The industrial incubator will consider applicants who already have a proof-of-concept or an early-stage prototype. Applicants are required to make an online submission on the website – Apply for the Propella Industrila Programme. Once the applications are screened internally and align to Propella’s outlined focus sectors, applicants will then be required to present their innovation to a panel.

The facility is well equipped and ideally suited for low volume production. Prototyping support facilities such as 3D printing, 3D scanning and small part machining and molding are available, together with a well-resourced workshop that has all the basic tools required for manufacturing. There is also a network of skilled technical and business support staff.

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Funding Options

We completely understand that start-up ventures need capital and that the “go to” for most is often the standard “Friends, Family & Fools” option. Propella assists with applications for funding through its network of government and private sector institutions.

TIA SMME Seed Fund

Propella has been contracted by the Technology Innovation Agency (TIA) to
implement to an SMME Seed Fund, aimed at assisting knowledge economy-based
SMMEs in the Eastern Cape to access bridging finance to advance their innovative
ideas to market. The monetary value of the grant funding will range from R50 000
(minimum) to R650 000 (maximum) per project.

TIA seed fund proposal: please take note of the following considerations before completing the application form

• • Is your product / service beyond just an idea?
• • Have you developed a prototype/minimum viable product (MVP) for your
  product / service / idea?
• • Can you substantiate that there is a real need in the market for your product /
  service? Have you done a market assessment and or viability study?
• • Is your product / service unique? Is it patentable?
• • Will the product / service be developed and remain in Nelson Mandela Bay?
• • Does your product / service fall within the renewable energy, energy
  effeciency, circular economy, advanced manufacturing, IoT sectors?
• • Are you prepared to participate in the Propella Incubation Programme if
  requested to do so?

Applicants must please take note of the following qualifying criteria:

• • The product / service must be at Technology Level (TRL) 3
• • A basic working prototype must have been deployed - i.e. you must be able to
  demostrat that the prototype works
• • The product / service must be unique or a differentiator in the market
• • Applicants must have done a market assessment to establish a clear need for their
  product / service
• • Applicants must be prepared to enter the Propella Incubation Programme

This Proposal Call is limited to the following sectors:

• • Renewable Energy
• • Energy Efficiency
• • Circular Economy
• • Advanced Manufacturing
• • Internet of Things (IoT) / Smart City Solutions.

Funding will be directed at SMMEs / Entrepreneurs requiring the following activities:

• • Developing the prototype or process further to market readiness (as part of
  comprehensive technology package)
• • Intellectual property ("IP") support and sourcing of IP opinions;
• • Production of market samples and/or associated testing;
• • Techno-economic evaluation studies;
• • Conducting field studies to further develop the technology, market and/or customer needs;
• • Refining and implementing designs;
• • Support of certification activities;
• • Piloting outputs and technology scale-up and techno-economic evaluation;
• • Business plan development

The following activities will not quality for funding support:

• • Working Capital
• • Operation expenses
• • Purchasing of equipment that is not within the applicant's scope of work and
  relevant to the allowable activities and objective of their application.

Projects should have the potential for further investment and development by funders.

Please read the information and criteria below and contact
mara@propellaincubator.co.za for an application form or download the
appliaction form below if you believe you meet the requirements.

Click here to Apply

My application has been submitted, what’s next?

We will be in contact with you to let you know that we’ve received your application and what the next step is.

It may be a referral to another Enterprise Development Agency, a call to find out more or an invitation to come in for a chat.

If there is mutual interest, you will be invited to present to a Selection Panel who make the final decision regarding incubation. And then the journey begins.

If I’m accepted into a Programme, what support can I expect to get?

