• Business development, entrepreneurship and MSME support
• Financial management, funding readiness and investment preparation
• Marketing, branding, sales and digital tools
• Digital transformation, e-commerce and technology adoption
• Innovation, product development and technology commercialisation
• Market access, export readiness and trade preparation
• Sector-specific expertise in craft, design and the creative industries
• Monitoring, evaluation and learning (MEL) and impact reporting
• Legal, IP, contracting and governance support

Applicants should hold relevant qualifications and/or professional certifications and be able to demonstrate a minimum of three years’ experience in their field. The ability to deliver both in-person and virtual interventions is essential. Most learning opportunities are delivered at CDI’s facilities in Johannesburg and Cape Town, or via CDI’s online learning platform, LEARN, although service providers may be required to travel to other provinces.

How to apply

Applications to the CDI Service Provider Database are accepted on a rolling basis — there is no single closing date. However, requests for proposals will only be issued to providers who are registered on the database, so we encourage interested parties to apply as soon as possible.

To apply, complete the registration form on the CDI website: [LINK TO REGISTRATION FORM]

Applicants will be asked to submit CVs, qualifications, references, a company profile, example training materials, a rate card, and signed compliance declarations. Only complete submissions will be evaluated. Full submission requirements are detailed in the registration form.

Enquiries

For queries, contact Rosemary Cooke: Rosemary.Cooke@thecdi.org.za or call 021 461 1488

The V&A Waterfront has funded the development of a new Circular Maker Space at the Cape Town Cruise Terminal, creating a dedicated platform for South Africa’s designers, makers and creative entrepreneurs to access tools, networks and support in one of the country’s most visible and dynamic precincts. Operated by the Craft and Design Institute (CDI), the space is designed to support circular making, experimentation and enterprise growth.

The initiative reflects a shared commitment between the V&A Waterfront and CDI to inclusive economic growth, sustainability and creative-sector development. For the V&A Waterfront, the Circular Maker Space builds on a longstanding investment in small business support and enterprise incubation, expressed through initiatives such as Makers Landing and its broader SMME support programme. For CDI, it creates a powerful new base from which to run and grow a national resource for makers and entrepreneurs.

With more than 24 million visits annually, the V&A Waterfront offers the Circular Maker Space and the broader creative sector exceptional visibility and market access. Locating the space at the Cruise Terminal, already home to a growing cluster of creative and food enterprises, places South Africa’s makers at the centre of one of the country’s most visited destinations, while extending CDI’s support to a membership base of more than 8,600 small businesses and reinforcing its role as a national and continental resource.

“The V&A Waterfront has long believed that investing in small business and creative enterprise is an investment in Cape Town’s future. This Circular Maker Space reflects our commitment to creating meaningful opportunities for makers and entrepreneurs, while advancing more sustainable ways of making and doing business. CDI is the right partner to activate this space and help ensure it delivers real value to the creative sector,” said Graham Wood, CEO of the V&A Waterfront.

CDI’s track record provides the foundation for this ambition. Over the past decade, and with the sustained support of long-term funders including the Jobs Fund, the organisation has leveraged more than R200 million in direct investment into local small businesses, helped enable a further R420 million in additional investment, and stimulated the creation of thousands of sustainable jobs across South Africa.

Najwah Allie-Edries, Head of the Jobs Fund, which has walked alongside CDI for 14 years,  noted that “the success of CDI demonstrates the power of partnerships. What makes this moment especially significant is that it reflects the interconnected impact of long-term public investment. Through the Jobs Fund’s partnership with the V&A Waterfront, we invested in creating pathways for food entrepreneurs to access infrastructure, mentorship, and markets. Today, we are seeing those ripple effects extend into the broader creative economy ecosystem represented by the CDI. This is what catalytic public finance is meant to achieve: connected ecosystems of opportunity that create lasting economic participation and sustainable livelihoods.”

The initiative has also drawn support from government. Alderman James Vos, Mayoral Committee Member for Economic Growth at the City of Cape Town, attended the launch and shared the following: “I have thoroughly enjoyed working with the Craft and Design Institute over my time as the Mayoral Committee Member for Economic Growth in the City of Cape Town. I have had the privilege of visiting many of their premises and engaging directly with the designers, makers, and entrepreneurs in their creative workspaces, seeing first-hand the talent, innovation, and sheer possibility that exists within our creative sector. It has been deeply inspiring to witness the real impact that this work has on people’s livelihoods and on the growth of our local economy. The City’s Economic Growth Directorate is proud to support and fund the CDI as a special purpose vehicle that helps unlock the immense potential of Cape Town’s creative industries, and to back the vision of building a globally competitive, inclusive, and thriving creator economy rooted in our city.”

