HERE. REGISTER AND stand to WIN one of the following:

• A grand-prize R60 000 online shopping voucher,

• High-quality point-of-sale material,

• A Yoco Device Get More Info here

*****Business Competitions - Win Funding & Gain Exposure****

African Development Bank – AgriPitch Competition (Agribusiness)

The African Development Bank will award shortlisted businesses between US$10,000 and US$40,000 in the form of grant capital (US$120,000 in total is committed). 

The 2021 Commonwealth Short Story Prize (Writers)

The winner of the Commonwealth Short Story Prize is awarded for the best piece of unpublished short fiction (2,000–5,000 words) and receives £5,000 as a prize. 

Space-Tech Challenge 2020 (Space-tech)

Promising new innovators, entrepreneurs and early-stage businesses across Africa who have innovations using geospatial intelligence to serve one or more in the industries: agriculture, insurance, retail, sustainability and conservation, can apply.

MORE INFO ON HOW TO APPLY HERE

 Mamelodi Sundowns “Sing with Sundowns” 50 Year Celebration (Songwriters, musicians)

Musicians and songwriters get the opportunity to compose and submit their Sundowns songs in any of the 11 official languages (including Xu and Khwe). A total of R6 million in cash can be won in the

Innovation Challenge – Beyond Tourism in Africa (Wildlife Conservation)

The challenge encourages anyone from any sector or background with bold and sustainable ideas for concepts, projects, businesses or products.

MORE INFO ON HOW TO APPLY HERE

READ: Allon Raiz’s 20 Entrepreneurship Lessons Learned Over 20 Years

**** Incubator/Accelerator Programmes Open for Entrepreneurs **** 

VC4A Startup Academy (ALL)This is an online resource for startup founders where you can get access to the latest industry insights, start-up tools and methodologies needed to take your business to the next level.

Nelspruit Incubation Programme (Tech)

The benefits of this programme include that you will get access to markets, product modelling and prototyping, linkages to industry experts, and targeted simulations. 

AlphaCode Incubate programme (Financial services)

Successful applicants will receive funding, guidance from performance coaches and a panel of advisory experts, and access to AlphaCode’s co-working space. 

Makers Landing (Food industry)

Learn about the fundamentals of building a business and gain insight into the local food industry, including food safety, product development, and operations. 

PropreneurX Property Accelerator (Property)

Property entrepreneurs can apply to be part of the co-hort2 of the six-month programme which consists of business development and enablement, mentoring and coaching. 

Youth Entrepreneurship Programme (ICT)

Youth or women entrepreneurs with a business idea in the ICT sector can register to apply to the Youth Entrepreneurial Programme (YEP)for 2021.

MORE INFO ON HOW TO APPLY HERE

READ: 12 (Mostly Free) Marketing Strategies That Won’t Break the Bank

Let Us Guide You On Your Next Purchase

Our SME Solutions Recommendation

iKhokha

iKhokha provides a range of card machines and point-of-sale systems that allow users to accept card payments. Ikhokha’s online suite of tools allows users to get reports and analytics, view settlements and manage refunds, manage products and staff, and access working capital within three months of trade. Benefits

• Customers’ card, cash and loyalty payments are captured in one place.

• Custom Cash Advance offer available for active iKhokha merchants.