Access to funding remains one of the biggest challenges facing youth-owned businesses in South Africa. Often, the barrier is not a lack of potential, but the absence of a clear, targeted funding strategy. The Mr Price Foundation addresses this gap through the Funding Readiness Masterclass Series, a national digital initiative designed to support young entrepreneurs as they prepare their businesses for funding opportunities.
Navigating South Africa’s Funding Landscape
The series begins with “Introduction to Funding Readiness & Funder Navigation,” hosted by Octavius Phukubye, Director at Mr Price Foundation. With over 17 years of experience across entrepreneurship, venture capital, and management consulting, Octavius has led business transformation and SME funding initiatives at Accenture, IDF Capital, ABSA, SAB, and now Mr Price Foundation. His expertise spans supporting ventures across Africa, making him ideally positioned to guide young entrepreneurs through South Africa’s complex funding ecosystem.
What Funders Assess When Reviewing Businesses
Understanding which funder is the right fit for your business is just as important as meeting documentation requirements. A startup’s funding strategy differs significantly from that of a mature business, and applying without strategic understanding of funder-fit can lead to repeated rejections and missed opportunities. This masterclass helps entrepreneurs understand what different funders evaluate during the decision-making process.
Building a Practical Funding Readiness Roadmap
Through the series, entrepreneurs gain practical insight into:
- What it truly means to be funding ready
- How the South African funding landscape works
- What funders assess when reviewing businesses
- How entrepreneurs can start building a practical readiness roadmap
- Common funding myths and mistakes to avoid
Strengthening Funding Applications and Credibility
The masterclass series is designed to help youth-owned businesses strengthen funding applications, improve financial and operational discipline, understand funding instruments including grants, debt and equity, and increase credibility within the funding ecosystem. The series focuses on building funding readiness in youth-owned businesses, though it does not guarantee funding.
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Registration Details and Session Information
This masterclass forms part of Mr Price Foundation’s Entrepreneurship Development initiatives, which support young entrepreneurs by equipping them with the skills, knowledge, and opportunities needed to build sustainable businesses. The session targets young entrepreneurs aged 18-34 preparing to raise funding.
Date: 24 March 2026
Time: 12:00 – 14:00
Venue: Microsoft Teams
Register for the Funding Readiness Masterclass
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