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.
SEDFA (Small Enterprise Development and Finance Agency)
R50 000 – R15 000 000
Term loans, working capital, asset finance and bridging finance for SMMEs and co-operatives in any sector, repaid over 12 to 60 months.
SEDFA / Department of Small Business Development
Up to R1 million (grant portion capped at R100 000)
Blended funding for businesses in townships and rural areas: a grant of up to R100 000 plus a loan at 5% fixed, repaid over up to 36 months with a 3-month moratorium.
National Youth Development Agency (NYDA)
R1 000 – R250 000
A pure grant (no repayment) for young South Africans aged 18 to 35 starting or growing a business, paid to suppliers for equipment and stock.
SEDFA (programme originally run by the dtic and DSBD)
Up to R1 million on a cost-sharing basis (80% grant, 20% own contribution)
A cost-sharing grant for majority black-owned businesses with at least a year of trading: machinery and equipment, ICT, business development and marketing.
SAB Foundation
Grant funding plus two years of mentoring and business support
A two-year enterprise development programme with grant funding, mentorship and skills, for small businesses that create jobs. Applications for the 2026 cohort are open.
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.
SEDFA
Up to R5 million at prime minus 3% (prime minus 5% for entrepreneurs with disabilities)
Concessionary loans for businesses owned by women, priced below the bank rate, for working capital, equipment and expansion.
Department of Small Business Development / SEDFA
Up to R15 million; grant of up to 20% capped at R2 million
Blended funding for small manufacturers: a grant of up to 20% (max R2 million) with the balance as a prime-linked loan over up to 84 months.
Department of Small Business Development with SEDFA and the NEF
Per-shop package for stock, equipment and compliance (confirm the current cap on the SEDFA page)
A dedicated fund to formalise and stock township spaza shops owned by South Africans: stock, refrigeration and shelving, plus registration and compliance support.
Department of Trade, Industry and Competition (the dtic)
Partial funding of trade shows, missions and market research
Government pays part of the cost of exhibiting at foreign trade shows, joining outward trade missions, and researching export markets.
Department of Trade, Industry and Competition (the dtic)
10% to 30% of qualifying infrastructure costs, capped at R50 million
Government pays part of the roads, water, electricity and other bulk infrastructure a private investment needs to go ahead.
Department of Trade, Industry and Competition (the dtic)
20% to 30% cost-sharing grant, capped at R20 million
A cost-sharing grant for agro-processors investing in new plant, expansion or modernisation, with higher rates for black-owned and rural businesses.
Department of Trade, Industry and Competition (the dtic), administered by the IDC
50% to 85% of qualifying development costs, up to R5 million
A grant towards developing a new product or process to pre-production prototype stage, with the highest rates for small and black-owned businesses.
Department of Trade, Industry and Competition (the dtic)
Per-job incentive over five years for jobs serving offshore clients
A per-job cash incentive for companies creating jobs that serve international clients from South Africa, with bonuses for youth hires.
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.
National Empowerment Fund (NEF)
R2 000 000 – R75 000 000
Growth capital for established black-owned businesses: buying a stake in a company, expanding operations, or funding a large new venture.
National Empowerment Fund (NEF)
R250 000 – R75 000 000
A ring-fenced pool of NEF funding for businesses majority-owned by black women, across all NEF products from start-up to expansion.
National Empowerment Fund with the Department of Tourism
Up to R5 million: half grant, half loan at concessionary rates
Blended funding for black-owned tourism businesses buying, building or expanding guesthouses, lodges, tour operations and attractions.
Industrial Development Corporation (IDC)
From R1 million; loans, equity and quasi-equity
South Africa's largest development financier: loans, equity and blended products for projects that build industrial capacity, with flexible repayment and moratoriums.
Technology Innovation Agency (TIA)
Project-based; larger than seed funding, sized to the development plan
Funding for prototype development, demonstration and pilot plants, certification and techno-economic studies for technologies at readiness levels 4 to 7.
Technology Innovation Agency (TIA)
Up to R1 million over up to 24 months
Pays for market testing and demonstration of a locally developed technology with an identified government or municipal buyer.
Tony Elumelu Foundation
US$5 000 non-refundable seed capital plus 12 weeks of training and mentoring
Africa's largest entrepreneurship programme: seed capital, training and a mentor for early-stage founders across all 54 countries, including South Africa.
Gauteng Enterprise Propeller
Micro loans to growth finance; non-financial support at no cost
The Gauteng provincial agency for SMMEs and co-ops: loans, contract finance, and free business development support for businesses in the province.
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.
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.
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.
