Social Innovation and Disability Empowerment Awards 2024

Applications are now closed.

We define social innovation as innovation that demonstrates a sustainable business model while solving a social problem, with a particular emphasis on innovation that benefits women, youth, persons with disabilities or those in rural areas.

We find, support and scale social innovations – through challenge funding and tailored mentorship – which can directly and indirectly improve quality of life.

Our Social Innovation Awards programme is aimed at innovators, entrepreneurs, institutions and social enterprises with prototypes or early-stage businesses that can solve social issues in our country. These products, services, business models and processes should directly address social challenges while simultaneously creating a sustainable business model.

Prizes range from R300 000 to R1.3 million and are used as an investment in the innovation. In addition to the prize money, the winners are assessed on a case-by-case basis and placed in a tailored programme with a suitable business mentor and coach.

The programme is flexible and is adjusted to the needs of each winner, as mutually agreed upon by both the winner, their business coach and their mentor.