Apply for Umthombo Programme: A WASH Incubation Programme in South Africa

Benefits

• Joining the Umthombo Programme offers the following benefits:
  • Tailored to your needs
    • They offer you tailored and personalised business development.
  • Business & WASH experts
    • They combine business expertise and relevant WASH professionals with business development knowledge.
  • Networking opportunities
    • They organise a pitching event, create mentorships and connect you to support organisations and potential clients to help you reach a solid customer base.
  • Seed-funding
    • Up to 15K€ euros as pollination grant for validating your market and then up to 3K€ euros to pilot your solution in a low-income community based on external contributions
  • Long-term support
    • They join and guide you on your incubation journey over a 12-month period with in-person trainings and online individual coaching.

Who are they looking for?

• They are looking for committed early-stage WASH entrepreneurs from 18 to 35 years old who have developed a solid business idea or a prototype and aim at creating impact in rural and urban areas in South Africa. Here is what you need:
  • You have a business idea in the water, sanitation or hygiene sector based on a well-identified problem
  • You know where you intend to implement your business activities – or you are already operating at little scale
  • You already reflected on a revenue stream to ensure the financial sustainability of your social business
  • You have already taken actions to develop your business – or, if not, you know what the next steps would be to develop your business
  • You are committed and ready to invest time in your business to reach the implementation of a pilot project in the coming year

Eligibility criteria

• You are between 18 and 35 years old at the beginning of the programme (in November)
• You are a South African citizen and currently live in South Africa
• You are the founder or co-founder of your business
• You are able to understand and discuss technical subjects related to your project in English
• You have access to a computer and a reliable internet connection
• You are available to participate in two in-person bootcamps anywhere in South Africa and to attend online sessions in the coming year
• Have an initiative that addresses a water supply/sanitation/hygiene/waste management/water management issue and be willing to turn it into a social business. The initiative should be at the right stage for the specific programme (early stage or pre-revenue for incubation, operating and post-revenue for pre-acceleration, post-profit for acceleration, etc)

For more information, visit Young Water Solutions.