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.
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
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.
National Youth Development Agency (NYDA)
Non-financial support paid to service providers
Vouchers for business plans, company registration, marketing material, mentorship and training, delivered by NYDA-approved providers at no cost to the young entrepreneur.
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.
Technology Innovation Agency (TIA)
Up to about R650 000 per project in recent calls
Small grants to turn research and early ideas into prototypes and fundable technology ventures, channelled through universities, science councils and incubators.
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.
SAB Foundation
Prizes up to R1.3 million, plus development funding for finalists
Annual awards with cash prizes for innovations that solve social problems and for businesses that empower people with disabilities.
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.
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.