As CDI CEO, Erica Elk describes it, the Circular Maker Space is conceived as something far greater than a local facility. "This is not just a facility for businesses in Cape Town, it is a centre of excellence, a resource for creators all over the country and on the continent. Our vision is that this location becomes a home for creators wanting to play, experiment, network, and expand their horizons. We are open to partners and possibilities."

As South Africa’s creator economy continues to grow, the Circular Maker Space represents a tangible investment in the country’s creative heritage and economic future. CDI Board Chairperson Shado Twala reflected that this new chapter "builds on a two-decade legacy, offering a forward-looking platform that embraces innovation, sustainability, and opportunity for the next generation of makers", bringing sustainability, innovation and opportunity together through a shared vision for the sector.

DOWNLOAD:
Click here for the full call document and to submit

CDI Capital Managing Director is responsible for directing and managing the work of CDI Capital (Pty) Ltd and the various projects implemented by this entity.

Your responsibilities include:

• Providing strategic leadership
• Pursuing new business opportunities
• Networking and stakeholder engagement
• Launching and growing the CDI Capital Loan Book
• Managing all resources and projects
• R&D of new financial products and services for CDI members
• Financial and Risk management
• Reporting to the CDI Capital Board of Directors
  
  

You will need:

• A degree in business management, business development or financial management
• To be a proactive, creative and enterprising professional with 5-10 years management experience in the field with excellent strategic planning and execution capacity
• Robust networking and negotiating skills, an engaging presenter, and the ability to manage diverse teams efficiently
• Strong financial acumen, and a working knowledge of legal and regulatory frameworks Be proficient in tech particularly relating to financial and business processes
• Fund management experience will be advantageous, as will fluency in at least 2 South African languages
  
  

Should you be interested in this position, please forward a detailed CV and covering letter along with 3 contactable references to: Lynne Taylor at lynne.taylor@thecdi.org.za by no later than 5pm on 20 March 2026.

For further information please visit: www.thecdi.org.za and www.cdicapital.co.za

The CDI is an equal opportunity employer & reserves the right not to make an appointment.

Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted

Making It! 2026 marks 25 years of the Craft and Design Institute shaping South Africa’s creative economy, convening designers, founders, strategists, investors and cultural leaders in the Kramerville Design District from 24 to 25 March 2026.

Since 2001, the CDI has grown from supporting 63 makers to a national network of more than 8,300 creative enterprises across all nine provinces. The sector has evolved. The ambition has sharpened. The conversation now moves beyond participation and into scale.

Making It! is designed for those already established in their field as well as those forging their path. It creates a rare point of connection between leaders who have navigated complex markets and continue to innovate within them, and emerging voices ready to step into that arena.

Across two days, industry leaders, brand strategists, cultural thinkers, fintech experts and founders will unpack what growth really requires: the move from local recognition to national presence, from creative practice to structured enterprise, from isolated talent to connected industry. That shift does not happen by accident. It happens when experience is shared openly, when hard lessons are examined honestly, and when the right people are in the same room.

The speaker line-up reflects a sector coming into its own. Internationally recognised artists sit alongside executives shaping funding and policy landscapes, entrepreneurs building scalable ventures, and systems thinkers interrogating how design operates within broader economic frameworks. These are individuals who have built, repositioned, expanded and endured.

Together, they represent a maturing creative ecosystem: founders who have scaled, strategists who have repositioned brands, academics who interrogate markets, financial leaders who understand infrastructure, and cultural voices ensuring growth remains grounded in identity.

Speakers include:

Shado Twala | Chairperson, Craft and Design Institute (Making It! MC)
Shado Twala is a South African radio DJ, journalist, entrepreneur, and producer, best known as a judge on SA’s Got Talent. She has over 25 years’ experience in radio and television and is also a respected MC and arts consultant.

Wacy Zacarias | Artist, Textile Designer & Researcher
Wacelia Zualo is a Mozambican artist, textile designer, researcher and healing practitioner working at the intersection of material innovation, ancestral knowledge and craft. She is the founder of Woogui, a brand creating sustainable accessories using local materials such as banana fibre and recycled plastic, and co-founder of Karingana Textiles, a studio dedicated to natural dyes, regenerative textiles and storytelling through cloth.

Mbali Mthethwa | Founder & Creative Director, The Herd
Mbali Mthethwa is a Johannesburg-based artist, researcher, and organiser. She is the founder and creative director of The Herd, a craft and design studio that reimagines traditional beading techniques as a living language of identity, memory, and place.

