Orange Corners Designs Incubation Programme 2026: Call for Young Entrepreneurs in Cape Town and Johannesburg

Are you a young South African entrepreneur ready to take your business to the next level? Do you have an innovative product or service that can create jobs, scale impact, and contribute to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)? If yes, then the Orange Corners Designs Incubation Programme 2026 is calling your name!. Applications officially opened on Friday, 5 September 2025, offering youth in Johannesburg and Cape Town the opportunity to join a transformative 12-month incubation journey designed to unlock entrepreneurial potential, provide financial support, and fuel business growth.

About the Programme

The Orange Corners Designs Incubation Programme is an initiative of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Netherlands, proudly managed by the Craft and Design Institute (CDI). Each year, 20 entrepreneurs in Cape Town and 20 in Johannesburg are selected for this intensive programme.

Over 12 months, participants gain access to:

• 🚀 Workshops and masterclasses to sharpen business knowledge
• 🤝 One-on-one mentorship from industry experts
• 🛠️ Business development tools tailored to strengthen systems and strategies
• 💡 Networking opportunities with funders, partners, and fellow innovators

This incubation experience is built to refine products/services, address critical market needs, and prepare entrepreneurs for sustainable growth.

Funding & Financial Support

Through the Orange Corners Innovation Fund (OCIF), participants may apply for significant financial support to bring their ideas to life. This includes:

• Up to R53,000 over 6–9 months (including a R32,000 prototyping grant, awarded when milestones are met)
• Opportunities for business loans of up to R1,000,000 to further scale high-potential enterprises

This funding is managed by CDI to ensure entrepreneurs can experiment, innovate, and expand with confidence.

Who Can Apply?

The programme is open to dynamic South African entrepreneurs who meet the following criteria:
✅ Aged 18–35 years
✅ Business must be owner-managed
✅ Existing businesses with traction, or strong market research for new products/innovations
✅ Clear contribution to SDGs, with innovative solutions in sectors such as:

• Circular/green economy 🌱
• Digital sector 💻
• Agriculture 🌾
• Creative industries 🎨
  ✅ Potential to scale in impact and/or job creation
  ✅ Commitment to attend and fully participate in the 12-month incubation programme
  ✅ Business must be registered (or committed to register) with the Companies and Intellectual Property Commission (CIPC)

Shortlisted applicants will be invited to a 4-day bootcamp where they will present their businesses to a panel of adjudicators. From there, 20 finalists per city will be selected. Preference will be given to women entrepreneurs, but all young people aged 18–35 are strongly encouraged to apply.

Orange Corners is a global initiative of the Kingdom of the Netherlands that empowers young entrepreneurs across Africa, Asia, and the Middle East. In South Africa, the CDI has been running the programme since 2024, already supporting 67 businesses in Cape Town and Johannesburg. The programme is further supported by matched funding from the City of Cape Town, V&A Waterfront, Constitution Hill, and the Department of Small Business Development. Together, they aim to build impactful, scalable businesses that transform communities and contribute to inclusive growth.

How to Apply

Don’t miss this chance to grow your business and join a global network of changemakers.

👉 Apply now: https://www.thecdi.org.za/page/OCD

📅 Application deadline: 10 October 2025

📩 For more information:

• Johannesburg: mohau.memeza@thecdi.org.za
• Cape Town: phefumlela.bam@thecdi.org.za