Bolt Launches R50,000 Grant Initiative for South African Women Entrepreneurs

Bolt Launches R50,000 Grant Initiative for South African Women Entrepreneurs. Bolt has launched a new initiative offering South African women entrepreneurs the opportunity to win a R50,000 grant to support the growth of their businesses.

The “Bolt Sees You” initiative was launched during Women’s Month and is open to eligible women who use Bolt in South Africa. Entries will close at 23:59 SAST on 18 August 2026.

Women who want to participate are required to share the story behind their businesses through a video or series of photographs published on Facebook, Instagram or TikTok. Entrants must tag @BoltSouthAfrica and use the hashtag #BoltSeesYou.

According to Bolt, there is no separate application form required to enter the initiative. Eligible submissions will be reviewed by the company, with shortlisted entrepreneurs selected on a rolling basis.

Following the shortlisting process, members of the public will be able to vote for the entrepreneur whose business story resonates most with them. The entrepreneur who receives the most verified votes by the closing date will receive the R50,000 grant.

The initiative is open to women operating businesses across a range of sectors. These include school transport, salons, bakeries, crèches, market stalls, professional services and online businesses.

Adega Murbe-Onyango, regional marketing manager at Bolt Africa, said the initiative is intended to recognise the efforts of women who are building businesses across the country.

“Behind every small business is a woman who has taken a risk, solved a problem or kept going through circumstances that might have caused someone else to stop,” Murbe-Onyango said.

Bolt said the grant will support one entrepreneur, while the stories submitted will also highlight the contribution of women entrepreneurs in South Africa.

To qualify, participants must keep their entry public for the duration of the initiative and submit no more than one entry. They must also meet the eligibility requirements outlined in the initiative’s terms and conditions.

The R50,000 grant will be paid to the successful entrepreneur through electronic funds transfer. Bolt will also document and share the recipient’s entrepreneurial journey on its South African social media platforms.

Both entries and public voting close at 23:59 SAST on 18 August 2026.