Khensani Mohlatlole | Fibre Artist, Researcher & Content Creator
Khensani is a Johannesburg-based fibre artist, researcher and content creator whose work explores African fashion history, material culture and sustainability through practice-based investigation.

Sanskruti Shukla | Systems Designer & Researcher
Sanskruti Shukla is an Indian systems designer and researcher trained in Textile Design at the National Institute of Design, Ahmedabad. Her practice positions design as a mode of inquiry, with particular attention to participatory and material-led co-creation as tools for reimagining futures and transmitting endangered cultural knowledge in Global South contexts.

Sinegugu Ngxongo | Founder, BambiZulu
Sinegugu Ngxongo is the founder and creative director of Bambizulu, a craft-based design studio in KZN specialising in contemporary woven products rooted in indigenous knowledge and leads a craft innovation programme exploring the intersection of traditional making and new technologies.

Dawn Robertson | Visitor and Creative Economy Catalyst, Jozi My Jozi
Dawn Robertson currently serves as Tourism & Creative Economy Catalyst at Jozi My Jozi, where her expertise in creative storytelling, urban renewal, and sustainable tourism development drives the movement's transformation of the creative and visitor economy in support of its mission to revitalise Johannesburg.

Nosipho Maketo-van den Bragt | CEO, Chocolate Tribe
Nosipho Maketo-van den Bragt is a South African CEO, entrepreneur, admitted attorney, writer, and mentor driving the global rise of African Animation, VFX, and Content Development. She is the Founder and CEO of Chocolate Tribe, an award-winning studio based in Johannesburg and Cape Town, recognised as Africa and Asia’s top-ranked Animation and VFX company.

Erica Elk | CEO, Craft and Design Institute
Erica Elk is the founding CEO of the Craft & Design Institute, which she established in 2001. She has spent over two decades growing South Africa’s craft and design sector, supporting thousands of small businesses and expanding digital access and online learning for members.

Beth Arendse | CEO, Business Arts South Africa
Beth Arendse is a visionary leader, social innovator, and entrepreneur with over 25 years of experience shaping South Africa’s creative economy. She currently serves as Chief Executive Officer of Business and Arts South Africa (BASA), where she is spearheading a new strategic phase that positions the arts as both a cultural force and an investable sector driving inclusive economic growth.

Bielle Bellingham | Brand & Business Director, CHOMMIES
Bielle Bellingham is a business and brand director and cultural strategist with experience in creative direction, design journalism and lecturing. A former Editor of ELLE Decoration, she has worked across leading design platforms and now leads marketing and business strategy at Chommies, helping grow the brand while championing African craftsmanship and design.

Heidi Brauer | Consulting CMO & Brand Advisor
Heidi Brauer is a brand builder, strategist, and thought-starter with a practical explorer’s spirit. Fondly known as the Brand Mama, she blends sharp business acumen with humanity, believing firmly that “it takes a village to raise a brand.” Creator of her trademark ‘sprinkles’ and ‘chocolate cake’ metaphors, Heidi is as passionate about people as she is about brands.

Joey Khuvutlu | Founder & Design Director, Daily Store – Speaker & Facilitator
Joey Khuvutlu is a South African design entrepreneur and founder of Daily and Mitirho Works, a furniture manufacturing studio rethinking how locally made products are conceived, produced and experienced. His work sits at the intersection of industrial design, cultural storytelling and scalable manufacturing — blending contemporary minimalism with African design sensibility.

Andile Dyalvane | Ceramic Artist & Designer
Andile Dyalvane is a South African ceramic artist known for his large hand-coiled terracotta sculptures inspired by Xhosa tradition and the land. He co-founded Imiso Ceramics in 2005, and his work has been shown internationally, including at the Metropolitan Museum of Art.

Carlyn Frittelli Davies | Consultant, ENS (Natural Resources and Environment)
Carlyn Frittelli Davies is a natural resources lawyer, having worked for 17 years at ENS, a corporate and pan-African law firm. Carlyn obtained her LLB degree at the University of Pretoria and a post-graduate diploma in environmental law from the University of Cape Town.

Cyril Naicker | Consultant, ENS in the Natural Resources and Environment practice
Cyril Naicker is a fashion advisor with over 27 years' experience, advancing ethical value chains, mentoring designers, and strengthening South Africa's fashion ecosystem. Drawing on a deep international network, he speaks across Africa and global platforms with a clear focus on locally made, responsible fashion systems.

