Absa Youth Entrepreneurship Fund

The Absa Youth Entrepreneurship Fund (AYEF 2026/2027), delivered in partnership with the Tshiamo Foundation, is a non-dilutive catalytic grant initiative for young South African founders.

Combining phased conditional grant funding with a 12-month SMME capability-building framework, AYEF focuses on job-creating enterprises across three business maturity stages: Ideation, Start-up, and Growth.

• Capital Type: 100% Non-Dilutive Conditional Grants (disbursed in tranches against agreed execution milestones and business performance benchmarks).

• Equity & Repayment: 0% Equity / No Repayment Required. (Includes a voluntary "Social Impact Payback" concept where alumni mentor future cohorts or contribute skills to local ecosystem initiatives).

• Non-Financial Support Package:

  • 12 months of tailored SMME acceleration, technical capability-building, and operational coaching.

  • 1-on-1 industry mentorship and direct access to Absa Enterprise & Supplier Development (ESD) supply chains.

  • Direct graduation pathways into Absa SME Banking lines, credit facilities, and institutional development finance.

The AYEF pilot cohort funds youth-led businesses across three distinct tiers:

1. Ideation Track (130 Entrepreneurs): For validated concepts with clear market feasibility.

2. Start-Up Track: For early-stage businesses with an MVP or initial trading history.

3. Growth Track: For revenue-generating, job-creating enterprises ready to scale operations.

To qualify, applicant businesses must meet all baseline criteria:

1. Age & Shareholding: Majority youth-owned (at least 50.1% ownership held by individuals aged 18 to 36).

2. Geographic Scope: Legally registered and operating within South Africa (or trading as a sole proprietor).

3. Impact Focus: Must demonstrate clear job-creation potential (employing or planning to employ others in local communities).

4. Exclusions: Excludes state-owned enterprise/government officials, gambling, pyramid schemes, or un-rehabilitated insolvents.