Programme: Inkunzi’isematholeni Youth and Business Competition
 
Organisation: ITHALA Development Finance Corporation 
 

Type of Support
  • Start-up capital
  • Business mentorship
  • Product development
  • Aftercare programme
  • Support with patenting inventions
  • Exposure
 

Programme Description
 
The Inkunzi’isematholeni Youth and Business Competition aims to promote entrepreneurship and skills development among the youth in KwaZulu-Natal. This programme is aimed at enabling aspiring entrepreneurs to turn their creative concepts into fully operational businesses. The competition seeks to drive innovation, particularly in the green economy field, by encouraging and supporting KZN youth that innovate.
 
Youth with innovative and sustainable business concepts are invited to enter. 
 
 
Target Market
  • Entrepreneurs based in KwaZulu-Natal
  • Entrepreneurs with innovative business ideas that address gaps in their communities
  • Youth aged between 18 and 35 years
  • Reside in both rural and urban areas of KZN
  • The business must be at least 51% Black-owned
  • The business should have the prospect of creating jobs or promote the creation of jobs
  

Application Process
 

Success Stories
The following entrepreneurs have won the competition in 2015:
  1. Busiswe Mtungwa – implemented an innovative method of farming potatoes (Enactus UKZN) that substantially decreases operational costs and water usage.
  2. Luthando Msomi – inventor of portable cooking instrument that can be used indoors and outdoors, which will not require electricity, gas and/or paraffin.
 

Contact Details
​
Website: http://www.ithala.co.za/
Telephone: 031 907 8968
Email: inkunzi@ithala.co.za