Dave Duarte | CEO, Treeshake
Dave Duarte is a digital marketer, entrepreneur and educator. As founder and CEO of Treeshake, he creates campaigns that have reached over a billion people — shifting behaviours, shaping policies, and sparking public engagement on issues ranging from public health to renewable energy

Dr Motsane Seabela | Curator of Anthropology, Ditsong National Museum of Cultural History
Motsane G. Seabela is an interdisciplinary scholar and museologist focused on critical heritage and museum studies, as well as indigenous epistemologies. She currently is the Curator of Anthropology at the DITSONG National Museum of Cultural History, Pretoria, South Africa.

Glorinah Mabaso | Founder, Renaissance Design
Glorinah Khutso Mabaso is a South African Interior Designer who found her purpose in Pattern and Product Design. She is also the Founder and Creative Director of a Pan-African brand, RENAISSANCE DESIGN.

Dr Lebogang Matholwane Mathole | Lecturer, University of Johannesburg
Dr Matholwane Mathole is a South African academic, researcher, and specialist in entrepreneurship and luxury markets at the University of Johannesburg (UJ). With a PhD in Economics (the first of its kind at UJ), her work represents a groundbreaking contribution to local economic development by bridging entrepreneurship, economics, and marketing.

Mahlatse Mohlala | Founder & Managing Director, Green Route Hemp Industries
Founder & Managing Director, Mahlatse is the visionary behind Green Route Hemp Industries, with over 6 years of leadership in building South Africa’s first integrated Proudly SA hemp-based textiles business.

Ronald Makomba | Co-Founder and Director of Mak and Chops
Ronald Makomba is a commercial leader who has spent over a decade helping South African entrepreneurs turn digital opportunity into sustainable revenue. As part of Yoco’s founding team, he has led growth, expansion and customer functions, building teams and systems that support small businesses from first sale to long-term growth.

Thuli Gamedze | Cultural Worker & Founder, For the Afterlife
Thulile Gamedze is a Johannesburg-based cultural worker engaged in text, textile and history, and interested in the possibilities that emerge through the collapse of discipline. She has an M.Phil in Fine Art from the University of Cape Town, is a current PhD candidate, and has published extensively in art and academic platforms in areas from contemporary art and Southern African art history, to the aesthetics of radical movements, and the politics and poetics of water.

Tracy Lynch | Executive Creative Director, Clout/SA & Design Curator Nando’s
Tracy Lynch is the founder of Lee Lynch Studio and a creative director, interior designer and curator of South African design. She leads Nando’s Design Programme, building long-term collaborations with local designers and bringing contemporary Southern African design into Nando’s spaces around the world. Her work focuses on connecting creatives and sharing African design stories on a global stage.

Prof Emmanuel Nkambule | Architect & Associate Professor at the Graduate School of Architecture, University of Johannesburg
Prof Emmanuel Nkambule is an architect and Associate Professor at the Graduate School of Architecture, University of Johannesburg. His practice, research, and teaching concentrate on the role of architecture in tackling socio-economic and socio-spatial issues in Africa.

Simphiwe Mlambo | Architectural Researcher & Founder of LEBALA
Simphiwe Mlambo is an architectural researcher and founder of LEBALA, a practice that explores how policy shapes material processes, built heritage, and resource use in Southern Africa. Combining research and practice, she produces tools, audits, and policy briefs that influence conservation, planning, and material economies. A lecturer at the University of Johannesburg, she was named one of Scape Magazine’s "100 Voices in Design" in 2024.

Thulani Masebenza | Co-founder & CEO Bloo Money
Thulani Masebenza is a South African entrepreneur and CEO of Bloo Money, a fintech startup that simplifies payments and invoicing for freelancers and businesses. His work focuses on making freelancing sustainable across Africa by streamlining payments, tracking income, and reducing administrative burdens. He holds degrees in Political Science and Management and previously worked in consulting and nonprofit initiatives supporting youth career development.

Nthati Machesa  - 3D Artist, Storyteller & Founder of Neotsentle
Nthati Machesa is a South African self-taught 3D concept artist, storyteller, and creator known for the "Royal Heritage Chess Set". Formerly a corporate professional, she transitioned into a creative role, using 3D animation to educate on African history. She is also recognized for her work in data analytics and as a digital creator.

Documentary Screenings

Motlatjo Mogoboya |  PHD Candidate & Junior Lecturer, University of North West (screening)
Motlatjo Mogoboya is a historian and junior lecturer at the University of North West, currently pursuing a PhD on the representation of Black women in media and literature. Her work combines historical research with film, producing documentaries that explore heritage and social perspectives. She holds an honours and master’s degree in history, focusing on historical storytelling through visual media.

