The SME Funding Summit 2026 opened with an uncomfortable truth: the money exists, the funders exist, and most small businesses still walk away empty-handed. This is why AND what to do about it. (Part 1 of the Innovation Bridge Portal’s series covering the Summit.)

Let’s start with the number that...

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The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) is inviting MineTech startups from across Africa to apply for the timbuktoo Launchpad Pan-African MineTech Startup Incubation Programme. Through the timbuktoo MineTech Hub, hosted in Zambia, selected startups will receive incubation support, mentorship, investment readiness assistance, and access to a continent-wide innovation ecosystem. Applications are accepted on a rolling basis, with the first cohort commencing in July 2026.

 

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The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) is inviting CreativeTech startups from across Africa to apply for the timbuktoo Launchpad Pan-African Incubation Programme. Through the timbuktoo Creatives Hub, hosted in South Africa, selected startups will receive structured incubation, mentorship, investment readiness support, and access to a continent-wide innovation ecosystem. Applications are accepted on a rolling basis, with the first cohort commencing in September 2026.

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National Occupational and Employment Information System(NOEIS) is an innovative digital platform platform designed to bridge the gap between education, skills development, and labour market demands in South Africa. The system collects and analyses employment and occupational data to identify current and future skills shortages enabling students, job seekers, businesses and policymakers to make informed decisions. By providing real-time labour market intelligence and career guidance, NOEIS aims to reduce unemployment, address skills mismatches and support economic growth. the platform has the

Wonga Technologies is a South African Internet Service Provider (ISP) focused on delivering reliable, affordable, and customer-centric internet connectivity solutions to homes, businesses, and underserved communities. Founded with the vision of bridging the digital divide, the company provides Fibre, Fixed LTE, Mobile LTE, VoIP, and Wi-Fi extension solutions across South Africa, with a strong focus on the Eastern Cape.

Our business model integrates commercial sustainability with social impact by expanding broadband access to underserved areas, supporting schools with internet connectivity, and

SIYA MP Global Systems (PTY) LTD is a South African technology company developing an AI-powered digital ecosystem that brings research, opportunity discovery, government services, business networking, AI assistance and workflow automation into one intelligent platform.

Our mission is to simplify how individuals, businesses, educational institutions and government organizations access information, connect with opportunities and improve productivity through artificial intelligence. Instead of relying on multiple disconnected platforms, users can research, discover, collaborate and automate tasks

NewCarbon Company Overview

NewCarbon is a South African climate-tech and circular-biomass company developing modular bio-refinery systems that convert underutilised forestry, agricultural, and invasive biomass into high-value carbon products, agricultural inputs, renewable heat, and clean energy.

The company was founded to solve a structural African problem: large volumes of biomass waste and invasive vegetation are either burned, left to decay, or treated as low-value residue, while African industries continue to import activated carbon, soil amendments, crop-support products, and energy inputs

The Business Uncle is a Johannesburg-based operational strategy and enterprise-development advisory practice. We help small and medium enterprises, non-profit organisations and social enterprises build the operational structure, sustainable income models and institutional discipline they need to grow, and to become fundable, investment-ready and able to deliver at scale. 

We sit where strategy meets execution: we diagnose the real problem, design operating and income models that fit the organisation as it is and build the systems and accountability that turn plans into results, working

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Nominations are now open for the 2027 Queen Elizabeth Prize for Engineering (QEPrize), a globally recognised award that celebrates engineers whose innovations have transformed lives and delivered significant benefits to humanity.

Widely regarded as the world's most prestigious engineering prize, the QEPrize awards £500,000 to up to 10 engineers responsible for a groundbreaking engineering innovation that has had a demonstrable global impact.

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GRIPPA WATER – BUSINESS OVERVIEW


Grippa Water is a community-driven bottled water and water solutions business established to provide access to clean, safe, and affordable drinking water while creating economic opportunities within underserved communities.


Rooted in rural development and sustainability, Grippa Water aims to bridge the gap between growing demand for quality drinking water and communities that continue to experience unreliable access to water supply. Through modern purification, bottling, and distribution systems, the business delivers packaged drinking water designed to meet