South Africa

The Orange Corners Innovation Fund (OCIF) GROW Programme 2026 is an influential initiative designed to unlock the growth potential of South Africa’s most innovative youth-owned businesses. With a unique blend of grant and interest-free loan funding, the programme not only addresses the deep-rooted challenge of access to catalytic finance for young entrepreneurs but also ensures that recipients are investment-ready through robust capacity building.

As part of the UNDP initiative “Leveraging Agri-Tech and AI for Sustainable Agricultural and Export Development in South Africa,” this Acceleration Programme is designed to empower 50 South African Agri-Tech and Aqua-Tech SMEs with a commitment to at least 50% women-led participation. The programme provides technical support, market access, mentorship, growth enablement, and financial investment to pioneering entrepreneurs and small businesses.

Programme Objectives:

Kuya Capital, a founder-led venture partner based in the U.S., presents an exceptional growth opportunity for ambitious, revenue-generating startups across Africa, Latin America, and beyond. Through its innovative 2025 Kuya Grant program, Kuya Capital empowers startups to break into new markets and realize their international aspirations via a flexible dual funding model enabling founders to select either strategic equity investment or non-dilutive grant support.

The Gauteng Partnership Fund (GPF) is inviting proposals from organisations dedicated to uplifting historically disadvantaged individuals and driving positive change in Gauteng communities. Through its Corporate Social Investment (CSI) programme, GPF supports impactful projects that improve access to the property sector and address local community challenges.

The SA Teen Entrepreneur Foundation, in partnership with AdNotes and supported by the UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO), invites applications from Local Community Network Operators (LCNOs) to address digital exclusion in South Africa’s rural and township communities. Despite their vital role as last-mile broadband providers, many LCNOs encounter challenges including high broadband costs, technical skill shortages, business and regulatory hurdles.

The African Union Development Agency (AUDA-NEPAD), together with the Spanish Agency for International Development Cooperation (AECID), launches the Creating Opportunities for Youth and Women in Africa (COYWA) Call for Proposals, aimed at accelerating socio-economic inclusion, empowerment, and gender equality across selected African regions.