Frances Van Hasselt | Founder, Frances VH Mohair (screening)
Frances van Hasselt is an artist focusing on mohair textiles in South Africa. She collaborates with a team of women artisans in the Karoo, weaving a story about the origins of textiles, simultaneously allowing the natural environment to inform every aspect of their design and making process.

Full programme details are available here

The conference takes place at Level Three in Sandton, with an evening reception at Katy’s Palace Bar in the heart of the Kramerville Design District.

Tickets are available at Quicket

• Virtual attendance from R850
• In-person attendance from R2,500 for two days
• CDI members receive a 20% discount on in-person tickets

Making It! 2026 is presented by the Craft and Design Institute, in partnership with Jozi My Jozi, W&R SETA, the Gauteng Department of Sport, Arts, Culture and Recreation, the City of Joburg, Arts Alive, the Kramerville Design District, Katy’s Palace Bar, Level Three Premium Venue, Weylandts, Business & Arts South Africa, Department of Small Business Development, Western Cape Department of Economic Development and Tourism, and Design Week South Africa, with media support from Arena Holdings, Decor & Design and IQOQO.

For media enquiries, interviews or additional information, please contact hello@making-it.org.za

• Emerging artisans and designers growing market-ready businesses
• Job creation across South Africa’s craft, design and light manufacturing sectors
• Youth skills development, mentoring and enterprise support
• Innovation through CDI’s Maker Space and Circular Economy programmes
• Expanded market access through trade shows, ecommerce and retail platforms

For 25 years, CDI has made a deep impact, transforming lives. Your donation fuels our next chapter as we accelerate Africa’s creative and circular economy.

✔ Reduce your taxable income
✔ Receive a Section 18A certificate
✔ Invest in measurable social and economic impact

How to donate

Step 1:

Please use an EFT for donations:

The Craft and Design Institute
Bank: First National Bank
Account Number: 62142143627
Account Type: Current Account
Branch: 201-409

Please ensure that you use your name and surname, or your business name as your reference.

Step 2:

Please email Malikah Rogers on malikah.rogers@thecdi.org.za for your S18 certificate.

Since its establishment, the CDI has transformed the craft and design sector from a modest network of 63 makers in 2001 to a vibrant community of over 8,300 creatives across all nine provinces. Through strategic support, skills development, and market access, the CDI has helped countless makers turn their creativity into sustainable businesses, creating jobs and generating hundreds of millions in revenue.

“The most important lesson we learnt in the early days – and which continues to be reinforced today – is that building sustainable businesses takes time; it’s a journey, not a destination,” says Erica Elk, founding CEO of the CDI. “With curiosity, resilience, and a willingness to learn, the magic happens.”

Making It! 2026 brings together emerging and established designers, innovators, educators, investors, and policymakers for focused conversations, practical exchanges, live demonstrations, and immersive experiences. Over two days, participants will explore how heritage and craftsmanship intersect with innovation, discover new ways of making, and experience the transformative power of collaboration.

Highlights include:

• MakeSHOPS that honour traditional craft techniques and contemporary innovation.
• Live demonstrations that reveal the process behind the work of South Africa’s leading makers.
• Interactive sessions where knowledge, skills, and market insights are shared across generations of creative entrepreneurs.

“We need human connection, we need each other,” Elk emphasises. “Gatherings like this can provide the most significant injection of energy and insight that you don’t even know you’re missing. For 25 years, the CDI has been creating these spaces through our Creative Exchanges – and Making It! 2026 is a milestone moment to bring this celebration to Johannesburg.”

The event underscores the importance of creativity in addressing South Africa’s economic challenges, particularly for women and young people, while highlighting the global demand for authentic, ethically produced design. Making It! celebrates not just individual breakthroughs, but the consistent passion, effort, and vision that drive South Africa’s creative sector.

The conference will be held within Level Three – boasting spectacular views across Sandton – with an evening reception at the iconic Katy’s Palace Bar. Both venues are in Kramerville Design District – one of South Africa’s most recognisable design destinations.

Tickets for Making It! 2026 are available at making-it.org.za:

• Virtual attendance: from R850
• In-person attendance: from R2,500 for two days
• CDI members receive a 20% discount on in-person ticket

For more information or to book tickets, visit making-it.org.za

Making It! is presented by the Craft and Design Institute, in partnership with Jozi My Jozi, W&R Seta, the Gauteng Department of Sport, Arts and Culture, City of Joburg & Arts Alive, the Kramerville Design District and IQOQO with Arena Holdings as a media partner.

