National Empowerment Fund - iMbewu Fund
Status not published
Rolling applications through the NEF online system.
Debt, quasi-equity and equity funding from ZAR 250,000 to ZAR 15 million for black-owned start-ups and early-stage businesses, including a franchise sub-product.
National Empowerment Fund (NEF)
public · national
Deadline: rolling — Rolling applications through the NEF online system.
This funder does not publish a success rate. We rank it using the rate observed across similar programmes and label it as an estimate rather than implying we know.
Major bid — written case, budget, possibly partners.
Who can apply
- Stage: pre_seed, seed, series_a
- Locally registered entity required
Requires black ownership of at least 50.1% (with black management control) and the entrepreneur to be involved in day-to-day operations.
How to apply
- Register on the NEF applications portal.
- Submit the business plan and financial model.
- Screening, due diligence and site visit.
- Investment committee approval and legal agreements.
What you will need
- Business plan
- Three-year financial projections
- CIPC registration and shareholder certificates
- ID documents of black shareholders
- Tax clearance
Source. https://www.nefcorp.co.za/products-services/imbewu-fund/ — checked 2026-08-14 · not human-checked