Youth Challenge Fund 2023/2024 Application Form Portal, Requirements and How to Apply for Start-up Support Programme for Young South African Entrepreneurs
Applications are hereby invited from young South African entrepreneurs who wish to grow their businesses, promote their digital skills and build strong business networks for the 2023 Youth Challenge Fund. Interested youths should submit their application form online now via the Youth Challenge Fund application portal stated below before the application closing date.
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About Youth Challenge Fund
The Youth Challenge Fund (YCF) is a youth start-up support programme which is created with the aim of stimulating the establishment and growth of youth-owned businesses, promoting digital skills, growing the economy, and fostering job creation.
The youth challenge start-up fund was created in line with the South African National Youth Policy. The YCF programme provides support to youth start-up businesses/enterprises who meet the specified requirements. See below for requirements.
Requirements for Youth Challenge Start-up Fund
Interested applicants for this programme are to meet the under-listed requirements to be eligible to participate in this funding programme
- Your business must be 100% South African-owned
- You must be between the ages of 18 to 35 years.
- Your business must be registered with CIPC and be prepared to register with SARS & UIF.
- Are adequately involved in the day-to-day operation and management of the business with at least one or more of the members being full-time
- Employees of the company, especially the majority shareholder or essential personnel/applicant.
- Prepared to participate in Business Development Support and mentorship (pre and post).
- Commercially viable, sustainable, and feasible business idea.
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Exclusions
Applicants seeking funds for the following reasons will not be considered;
- Funding towards a debt owed by the applicant with another lending institution.
- Activities that have already been funded by other government departments or parastatals.
- Government and SOE officials are excluded.
- Fall within the gambling, pyramid sales scheme, loan shark and operates illegal activities, etc., as guided by credit policy and grant policies.
- Have a record of fraud and corruption.
- Where the owner/applicant is an un-rehabilitated insolvent.
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Points to Note
- After successfully submitting your application, the application will be reviewed and subjected to due diligence exercises by sefa for consideration.
- Funding queries can be directed to YCF Hotline on 012 748 9600 or email: info@dsbd.gov.za or helpline@sefa.org.za
- Follow-ups will be made with small enterprises whose funding applications are incomplete to submit the outstanding information.
- Small enterprises that require non-financial support are referred to Seda for further handling.
How to Apply for
Interested and eligible South African youths who wish to apply for the Youth Challenge Fund should download, fill and submit their completed application forms via email to the following email address YCF@sefa.org.za. You can download your application through the links below.
More information is available here
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