Calling Young Innovators: Funding and Support for Entrepreneurs in Joburg and Cape Town

Young entrepreneurs in Johannesburg and Cape Town have an opportunity to take their businesses to the next level, with applications now open for the Orange Corners Designs Incubation programme. The initiative, managed by the Craft and Design Institute (CDI) and supported by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Netherlands, provides a 12-month intensive incubation journey designed to fuel innovation and job creation.

Each year, 20 entrepreneurs from each city are selected to benefit from practical workshops, masterclasses, and personalised mentoring. Participants also gain access to the Orange Corners Innovation Fund (OCIF), which offers up to R53,000 in funding, including a R32,000 prototyping grant tied to milestone achievements.

The programme, supported by partners including the City of Cape Town, the V&A Waterfront, Constitution Hill, and the Department of Small Business Development, is aimed at scalable, high-impact businesses – particularly those led by youth and women. Its focus areas include the green economy, digital innovation, creative industries, and agriculture, aligned with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Since its South African launch in 2024, Orange Corners has already assisted 67 businesses. Graduates report remarkable growth: Cape Town’s GenderWearSA achieved a 1,286% revenue increase following a rebrand, while Unearthed Décor boosted sales by 40%. Johannesburg graduates also saw expansion, with firms like Maphike Inc Attorneys gaining international market traction.

Khanya Mpuang, CDI’s programme manager, says the initiative is about more than money: “We are looking for bold young entrepreneurs ready to build sustainable enterprises that create jobs and contribute to the SDGs.”

The next cohort begins in January 2026. Applications close 10 October 2025. Apply online via CDI: www.thecdi.org.za/page/OCD.