Typical support includes:

• chevron_right Mentoring and coaching
• chevron_right Generic business training
• chevron_rightSpecialised business training
• chevron_right Access to technical training
• chevron_right Product development
• chevron_right Technology transfer
• chevron_rightProduct testing and verification
• chevron_right Facilitation of patent and copyright applications
• chevron_right Advanced market research
• chevron_rightInter-company comparison/benchmarking
• chevron_right Marketing assistance
• chevron_right Management system implementation
• chevron_right QMS advising and implementation
• chevron_right Business-to-business facilitation
• chevron_rightFacilitate access to finance
• chevron_right Trade show facilitation
• chevron_right Export readiness assistance
• chevron_right Business Plan development facilitation

Incubation

Once accepted into a Propella Business Incubator entrepreneurship programme you start on a structured journey that will take you from zero to hero – or help you exit gracefully from an idea or product whose time has not yet come.

Assessment

Engeli Enterprise Development, which manages Propella, has a box of powerful tools that interrogate your business and idea to identify the strengths and weaknesses. These tools, which have been customised for Propella, are used to diagnose the state and potential of your enterprise from entrepreneurial, business case and technology perspectives.

Contract

Now that we know what needs to be done, we sign a contract whereby you, the potential business success of tomorrow, agree to certain measurable commitments. We also agree on a target date for you to be viable enough to exit the programme.

Incubate

• • Lowering the cost of earning your entrepreneurial wings
• You will find everything you need to support your business at the Propella Business Incubation hub – all at subsidised rates. Propella provides affordable office space, access to shared testing and prototyping equipment, meeting facilities, and on-site technical assistance.


• • Access to finance
• Let’s face it, you need to eat – Propella helps to identify potential sources of funding, and then assists you to make the applications and presentations to the funding institutions. Qualifying entrepreneurs also have access to Engeli’s loan and venture capital funds.


• • Encouraging you to attain new heights
• Success in business is usually directly related to the amount of blood, sweat and tears invested into the company, particularly during the start-up phase. Your mentors and business coaches understand how tough it is – they have “been there, done that”. Now, they are eager to share their knowledge and experience with you.

Accelerate

• • Avoiding failure through success
• Ironically, many small businesses fail because they do not know how to grow. Propella prepares you for growth by ensuring you have the systems in place to support acceleration in demand for your products.


• • Establishing a network
• Ultimately, sustainability in business depends largely on who you know. Propella will help you build up a network of suppliers, partners, funders, and customers as you grow from being a new entrepreneur with a good idea to an entrepreneur with a viable business.


• • Credibility
• Being selected by Propella helps to open doors to investors, customers, and partners. They know that Propella companies have substance and the support needed to succeed.

Virtual incubation

If you already have facilities, then you may qualify as a “virtual incubatee” where you have access to all the support provided by Propella as indicated in the “Incubation Programme”

Propella Virtual ICT Programme

Our ICT Programme the Technology Innovation Programme is run completely virtually. This means that entrepreneurs from anywhere in South Africa can take part in the programme.

Each venture has a hand in appointing their own Mentor. The Mentor’s role is to guide and assist you through the start-up phase of your business. They are the “Entrepreneur in the Room” having generally successfully started and run businesses of their own. This invaluable experience guides them in questioning, encouraging, motivating, and inspiring you to make decisions that will benefit you and your business. It’s important to remember that they aren’t there to build your business for you, that’s your role and that you have the final decision with regards to the direction that you want your business to take. Mentor appointments are reviewed every 3 months.

Graduate

Flying high after Propella

Much as we may like your personality and your energy, we want you to outgrow Propella, and to soar. The solid grounding you receive while working at Propella and the network you build up will help you have a sustainable business – and you are always welcome back for coffee and a chat.

After you’ve left the building

If you need or want it, Propella provides support to incubatees in the next phase of commercialisation after they have exited the formal incubation programme. The main offerings include:

• • Funding
• One of the biggest challenges facing start-up businesses is funding. Finance, when it is made available, is often at the maximum interest rate as you are seen as an unknown risk. Propella Business Incubator support includes:
• o Assistance with identifying potential funders and the formulation and presentation of the funding request
• o Raising money through partnerships with venture capital funds (Engeli Section 12J VCC and others)


• • Post Incubation Assistance
• Propella Business Incubator may offer an opportunity for entrepreneurs that have graduated to continue benefiting from the services and partnerships that are available through the Incubator for an extended period of six months while they settle into their new location.