National Youth Development Agency (NYDA)
OpenNYDA Grant Programme
Always verify eligibility and deadlines on the official source before applying.
Funding amount
R1,000 to R200,000 (up to R250,000 for agriculture and technology co-operatives)
A non-repayable grant programme for South African youth entrepreneurs that provides both financial and non-financial business development support to start or grow businesses. Support may include mentorship, business consultancy, market linkages, business management training, and youth co-operative development support.
Who qualifies
Applicants must be South African citizens and residents aged 18 to 35, and must apply before turning 35. Applicants must have skills, experience, or potential appropriate to the business. Businesses with annual turnover above R750,000 are excluded, except cooperatives which may have turnover up to R1,000,000. The voucher tier (R1,000–R10,000) accepts applicants with pending CIPC registration — a formal company registration is not required at the time of application. Full grant tiers require CIPC registration by the time of disbursement. NYDA will not fund illegal activities, pyramid schemes, primary tobacco or alcohol businesses, loan substitution, vehicles, patent registration, most R&D seed funding, or applicants previously disqualified under NYDA rules. Cumulative lifetime grant support is capped at R200,000, except agriculture and technology-related cooperatives which may receive up to R250,000.
What to prepare
Have these ready before you apply.
- South African ID document
- Required supporting application documents
- Proof of attending Business Management Training course
- Business pitch presentation
- Any documents required for due diligence assessment
Always verify eligibility and deadlines on the official source before applying.