It has been an exciting week for South African entrepreneurs. New funds, business developments and strategies have been launched to support the local SMEs. With this in mind, here are the top stories that need your attention.
AMIE Academy Reminds Businesses to Apply to Fund
The 2025/26 is the AMIE Academy’s third Cohort and is currently open for applications. It is a 12-month development programme focused on previously disadvantaged individuals. These individuals should have businesses that are either identified by companies as ESD candidates, future leaders of import/export companies, or entrepreneurs who are ready to scale.
AMIE Academy’s main goal is to develop SME’s who can actively and successfully operate in the international meat and poultry trading industry. It equips SMEs with the necessary skills, insight, and mentorship that help address the daily challenges that these entrepreneurs face.
This week, AMIE Academy reminded companies that want to improve their enterprise supplier development and BBBEE scorecard can contribute to the AMIE Academy Fund. It is a transformative, hassle-free enterprise and supplier development investment opportunity.
Through the fund, companies can make a real impact by:
- Supporting high-potential, investment-ready SMEs that are poised for growth and job creation.
- Earning fully B-BBEE compliant ESD certificates, simplifying the compliance process while maximising social return.
- Accessing impact-driven results, with measurable success stories that showcase the growth and development of beneficiaries.
- Driving industry transformation through inclusive growth, while playing a critical role in national food security.
- Building the future of South Africa’s meat sector
National Entrepreneurship Strategy (NES) and Implementation Plan Opened for Public Comment
The Minister in the Presidency, Khumbudzo Ntshavheni, announced that the Cabinet has approved the publication of the draft National Entrepreneurship Strategy (NES) and Implementation Plan. It is now open for public comment.
The NES aims to increase the involvement of young people and historically disadvantaged businesses in the economy, especially in the face of the high rate of unemployment among the youth. It also promotes entrepreneurship and ensures the sustainability of micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs).
This will be achieved by focusing on five key pillars of the strategy.
- Enhancing entrepreneurship education and skills development;
- Facilitating technology exchange and innovation;
- Improving access to finance and markets;
- Optimising the business regulatory environment; and
- Promoting awareness and networking.
Shell Opens Applications for Shell LiveWire 2026
Shell LiveWire is the energy brand’s enterprise development program that is focused on training and equipping entrepreneurs with skills to become structured, scalable, and investor-ready. It is a global initiative that stretches across the countries where Shell operates. However, in South Africa, it aims to help alleviate unemployment and poverty.
The applications for the 2026 programme are now open, and young entrepreneurs from the following industries can apply:
- Event Management
- Real Estate
- Finance and Insurance
- Business consultants Strategy
- Legal litigation services
- Health – employee wellness programme and wellness days
- Health and Safety equipment provider
- Brand and Activations
- Videography and photography
- Branding, printing and logistics
- Litigation Legal services
- Health and Safety
- Recycling – food recycling or reuse/repurpose of waste
- Solar Fuel innovations
- Grids of the future – focusing on electrification, decentralisation and digitalisation
- Artificial Intelligence – focusing on machine learning
- New Routes to Oxygenated Intermediates
Application criteria are:
- You must be a South African citizen
- Between 18 to 35 years of age
- Based in either Gauteng or eMalahleni
- Have a startup business (running for at least 2 years and making monthly revenue of R15 000 or more), OR
- Have an established, high-growth business (in business between 3-5 years and with a monthly revenue of R50 000 or above)
Shell LiveWire empowers businesses at all stages of development.
Startups (R0–R1M in Revenue)
For startup businesses, the programme helps entrepreneurs with:
- Business setup and compliance made simple
- Personalised growth roadmap
- One-on-one coaching with seasoned entrepreneurs and Business Growth Experts
Established (R1M–R10M Revenue)
For established businesses, the programme helps entrepreneurs with:
- Full audit of your business systems and financials
- Strategy sessions tailored to your growth stage
- Market access and deal-closing support
- Funding readiness to make you an investor confident
All businesses that participate in these programmes can track their growth with real-time dashboards. Furthermore, they are able to access exclusive Business Growth Labs in sales, HR, procurement, Artificial Intelligence (AI) and operations. Entrepreneurs also receive personality and leadership assessments that unlock their potential.
