About Orange Corners South Africa
About us
Who We Are
Orange Corners South Africa is part of a global initiative supported by the Kingdom of the Netherlands, designed to strengthen young entrepreneurs through world-class incubation and mentorship.
We connect entrepreneurs to knowledge, networks, and opportunities that help turn ideas into sustainable businesses.
Our Vision
To build a climate-smart, job-creating SME sector that drives South Africa’s transition to a sustainable economy.
Orange Corners Trust
Orange Corners South Africa operates under the governance of the Orange Corners Trust, which provides strategic direction and oversight of the programme. The Trust ensures that the initiative remains aligned with its mission of strengthening entrepreneurship and advancing the development of sustainable SMEs in South Africa.
The Trust comprises both independent trustees and dependent trustees representing programme funders. Collectively, the trustees contribute a broad spectrum of expertise including board governance, legal oversight and deep insight into the South African SME landscape.
The Trust also benefits from the advisory participation of the Economic Policy Advisor from the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, reinforcing alignment with broader economic cooperation and development priorities.
Operating under a formal Charter that is periodically reviewed, the Trust upholds rigorous governance standards. Annual Financial Statements are independently audited and comprehensive board packs are prepared quarterly. Trustees convene quarterly to review operational performance, evaluate strategic priorities and refine programme delivery to ensure continued relevance to entrepreneurs and the evolving South African economy.
The Trust further maintains active collaboration with other Orange Corners programmes globally, as well as partnerships with local and international universities and the Netherlands Enterprise Agency, strengthening knowledge exchange and programme impact across the global Orange Corners network.
Our Journey
2017
Orange Corners South Africa was launched in 2017 as the first Orange Corners programme globally.
The initiative was designed to support entrepreneurs across multiple sectors, with a dual focus on grassroots entrepreneurs from underserved communities establishing new ventures and high growth SMEs led by experienced founders seeking to scale.
In the same year, the Orange Corners Trust was established to provide governance oversight and strategic stewardship of the programme.
2021
The programme expanded its support model to strengthen both business capability and international exposure.
Selected entrepreneurs participated in visits to the Netherlands where they engaged with leading training institutions, innovative enterprises and ecosystem partners. These engagements enabled SMEs to deepen business acumen, expand international networks and explore opportunities for collaboration.
During this period the programme also introduced access to working capital alongside business development support, enabling entrepreneurs to overcome operational constraints and accelerate growth.
2024
Following a strategic review of programme outcomes and the broader economic landscape, Orange Corners South Africa refined its focus toward the green economy.
The green economy represents a rapidly expanding sector in South Africa and is strongly supported by national development priorities, private sector investment and global climate commitments.
By focusing on this sector, the programme supports entrepreneurs developing solutions in areas such as sustainable production, resource efficiency, circular economy practices and climate aligned innovation.
Programme Impact
Since its launch, Orange Corners South Africa has supported more than 200 entrepreneurs nationwide, strengthening SME capabilities, facilitating access to funding and markets and contributing to job creation. Through partnerships with the private sector, universities and international ecosystem partners, the programme continues to support entrepreneurs building resilient and impactful businesses.
What Makes Orange Corners Different
- Direct mentorship from experienced business leaders.
- Access to corporate networks and supply chains.
- Practical business development support.
- International exposure and learning opportunities.
- A strong focus on real economic participation.