The CDI is a craft and design sector development agency with a mission to develop capable people and build responsible, creative and innovative enterprises trading within local and international markets. 

CDI has joined the Ventures Foundation  as business development partner! With decades of experience helping South African creative enterprises grow locally and globally, CDI brings invaluable expertise to their mission of empowering the next generation of creative entrepreneurs.

Sanlam Private Wealth recently unveiled the Ventures Foundation, a bold new initiative dedicated to identifying and nurturing South Africa’s next wave of exceptional creative entrepreneurs.

Through a combination of rigorous mentorship, bespoke business training and global exposure, the Ventures Foundation aims to empower designers to refine their craft, build sustainable businesses and become globally recognised ambassadors of contemporary African design.

“As part of our integrated wealth offering, Sanlam Private Wealth sets up investment structures, including public benefit organisations, for high and ultra-high net worth clients,” says Sanlam Private Wealth CEO Theesan Moodley. ‘We’ve now used our expertise to create a platform that will drive meaningful impact and endure for generations to come.

“We believe that fostering creative entrepreneurship supports sustainable economic development by tapping into South Africa’s extraordinary talent and cultural heritage. At the same time, this initiative enables our clients – many of whom are deeply committed to giving back – to partner with an organisation that offers them the opportunity to do so in a lasting, authentic way.”

How will it work?

South African creative entrepreneurs are invited to design a luxury textile piece, prototyped as a rug, that reimagines what luxury represents in Africa today. It should embody the language of quiet luxury: refined craftsmanship, superior materials, and a sense of lasting value.

A total of 12 standout designers will be shortlisted to join a series of immersive workshops and masterclasses. From there, five finalists will be selected for a tailored mentorship experience led by leaders in design, entrepreneurship and business strategy – including experts from Sanlam Private Wealth. The journey will culminate in one exceptional designer travelling to Maison&Objet Paris, one of the world’s foremost showcases of design and innovation.

Why creative entrepreneurship?

Sanlam Private Wealth was founded on entrepreneurial ambition – a few bold minds who recognised opportunity where others saw risk. Today, with over R265 billion in assets under management and administration, that spirit continues to shape our portfolios, strategies and now, our broader impact.

Design, too, is an act of disciplined risk-taking. It demands conviction, craftsmanship and the vision to see value where others don’t – a philosophy that has long guided Sanlam Private Wealth’s investment approach.

With the Ventures Foundation, this mindset is being extended to the world of creative entrepreneurship – contributing to an emerging sector with the potential to drive inclusive growth, foster innovation and elevate African voices on a global stage.

Who can participate?

Sanlam Private Wealth operates in the luxury segment. Clients seek bespoke, highly personal wealth solutions crafted around their legacies – not off-the-shelf retail products. 

In the same vein, the Ventures Foundation programme is a selective, curated search for exceptional, hand-picked entrepreneurial talent with the courage to challenge convention and contribute meaningfully to Africa’s luxury design story.

Entrants must have an established business, a point of view and some track record, but still be on the path toward global recognition.

Mentors and partners

The expert panel brings together leaders across design, business and creative entrepreneurship, including Tracy Lee Lynch (Clout/SA), Laurie Wiid van Heerden (Wiid Design), Mpho Vackier (TheUrbanative), Zizipho Poswa (Imiso), Charl Edwards (Lookbook Studios) and business strategist Claude Morris, alongside Sanlam Private Wealth’s investment expertise represented by Lentsoane Lekalakala.

The Craft & Design Institute (CDI) joins as the programme’s business development partner, drawing on decades of experience preparing South African creative enterprises for local and global markets.

An investable future

“At Sanlam Private Wealth, we’ve always believed that true wealth is more than capital – it is craft, legacy and purpose,” says Moodley.

“The Ventures Foundation is an extension of that belief – a platform where personalised wealth meets design-led entrepreneurship. It creates the conditions for a group of emerging entrepreneurs to build enduring brands that will last for generations to come.”

Full programme details are available here: https://sanlamprivatewealth.sanlam.com/why-choose-us/ventures-foundation/.

Entries close 15 March 2026.

Picture caption: The Ventures Foundation’s expert panel consists of (from left) Laurie Wiid Van Heerden, Charl Edwards, Zizipho Poswa, Claude Morris, Tracy Lee Lynch, Lentsoane Lekalakala and Mpho Vackier.

