The industrial incubator will consider applicants who already have a proof-of-concept or early stage prototype. Applicants are required to make an online submission on the website. Once the applications are screened internally and align to Propella’s vision and focus areas, then applicants would be required to present their innovations to a panel. Should the panel endorse the application, the start of a 3-year journey with Propella would commence.

Propella offers both virtual and physical incubation services. The warehouse facility is well equipped and ideally suited to 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. If there are products that demonstrate great growth / market potential, Propella would also be willing to engage in ‘cash for equity’ discussions.

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Funding Options

We completely understand that start-up ventures need capital and that the "go to" for most is ofter the standard "Friends, Family & Fools" options. Propella assists with the application 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

• • 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.

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, 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_rightInterfirm 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