Orange Corners South Africa (OCSA) aims to empower entrepreneurs, and specifically black owned businesses and young black people wishing to start a business, through providing an enabling platform to their beneficiaries in urban, rural and underdeveloped areas in South Africa. The OCSA programme consists of two main elements. One is a startup programme supporting grassroots entrepreneurs from township backgrounds including Tembisa and Alexandra. It is aimed at building basic business acumen and social entrepreneurship in the community, and creating sustainable small businesses and social upliftment. The other is a programme aimed at supporting high-growth creative urban entrepreneurs and SMSE’s from the broader Johannesburg area. Through this programme, Orange Corners is growing the number of sustainable job creators by supporting established startups, with a focus on accessing markets and finance.
Application process
Online application
The application form becomes available on our website prior to the beginning of each six-month cycle. Fill in all required fields and submit via the online application form submit button. Please make sure to check your inbox regularly to see if you are one of the 50 selected semi-finalists.
Bootcamp
The 50 semi-finalists will be invited to participate in a compulsory two-day-long bootcamp in which a jury decides who are best placed to join the incubation programme.
Selection
Selection will be conducted according to the performance during the bootcamp. At the end of the bootcamp, 20-25 young entrepreneurs will be selected to participate for six months.
FAQ
What are the selection criteria?
In order to meet the selection criteria you must be:
- An aspiring entrepreneurs from South Africa
- Between 18-35 years old
- Have a validated innovative business concept, not more than <2 years old
- The product or service relates to the UN Sustainable Development Goals.
Budding entrepreneurs will be selected based on the:
- Innovativeness
- Feasibility
- Social Impact
- Clarity of Market
- Sustainability & Scalability of the business idea
- Competence of the entrepreneur/team
How can I apply?
All applications must be through submitted APPLY NOW button on the website.
What are the benefits of this programme for me?
What are the benefits of this programme for me?
This program will not only provide the foundational entrepreneurial knowledge, tools and resources needed to transform an idea into a business but will also make available the networks and support needed for sustainable growth of the business.
There is a variety of benefits the programme will offer you of which the most important ones are:
- Enterprise Management Training
- Business Incubation & Advisory Services
- Funding for prototype development & testing
- Mentorship & Coaching
When will I know if I am selected?
After the review process which will require interviews, successful applicants will be contacted via email.
When does the programme start?
More information will be available soon.
What are the costs of participation?
There are no participation fees for the programme. The programme is funded by scholarships by the government of the Kingdom of the Netherlands and our private partners.
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Where to find us
OPEN, 4th Floor, Mainchange Building, 20 Kruger Street 2001 Johannesburg, South Africa [email protected]
