Articles / Funding

Funding for South African businesses

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.

  • Loan

    NEF iMbewu Fund: start-up, franchise and procurement finance

    National Empowerment Fund (NEF)

    R250 000 – R15 000 000

    Loans and quasi-equity for black entrepreneurs starting a business, buying a franchise, or financing a signed tender or purchase order.

    Black-ownedStart-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.