About Sanlam Private Wealth

Sanlam Private Wealth crafts customised private client portfolios to grow and preserve wealth – now and for generations to come. The business offers a comprehensive and integrated suite of wealth management solutions to high net worth individuals. These include global investment portfolio construction, intergenerational wealth planning, cross-geographical fiduciary and tax solutions, stockbroking services, derivatives trading and equity-backed lending. 

For more information, visit www.sanlamprivatewealth.com. 

Sanlam Private Wealth (Pty) Ltd, registration number 2000/023234/07, is a licensed Financial Services Provider (FSP 37473), a registered Credit Provider (NCRCP1867) and a member of the Johannesburg Stock Exchange (SPW).

Image below: Participants at the December Kuier@TheCastle market

Click here to find out more

Images below: participants at the showcase at the timbuktoo Creatives Hub Showcase

• Revenue across participants: Soared by 108.86%, compared with a modest 5% target.
• Turnover: More than doubled, from R16.8 million to R35.2 million.
• Earnings: Six entrepreneurs now earn more than R1 million a year.
• Payments to participants: 95% now pay themselves a salary or benefits, averaging R11 346 per month.
• Job creation: At least 55 new informal jobs and four permanent jobs have been created.

Reflecting on SCALE’s success, Elk says: “The key point with SCALE was whether our tested methodology for established businesses – catalytic funding, mentoring and support – could be applied to smaller, informal enterprises to create jobs and help grow the economy.

“The answer has been a resounding yes. Not only has the programme stimulated growth in revenue and earnings for business owners, it has also shown us how agile and flexible these informal businesses are in creating new work and job opportunities – down and upstream of their main business activity,”

SCALE methodology

Grant disbursements of R23 000 each gave micro businesses the fuel to grow, for investing in equipment, materials and technical services. In total, R6.4 million in growth grants was channeled in 4 052 transactions.

In tandem with the grant funding, SCALE offered personalised business assessments to help each successful applicant create a business roadmap. This was followed by six months of online training, webinars, and practical support.

• Webinars and online training: 207 sessions were delivered through CDI’s learning platform www.LEARN.thecdi.org.za.
• Mentoring and coaching: The CDI invested 3 500+ hours. 
• Admin support: Successful applicants received a reporting grant of R5 000 (as an incentive to provide progress reports), and airtime/data to the value of R3 000 (to support online engagements), in addition to the R23 000 grant. 
• Online marketplace: 174 participants received platform access to our online marketplace.
• Portable card machines: 119 participants received YOCO Khumo point-of-sale devices to enable any-time/anyplace transactions.
• Decorex Cape Town Trade Show: 16 participants have been showcased via the Department of Small Business Development National Pavilion

Powerful partnerships

“Millions of South Africans rely on the informal economy for their livelihoods, whether through self-employment or micro-enterprises,” says Najwah Allie-Edries, head of the Jobs Fund. “Supporting the growth of this sector is critical to building a more inclusive economy.

“Through the SCALE programme, we have seen how targeted support can unlock the potential of informal and micro-entrepreneurs – helping them grow sustainable businesses that create jobs, strengthen communities, and contribute to South Africa’s economy.”

Olwethu Kwayiba, CDI Project Manager, adds: “When SCALE launched in 2023, I could never have imagined the scale of its impact. To watch these creatives show up with courage and commitment, persevere through challenges, and demonstrate the true power of the informal economy to drive inclusive growth, has been nothing short of inspiring.

“These results are a testament to the hard work and resilience of our entrepreneurs, and to the unwavering support of our partners. A heartfelt thank you to the Jobs Fund, City of Cape Town, other partners, and the dedicated CDI team – from the Learn Hub to the Market Access team, coaches, and support staff – for walking this journey with us and believing in this vision.”

Growth journeys

Several entrepreneurs shared powerful success stories when the first and second SCALE cohorts graduated on 3 and 4 September in Cape Town and Johannesburg:

• Zokufa Media Productions: Pam Zokufa, a former SABC news cameraperson, became a Seta-accredited youth trainer in film and TV production. Bolstered by the SCALE programme, she has directed a R500,000 budget film, screened at festivals in the Netherlands and Ghana and is currently pitching for a large budget production.
  
• Vivacious Eco Vixon: Founder Natasha Pearce re-engineers excess textiles into home décor and lifestyle products. Prior to SCALE, her largest order was1000 units  ‒in September 2025 she started delivery on an order for 15 000 units. Staff have grown from 10 to 35, with 300 people from nine small factories working alongside them.
• CoralBloom Studio: Former academic Dr Michelle von Stein founded CoralBloom Studio in 2019, manufacturing homeware products. SCALE enabled her to grow her team from three to 26, while her products are stocked in 13 Tourvest stores. Von Stein is about to launch her first clothing collection.
• Cupido Leather Works: Anita and Daniel Cupido founded their leather shoe and accessory-making business in 2022 in Genadendal. Funding enabled them to expand into three new ranges: children’s sandals, school shoes and veldskoene.
• Kingsdale Emporio: Lewis Ndlovu stocks unisex, trendy and corporate sock ranges. He now employs three staff, plans to source his own sock-making machinery to boost production, and is exploring the export market.

