Youth

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:

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 FIFA Global Citizen Education Fund is a major philanthropic initiative supporting grassroots organizations advancing access to quality K–12 education and sports for children in underserved communities worldwide. Grants of $50,000–$250,000 USD are available to legally registered non-profit organizations directly implementing educational or sports-focused projects for 500–10,000 individuals in disadvantaged regions. The Fund supports two kinds of applications: general operating support or program/project-specific support.

Overview of the Opportunity

This opportunity, which commenced on October 06, 2025, is dedicated to shaping the future of democracy around the world. It supports governments and communities experimenting with bold participatory ways of making decisions, which may range from youth assemblies to climate participatory budgeting.

The applications are open to civil society organizations, governments, and civil servants globally. The participants are provided with funding, mentorship, and global allies.

The Wits Crucible for Entrepreneurship at the Wits Business School invites applications for the 2025 Entrepreneurial Capacity Development Programme to unemployed young graduates with a technology-driven business idea.

What to Expect?

A fully-funded 16-week intensive entrepreneurial capacity training with hands on workshops and real world entrepreneurial simulations. Successful completion of the Wits Business School Technopreneurship Short course may lead to the following pathways:

The Office of the Premier of Mpumalanga calls for applications from interested young entrepreneurs to apply for 2025 Premier’s Youth Development Fund (PYDF). The fund is aimed at assisting deserving young people aged 18-35 years to kick-start and grow their business ventures.

Potential candidates should ensure that their application is in the form of a BUSINESS PLAN accompanied by the following returnable documents: