Funding Opportunities In South Africa For Women In Entrepreneurship
Funding opportunities for women in entrepreneurship. The unfortunate reality is that, female entrepreneurs have limited access to finance in contrary to their male counterparts.
There are, however government and private enterprises with programmes and funds in place aimed at providing access to start up capital for women-owned business in South Africa. Some of these include the following’
1. Enablis Acceleration Fund
The Enablis Acceleration Fund is a partnership between Enablis Financial Corporation SA (Pty) Ltd and Khula Enterprise Finance Limited. The main objective of the fund is to improve access to SME early stage funding, while reaching out and supporting SMEs that are developing in remote or rural areas with a view to creating new sustainable jobs that alleviate poverty and reduce unemployment. This acceleration fund offers equity and debt instruments over loan periods no longer than 60 months.
To become a member visit the Join Enablis HERE.
2. Business Partners Women in Business Fund
This organization’s mandate is focused at increasing access to finance for female entrepreneur. The Business Partners Women in Business Fund seeks to afford South African women a fair and equal opportunity to start, expand or purchase an existing business. The Fund will offer finance between the value of R500 000 and R50 million per investment over a five year financing period. All female owned businesses (at least 50%) that are commercially viable with female owners active in the business will be considered for financing.
CLICK HERE TO APPLY.
3. National Empowerment Fund (NEF)
The National Empowerment Fund (NEF) is established by the National Empowerment Fund Act, 1998 (Act No. 105 of 1998). The NEF is a driver in promoting and facilitating black economic participation by providing financial and non-financial support to black empowered businesses, and promoting a culture of savings and investment among black people.
The NEF Women Empowerment Fund is aimed at accelerating the provision of funding to businesses owned by black women. The NEF provides business loans from R250 000 to R75-million across all industry sectors, for startups, expansion and equity acquisition purposes.
CLICK HERE TO APPLY.
4. Isivande Women’s Fund (IWF)
In 2008, government partnered with Old Mutual’s Masisizane Fund to set up the R100 million Isivande Women’s Fund which invests directly in women enterprises by offering loans at lower interest rates, as well as offering non-financial support.
Isivande Women’s Fund (IWF) is an exclusive fund that targets black women at the bottom of the economic ladder. The fund is managed by the Industrial Development Corporation (IDC) on behalf of the Department of Trade and Industry through Identity Development Fund (IDF) managers.
CLICK HERE TO APPLY
5. African Women’s Development Fund
The African Women’s Development Fund (AWDF) is a grant-making foundation that supports local, national and regional women’s organisations working towards the empowerment of African women and the promotion and realisation of their rights. The fund offers grant funding of up to $50 000.
CLICK HERE TO APPLY.