Read more about National Treasury’s Jobs Fund here – https://www.jobsfund.org.za

Images below: Some of our graduates from the SCALE programme (Cape Town above and Johannesburg below this)

Young entrepreneurs in Johannesburg and Cape Town have a chance to secure vital support and funding to grow their businesses, as applications opened on Friday 5 September for an incubation programme that boosts innovative enterprises and job creation.

The Orange Corners Designs Incubation programme is an initiative of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Netherlands and is proudly managed by the Craft and Design Institute (CDI). This 12-month intensive programme will provide 20 selected entrepreneurs in each city with impactful workshops, masterclasses, and one-on-one mentoring to help refine their products/services, strengthen business systems, and address critical market needs.

In addition, participants may apply for a financial grant to support their growth plans from the Orange Corners Innovation Fund (OCIF), which the CDI also manages.

Successful applicants can unlock total funding of R53 000 over six to nine months, which includes a R32 000 prototyping grant if certain milestones are met.

The programme, which is also supported by matched funding from the City of Cape Town, the V&A Waterfront, Constitution Hill and the Department of Small Business Development, is tailored to assist businesses with high potential for impact and scalability, especially those led by youth and women. It focuses on innovative businesses that contribute to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in areas such as the circular/green economy, digital, creative, and agricultural sectors, among others.

Orange Corners is a global initiative of the Kingdom of the Netherlands that supports young entrepreneurs across Africa, Asia, and the Middle East. Since its launch in 2024, the South African programme run by the CDI has supported 67 businesses to date in Cape Town and Johannesburg.

Khanya Mpuang, Manager of the Orange Corners Designs programme at CDI, says: “We are looking for bold young entrepreneurs (18 - 35) who are ready to grow thriving businesses.

“This programme is not just about funding – it’s about equipping innovators with the skills, confidence and networks to grow sustainable enterprises that create jobs and contribute to the SDGs. We encourage anyone with the drive to make a difference to apply.”

Success stories

Fourteen Johannesburg entrepreneurs graduated from the first, year-long incubation programme in June this year, while 16 Cape Town entrepreneurs graduated in July.

Johannesburg jewellery designer Phindile Kotane, founder of PeachyPlum accessories, says: “Joining the programme has been a truly rewarding experience. Each part of the journey pushed me beyond what I was used to, and the mentorship and workshops played a big role in strengthening my business.”

Kotane has been selected for the Orange Corners Alumni Accelerator Programme, facilitated by the Netherlands-based Forward Incubator (Forward·Inc), in collaboration with the Netherlands Enterprise Agency, to steer businesses into their next growth phase.

Sifiso Mthethwa of Maphike Inc Attorneys reports a steady increase in revenue. “We have expanded our market contacts and are now in talks with people from Geneva, Davos, Zurich and Amsterdam. We have also hired two new people this year.”

Cape Town graduates gave extremely positive feedback too.

• Samantha van Rooyen, founder of Unearthed Décor, increased revenue by over 40% during the past three months, compared to when she started the programme.
• Mel Laubscher, founder of GenderWearSA, increased revenue by an impressive 1,286%. The brand was only one month old and under new ownership when it began the Orange Corners Designs programme and underwent an extensive rebranding process.
• Faizel Abrahams, founder of UpCycle Designs, says key takeaways included the learning tools to run a business successfully, networking, and financial assistance. “We were able to venture into what we really wanted to do and streamline our production.”
• Marleen van Wyk, founder of Kinkel Jewellery, says: “My programme highlights were meeting fellow entrepreneurs and being able to collaborate and get advice from them, and also to rethink my whole business, and plan to improve it.”
• Mapitso Thaisi, founder of Shweshwekini Active Wear, says highlights were meeting like-minded entrepreneurs, learning about the financial vehicles for running a business, and funding that enabled her to experiment with new products.

The programme starts in January 2026.

Apply by 10 October 2025 - to apply please click here: https://www.thecdi.org.za/page/OCD

For more information: Email mohau.memeza@thecdi.org.za for Johannesburg and phefumlela.bam@thecdi.org.za  for Cape Town