The Allan Gray Makers Startup Incubator is an initiative aimed at fostering entrepreneurship among technically skilled individuals in South Africa. The programme specifically targets artisans such as plumbers and electricians and provides entrepreneurial knowledge necessary to establish and grow their businesses.
Who qualifies for the Allan Gray Makers Startup Incubator
Entrepreneurs that fulfil the following criteria can apply to be part of the Allan Gray Makers Startup Incubator:
- South African citizen or permanent resident
- Aged between 18 and 35 years
- Can be unemployed or self-employed, but not studying
- Have work experience or have some trade qualification in electrical or plumbing
- You must either be a qualified electrician or plumber with a trade test; or have 3 years of work experience in the trade and ready to take the trade test; or hold an N2 certificate with 3 years of work experience in electrical or plumbing.
- As the programme is in-person, entrepreneurs must be in the following locations:
- Gauteng- Johannesburg City, Ekurhuleni City, Mogale City and Ruimsig)
- Mpumalanga – Gert Sibanda Municipality
- Kwa-Zulu Natal – Ethekwini District
- Eastern Cape – Nelson Mandela Bay Metropolitan) and
- Limpopo – Capricorn District Municipality
- Entrepreneurs must be interested in starting their own business, if they have not done so yet.
- Alternatively, entrepreneurs may have started businesses but have not made any revenue yet; or they have not turned profit yet.
What support will be provided?
The format of a programme is an in-person training, and this means that Allan Gray Makers Incubator will cover programme costs, including an allowance for entrepreneurs for basic transport to the various site. The programme will include class time, field work, peer-to-peer sessions, self-paced material, etc. The transport allowance will be R3000 a month, but other benefits in include:
- Comprehensive training in business fundamentals, including finance, marketing, and operations management.
- Practical tools to formalize and scale their businesses.
- Mentorship and access to a network of professionals and peers in the industry.
- Opportunities to participate in competitions and showcase their business ideas or innovations.
Duration and Other Timelines
The programme is 8 months long and will start in April 2025 and lasts 8 months.
The programme is structured this way:
- Mid April – Technical Readiness
- April to June – Entrepreneurial Readiness
- July to August – Business Readiness
- September – Industry Readiness
- September to November – Market Readiness
Applications for the current cycle are open and will close on 31 January 2025. To apply:
- Visit the Allan Gray Makers Startup Incubator website and navigate to the application section.
- Complete the online application form with personal, academic, and professional details.
- Submit the required documentation, including proof of citizenship and any certifications in artisanal trades.
Conclusion
The Allan Gray Makers Startup Incubator is a transformative platform for artisans seeking to elevate their trades into successful businesses. By providing technical entrepreneurs with robust training and support, the initiative not only empowers individuals but also contributes to South Africa’s broader economic growth goals. For plumbers, electricians, and other artisans, this program represents a unique opportunity to innovate, formalize, and grow their enterprises while addressing unemployment and creating value in their communities. Plumbers and entrepreneurs that would like to start their own businesses are encouraged to apply.
Further Information
One of our objectives is to empower small businesses, startups and entrepreneurs by curating funding opportunities that we come across. Refer to this page and follow the funding link for other opportunities.
While formal company registration is not always a prerequisite for accessing funding, it is crucial for formalised entities to maintain compliance. Lack of proper governance will completely hinder any prospects of funding. For guides and articles on governance, visit to this page and follow the governance link from there.
