Elevate360 ACCELLERATOR program
A Scalable Solution for Inclusive Growth and SUPPLY CHAIN Transformation
In South Africa’s evolving economic landscape, thousands of Micro Enterprises (EMEs: turnover below R10 million, employing 0–10 people) are formally registered and full of potential, yet often excluded from meaningful market participation. Most of these businesses are innovative, scalable, and ready to grow, but face persistent barriers — limited access to markets, resource constraints, compliance gaps, and low visibility. With the right support, they can contribute significantly to local economies, create jobs, and strengthen communities.
Meanwhile, corporates are under increasing pressure to meet B-BBEE scorecard requirements, drive supply chain transformation, and deliver impactful CSI. Accessing a reliable pool of investment-ready EMEs that are credible, capable, and consistent remains a major challenge.
Elevate360 bridges this gap. It is a turnkey accelerator program designed to unlock the growth potential of Micro Enterprises with scalable ideas and innovative models. Through structured, hands-on business development, the program equips entrepreneurs to move from early-stage growth into investment-ready, procurement-fit enterprises.
For corporates, Elevate360 provides a credible pipeline of empowered small suppliers aligned with transformation goals. For entrepreneurs, it offers practical skills, strategic guidance, and market access — enabling them to grow their business with confidence, integrity, and impact.
A Dual-Sided Impact Strategy
Elevate360 is engineered as a mutual value creation platform that addresses two core systemic challenges:
For Small Businesses
It provides a 6-month structured acceleration journey — offering support in compliance, business structuring, finance, digital presence, and market readiness. These are enterprises that are already operating but unable to scale due to systemic gaps and fragmentation in support systems.
For Corporates and Investors
It offers a turnkey, impact-verified solution to build a qualified supply base, earn ESD and CSI points, and contribute to national transformation in a way that is visible, measurable, and sustainable. Elevate360 reduces the risk of engaging small businesses by preparing them to meet procurement standards — while also fulfilling regulatory and social investment goals.
OUR APPROACH:
STRUCTURE. SCALE. SUSTAIN.
Elevate360 deploys a phased acceleration model that combines expert-led training, individualized mentorship, and access to key networks across six development stages:
PROGRAM STRUCTURE
Onboarding & Diagnostic Assessment
Onboarding & Diagnostic Assessment
Onboarding & Diagnostic Assessment
Participant selection and profiling
Baseline assessments of compliance, finances, structure, and branding
Introduction to Elevate360 framework
Compliance & Governance Enablement
Onboarding & Diagnostic Assessment
Onboarding & Diagnostic Assessment
Training: 'Compliance Without Confusion'
Workshops on business registrations, CIPC updates, BEE certificates, SARS registrations, etc.
One-on-one compliance clinics
Financial Structuring & Bankability
Onboarding & Diagnostic Assessment
Business Systems & Operational Design
Financial literacy workshops (cash flow, recordkeeping, budgeting)
Banking partner sessions (business accounts, access to funding, financial behavior)
Introduction to digital accounting tools
Business Systems & Operational Design
Digital Branding & Market Access Preparation
Business Systems & Operational Design
Business modeling, operations, and strategic planning
Building internal systems and workflows
HR basics and documentation
Digital Branding & Market Access Preparation
Digital Branding & Market Access Preparation
Digital Branding & Market Access Preparation
Branding & identity sessions
Social media strategy + business website essentials
Elevator pitch building
Pitch Readiness & Enterprise Showcasing
Digital Branding & Market Access Preparation
Digital Branding & Market Access Preparation
Business pitching development (presentation, storytelling, traction)
Final Pitch Challenge Event (judges, investors, funders, banking partners)
Graduation & certification
1. Build Structurally Sound Enterprises
We aim to formalize and professionalize over 600 small businesses through a robust transformation framework that spans compliance, governance, and operational modeling. These are not just checkboxes — we work with each business to ensure they are equipped to meet legal, regulatory, and tax requirements, allowing them to operate with integrity, transparency, and long-term viability.
Deliverable: 600+ small businesses fully compliant with CIPC, SARS, UIF, COIDA, and aligned with best-practice business governance frameworks.
2. Improve Financial Fitness & Bankability
Most small businesses are denied funding not because they’re unworthy — but because they’re financially disorganized. Elevate360 introduces participants to a practical, real-world financial literacy framework: cash flow management, recordkeeping, budgeting, pricing, and digital tools for accountability.
Deliverable: Each enterprise will produce a basic financial package — including income statements, cost structures, and digital financial systems — making them eligible for banking products, credit facilities, or investor interest.
3. Enable Operational Excellence & Internal Systems
Sustainability demands systems. We help businesses document their workflows, structure their daily operations, build internal policies, and train on HR, risk, and quality control. Businesses will no longer rely on the founder alone — they will run on documented processes.
Deliverable: 600 system-driven businesses, each with a tailored operational framework and business model aligned to their sector and scale of growth.
4. Position Enterprises for Market Entry & Growth
Even the most brilliant business fails without demand. Through market readiness interventions, digital branding, sales strategies, and guided pitch development, we help participants understand their value, articulate it clearly, and present it convincingly to buyers, investors, and supply chains.
Deliverable: 80%+ market-ready businesses equipped with a clear value proposition, competitive brand presence, online footprint, and pitching materials.
5. Prepare Investment-Ready Business Pipelines
We don’t just train entrepreneurs — we develop a pipeline of investment-ready, high integrity suppliers that can integrate into public and private sector procurement ecosystems. This is a ready-to-deploy national asset for any corporate sponsor or supply chain partner.
Deliverable: A vetted portfolio of high-potential enterprises, segmented by sector and location, made available to investors, ESD teams, and procurement platforms.
6. Drive Measurable Corporate Impact
Elevate360 is a direct lever for B-BBEE scorecard advancement. It delivers on multiple priority elements: Enterprise & Supplier Development, Socio-Economic Development, and Skills Development. All sponsor engagements are tracked, documented, and supported by impact data — allowing for seamless integration into year-end reporting and transformation audits.
Deliverable: Detailed impact reports, profiles, and ESD/CSI alignment documentation for all corporate partners and investors.
7. Culminate with Capital Access Through the Pitching Challenge
The program concludes with the Elevate360 Pitching Challenge — a high-visibility, high credibility platform that connects transformed businesses with capital, contracts, and credibility. This is where preparation meets opportunity. Corporates, banks, development agencies, and social investors are invited to attend, judge, mentor, and fund. Deliverable: At least 60 high-quality businesses showcased annually through public pitching events, generating direct funding or procurement interest and creating long-term investor pipelines.
Partnership Model & Sponsorship Tiers
A Partnership-Driven Platform for Scalable Transformation
Elevate360 is built on the belief that sustainable economic transformation can only happen through collaborative value creation. This is not a one-sided funding appeal — it is an invitation to co-create a national solution that strengthens South Africa’s SMME ecosystem, supports inclusive procurement, and delivers measurable returns to both the communities served and the organisations investing. As a partner, you are not just supporting businesses — you are gaining a strategic seat at the table of a results-driven, impact-accountable enterprise pipeline. Whether your organisation is focused on ESD targets, CSI outcomes, market development, or socio economic upliftment, Elevate360 offers a fully-aligned and high-impact delivery vehicle.
This program offers four structured sponsorship tiers — each offering increasing levels of visibility, influence, and integration based on your organization’s transformation and impact priorities
A National Movement Starts with You
Whether you lead national transformation strategy, procurement development, or corporate social responsibility, Elevate360 offers a credible, powerful, and scalable platform to advance your goals while leaving a real legacy of empowered businesses and inclusive growth.