Unlocking Growth: R1.2m Initiative for black-owned businesses

A new initiative aimed at strengthening black-owned businesses will provide 12 entrepreneurs with free year-long access to a full business strategy and leadership development platform. The programme, valued at R1.2 million in total, offers qualifying business owners practical tools and training designed to help them build more efficient, scalable companies. Applications close on  December 12, 2025.

The offering – which includes access to Catalyzer, a business growth and planning platform – is targeted at established black-owned businesses employing between 10 and 50 full-time staff. The goal is to support leaders who are ready to adopt structured strategy, align their teams and improve execution.

“Grow is committed to supporting South Africa’s economic transformation in line with B-BBEE legislation,” said Andrew Aitken, CEO of Grow. “This initiative reflects our dedication to developing entrepreneurs and contributing to inclusive economic growth. We recognise that access to proven business frameworks can accelerate success, and we want to make that accessible to qualifying black business leaders.”

Catalyzer combines strategic planning tools, quarterly goal-setting frameworks (OKRs), leadership accountability systems and a library of 59 online courses covering areas such as planning, financial management, building leadership teams and improving performance. The platform was developed from patterns identified over years of working with South African business owners who faced common barriers to growth, including unclear strategy and isolated decision-making.

Five years after the platform’s launch, programme organisers say it has been refined with input from hundreds of local CEOs.

Graham Mitchell, founder and head of client results at Grow, said its value lies in its structure and practicality. “We’ve spent five years refining Catalyzer with input from hundreds of CEOs who’ve used it to achieve clarity and confidence in leading their businesses. This isn’t a trial or a limited version. These 12 entrepreneurs will receive full access to everything our clients use, because we believe in the potential of South African black-owned businesses to drive meaningful economic impact.”

Candidates will be assessed on readiness to adopt structured strategy, their ability to align leadership teams and their commitment to continuous learning. Applicants must provide information on business operations, team structure and growth goals, with selected entrepreneurs to be notified by mid-December 2025.

Interested entrepreneurs can apply at https://info.grow-za.com/catalyzer