SAB KickStart

SAB is supporting young entrepreneurs to grow their businesses and become sustainable entities that can create jobs.

SAB KickStart is a youth entrepreneurial programme aimed at assisting small business owners who are between the ages of 18 and 35 who want to elevate their businesses to new heights. The programme was first developed in 1995 as a youth enterprise development programme to alleviate poverty amongst South Africa’s previously disadvantaged youth and foster a spirit of entrepreneurship. We believe in the power of youth as key drivers of our country’s economy. As a result, we are committed to enabling a game-changing impact of empowering local youth owned businesses to become reliable suppliers to industry organizations sustainably.

SAB KickStart is SAB’s flagship enterprise development programme, we have invested over R100 million in entrepreneurial development, supported 24 558 entrepreneurs and empowered 3 458 youth-owned businesses in South Africa. The programme has extended across the continent in various forms and now takes place in at least 6 countries in Africa.

SAB KickStart has since evolved to a more strategic and targeted development programme that enables youth to have a real voice and play an active role in the economy by running successful and sustainable, youth-led businesses. This ambition aligns with and assists government to achieve its national development goals. We are aware that on average 70% of small businesses fail in the first 1-3 years of operation. We wish to ensure that those that operate in key high potential industries, and are led by young, ambitious and driven owners, are fully supported in their entrepreneurial journey through fit-for-purpose knowledge, tools and processes that will assist them to succeed long-term.

SAB KickStart Ignite

SAB KickStart Ignite supports youth entrepreneurs with innovative businesses, products or services, that have the potential to grow into viable businesses.

Ideally, these can solve SAB’s own business challenges and can be scaled up into businesses that are future creators of employment.

Eligible entrepreneurs will receive technical, product, and business development support that includes one-on-one mentoring, prototyping, commercialisation, and financial support where required.

SAB KickStart Ignite is a six-month programme that acts as a pipeline to enter more advanced programmes such as SAB Tholoana, and SAB KickStart Boost.

We are especially keen to receive applications from entrepreneurs with unique innovations:

• that can solve SAB business related challenges, and/or
• have potential to grow.

The business related challenge for 2018 is: Innovating the SAB World of Beer through technology.

Click here to find out more about the challenge!

 STEP BY STEP:

• Complete application form.
• Finalists will be selected to attend a workshop and pitch their innovation to a panel of judges.
• Winners will be selected to complete the Ignite programme.
• A selection of these may be selected to feed into SAB’s more advanced programmes.

Ignite Eligibility Criteria

•  South African citizen by birth.
• Youth (aged 18 – 35).
• Pre-start up (business ideas) and early stage.
• The innovation can be a product or a service.