Deadline: December 31, 2025
Are you a young entrepreneur in South Africa looking to scale up your business? The Orange Corners Innovation Fund (OCIF) GROW Programme 2026 could be your chance. Read on for full details about eligibility, funding, support, and how to apply.
What is the OCIF GROW Programme 2026?
The OCIF GROW Programme 2026 is designed to support young entrepreneurs (aged 18–35) in South Africa who are ready to grow their ventures. It offers a combination of grant funding and interest-free loans — between ZAR 200,000 and ZAR 1,000,000 — to help scale operations, expand workforce, and accelerate uptake of innovative products or services.
But it’s more than just money. Recipients benefit from a structured “Raise Ready” support programme that includes mentorship, pitch training, and investment-readiness coaching — provided by experienced professionals to help position businesses for further growth or external investment.
Who Can Apply – Eligibility Criteria
To qualify for OCIF GROW, applicants must meet all of the following:
- Founder (or main applicant) aged 18–35.
- Business must be based in South Africa — a legally registered entity operating within the country.
- Business should have been operational for at least 6 months, but not more than 7 years.
- Annual turnover (or sales) within ZAR 250,000 to ZAR 10,000,000.
- Demonstrated market traction — customers, sales, or clear demand.
- A clear innovative element: a product, service, or business model addressing a real challenge, with potential to scale.
- Alignment with one or more of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
- Readiness to provide periodic reports and measure impact over the funding lifecycle.
What the Funding & Support Covers
If selected, businesses will receive:
- Funding of ZAR 200,000–1,000,000 (grant + interest-free loan).
- Access to the “Raise Ready” programme: mentorship, pitch training, investment-readiness coaching, and support in refining business strategy and growth plans.
- Opportunity to scale operations: expand teams, improve capacity, and deploy or expand innovative products or services.
Important Limitations and Geographic Scope
- The programme is strictly open to businesses registered and based in South Africa.
- Therefore, entrepreneurs from outside South Africa — including other African countries — are not eligible, unless they have a legal business registered in South Africa.
- Only businesses within the defined turnover, age, and operational-duration thresholds qualify.
Why This Matters for Young South African Entrepreneurs
For eligible entrepreneurs, OCIF GROW represents a strong opportunity to unlock growth capital and professional support — at a crucial stage when scaling up can be make-or-break. The combination of funding, mentorship, and investment-readiness training helps bridge the gap between early-stage hustle and sustainable enterprise growth.
If your business is small-to-medium, showing early traction, and has a clear innovative offering aligned with SDGs — OCIF GROW 2026 could be a strategic fit.
Application Deadline
All applications must be submitted by 31 December 2025. Don’t miss the cutoff date if you intend to apply.
If your venture meets the criteria, ready to scale and make an impact, this could be the boost you need.
Read More About OCIF GROW Programme 2026
(contact us for proposal drafting, refining and review)
