Oribi announces the Open Call for social entrepreneurs to join their food programme

Social impact incubator, Oribi has announced its Open Call for entrepreneurs to sign up for their Food Systems Programme which will take place from January to September 2024. The Food Systems Programme aims to enable and support social entrepreneurs in conceptualising, cultivating and sustaining innovative solutions that address the systemic challenges of food security, justice, sustainability as well as economic inequality and unemployment.

“Food security remains a major concern for many South Africans. About 2,1 million (11,6%) of South African households report experiencing hunger. Food insecurity is exacerbated by challenging environmental conditions, resource scarcity – especially water, and climate change,” shares Bianca Dempers, #FoodSystem Program Lead at Oribi. “Through our selection process, we will enrol 30 entrepreneurs to participate in this programme to find solutions for a sustainable food supply chain.”

Oribi’s Food Systems programme will consist of three phases. The first phase will see 30 social entrepreneurs work through an ideation phase to identify opportunities to explore new business models and ideas. The second phase, running for 12 weeks, will select 20 entrepreneurs to design and implement a ‘Impact-to-market Strategy’. The final phase will shortlist 15 entrepreneurs to enter an ‘Funding Readiness’ programme designed to increase the investment potential of their ventures and open them up to funding opportunities.

“As someone who is conscious about the effects of climate change on our food system, I decided to explore organic hydroponic systems as a possible solution. These systems are an excellent way to combat issues connected to climate change and droughts as they require very little space, little water, and no soil,” shares Banothile, an entrepreneur that enrolled in last year’s #FoodSystem programme.

“Through our #FoodSystems Programme we are looking to support early-stage social enterprises and non-profits. We strongly encourage women and young minoritized visionaries to apply. We want entrepreneurs who are eager to find solutions that address food security challenges,” adds Dempers. For the programme, Oribi is specifically looking for enterprises that address:

• Access to healthy, nutritious, and affordable foods in under-resourced communities.
• Access to market, quality training, and operations for small-scale farmers.
• Profitable and innovative farming techniques for a regenerative economy.
• Reduction of production, household and retail food waste.
• Education of food system stakeholders on food security, nutrition, circular economy and sustainable agriculture.
• Support mechanisms for food system entrepreneurs such as Fundraising support, networking, operationalization and tech-adoption and enablement.

Through Oribi’s #FoodSystem incubation programs, entrepreneurs will benefit from business masterclasses, one-on-one coaching and mentorship, regular networking events, and access to an enriched database of content and infrastructure for business development.

To support the application process, Oribi will go live on Instagram with Q&A session on Wednesday, 06 December 2023. Interested applicants are encouraged to attend this.

In a continued effort to address food security and sustainable agriculture, Oribi will be launching a second food sector incubation programme early next year, in partnerships with AfriFOODlinks. Oribi’s Cape Town based incubation program for AfriFOODlinks is again primarily directed towards enabling women and youth. Both informal and formal businesses operating within the food system are eligible to apply, given that they can showcase a positive influence, particularly emphasising innovative and circular business practices. Entrepreneurs who are interested in applying for the AfriFOODlinks incubation program are advised to sign up for Oribi’s newsletter and stay up to date by following their social media pages.

For more information on Oribi and their programmes, visit: https://www.oribi.org.za/