About this opportunity
The Tholoana Enterprise Programme is the SAB Foundation's long form answer to a familiar gap in South African small business: a venture that already works, but has outgrown what the founder can carry alone. TEP19 runs for eighteen months and is shaped around the individual business rather than one fixed curriculum.
The support spans business and leadership development, financial management and business capability, stronger operational systems and processes, market access and business development, plus learning, networking and peer engagement. The foundation runs it with a stated focus on women, youth, persons with disabilities and entrepreneurs building businesses in rural communities.
This suits an owner who is already trading. The foundation looks for businesses that have traded consistently for at least two years, with paying customers, recurring and verifiable revenue, demonstrated repeat demand and a viable model with room to grow.
Applications are accepted online only, through the foundation's own portal, and all supporting documentation must be uploaded before the closing date. One thing to plan for before you commit eighteen months: the foundation publishes no cash award for this cohort, so judge the programme on the capability it builds and the network it opens.
What you receive
- Tailored business support and mentoring over eighteen months
- Business and leadership development
- Financial management and business capability building
- Strengthening of operational systems and processes
- Market access and business development support
- Learning, networking and peer engagement
Who can apply
- South African citizens who work full time in their own businesses
- Majority shareholders and key decision makers in the business
- Businesses at least 51 percent black owned and managed, registered and operating in South Africa
- Consistent trading for at least two years, with paying customers and recurring, verifiable revenue
- Demonstrated repeat demand and a viable business model with potential for growth
- A stated focus on women, youth, persons with disabilities and rural entrepreneurs
Documents to prepare
- All supporting documentation, uploaded through the foundation's portal before the closing deadline
How to apply
- Read the who should apply list on the foundation's programme page
- Submit the application online through the foundation's application portal
- Upload all supporting documentation before the closing deadline
Sources and verification
Questions applicants ask
Is there a cash award with TEP19?
No cash award is published for this cohort. The programme is eighteen months of tailored support, mentoring and capability building.
Can the support be shaped to my business?
Yes. The foundation states the support is shaped to each business rather than delivered as one fixed curriculum.
Important disclaimer
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