Articles / Funding

Blendeds for start-ups

Grants, loans, incentives and competitions from government, development financiers, foundations and corporates. Amounts and eligibility as published by the funder; every card links to the funder's own application page. 34 programmes listed.

  • Blended

    Youth Challenge Fund (18 to 35)

    SEDFA

    R2 million (start-ups) to R15 million (growth); 20% grant, 80% loan

    Blended finance for youth-owned businesses: a fifth of the package is a grant, the rest a loan, from start-up through growth stage.

    Youth (18–35)Start-upsSmall businessesRolling applications

Grants are rare, loans are not

Most "government funding" is a loan or a cost-sharing incentive. True grants (NYDA, BBSDP, TIA seed, foundations) are competitive and paid to suppliers, not to you.

Get the paperwork first

CIPC registration, a SARS tax compliance pin, a business bank account, six months of statements and three quotations per item. Incomplete packs are the main reason for rejection.

Never pay to apply

No funder on this page charges an application fee. Anyone asking for a "processing fee" for NYDA, SEDFA or dtic money is a scam. Read our 2026 funding guide.