The City of Joburg is dedicating a portion of its Jozi@Work program budget to finding the brightest entrepreneurs in the city’s townships.

The R50 million Jozi My Beginning Community Innovation Fund will give grants to successful applicants who present original ideas that can be practically implemented to benefit Joburg residents.

Jozi My Beginning is being managed by the University of Johannesburg. This isn’t the first time the city has partnered with the university on a public project,among past partnerships is the training of Digital Ambassadors for the city’s free WiFi distribution project.

To be considered for Jozi My Beginning, your idea must:

• be innovative
• promote economic empowerment of impacted communities.
• be aligned with green/blue economy principles and smart city principles

Individuals who don’t already have an operating startup but have ideas and would like to start one, can also apply.

The fund will secure expert services to assist with the development of the proposal into a bankable proposal City of Joburg mayoral spokesperson, Phindile Chauke said in a statement.

You will however be majorly responsible for implementation, the city said, bearing in mind that, depending on what kind of solution it is, some will be implemented with minimal support and other proposals could require more extensive, technical or business development support.

The deadline to submit your proposal is 11th November at 12pm. You can download the application form from the Jozi My Beginning website.

[Source and image – City of Joburg]