Government Funding

Business development services to improve core competencies, managerial capabilities and competitiveness.

There’s a pervasive myth that there’s no funding available for businesses. This is not the case – if you meet the criteria there’s government grants available for your business.

You’ve got a great idea or a business that’s ready to bloom and you’re looking for business funds. The government has a number of funds and grants able to assist you in your entrepreneurial venture, so use this guide to find the perfect match for business funding.

Part of the government’s economic development mandate is to encourage black participation in business and entrepreneurship. The National Empowerment Fund (NEF) is designed to assist black entrepreneurs get funding.

What is SEFA and how can it help your business?

If you need help funding your small business, try government loans programmes as an alternative to bank funding.

Whether you have an existing business or wish to start a new one, if your mandate is job creation and serving previously disadvantaged communities, funding from the IDC could be waiting for you. Read on to see if your business qualifies for IDC funding.

Government grants and loan programmes have been set up by the government to extend funding to previously disadvantaged South African to foster black economic development.

Small businesses to benefit from groundbreaking new partnership between The Department of Small Business Development and Property Point, a Growthpoint initiative.

The National Youth Development Agency is offering youth businesses the opportunity to apply for and receive grant funding. This funding will help to grow youth business and increase job creation within South Africa.

If you have ideas of starting your own business, or have an existing business in need of finance, the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) has a range of incentive schemes, loans and grants available that could be your ticket to business success.

If you have an existing small business or want to start one and need funding, direct funding via Small Enterprise Finance Agency (SEFA) could be a good place to get the finance you need. Find out more here.

Here we tap into tax money, international donors and international investments. A good rule of thumb when dealing with many of these funds is that patience is a virtue – and will hopefully be rewarded. Public sector funding tends to take longer than private funding, so plan accordingly.

While banks may not be willing to take on the risk of funding a start-up, there are government organisations that are willing to give financial backing to entrepreneurs with potential.

The Gauteng Partnership Fund’s CEO, Kutoane Kutoane, explains what requirements applicants need to satisfy in order to secure funding for their projects.

Project finance is available to only the biggest players, right? Wrong. If you develop an air-tight proposal and have the backing of a strong sponsor, you could be South Africa’s next big project entrepreneur.

Entrepreneurs develop simple business models for people with no access to finance.