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.
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.
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.
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 Youth Development Agency (NYDA)
Full cost of study (tuition, accommodation, books, allowance)
A full scholarship for academically strong young South Africans from poor households to study at a public university or TVET college.
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)
Up to R200 000 for development plus R60 000 project support per 12 months
Support for inventors without formal research backing: IP protection, prototype building, business-model coaching and start-up capital.
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.
Land Bank with the Department of Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development
Grant portion plus loan; the grant share is higher for smaller producers
A grant-and-loan package for black producers to buy land, equipment, livestock and inputs, replacing part of the debt with a government grant.
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.
