Black Umbrellas (www.blackumbrellas.org) is a non-profit enterprise and supplier development incubation organisation. Our goal is to increase the levels of black entrepreneurship and to provide entrepreneurs with the development assistance and access to markets, network and finance to make their emerging 100% black owned businesses sustainable and an integral part of the South African economy.
This is achieved by:
- Promoting entrepreneurship as a desirable career choice by profiling BU clients, BP members and other entrepreneurs through media, networking and public relations activities;
- Nurturing qualifying 100% black owned businesses by providing incubators with office infrastructure, professional services and a structured mentorship and training programme at highly subsidised rates;
- Creating employment opportunities by recruiting and supporting those businesses which have the potential to each generate at least four jobs;
- Enabling procurement opportunities for emerging 100% black owned businesses through Blackpages;
- Assisting BU and BP businesses that are finance ready to access funding through third-party service providers;
- Growing the knowledge and quality of our service offering by accurately measuring, monitoring and reporting on all we do.
Collaboration is key to our success. By partnering with the private sector, government and civil society we have shown that enterprise and supplier development can be a transformative tool to build a resilient and inclusive South African economy. By working together we can make a meaningful difference in the lives of budding entrepreneurs and the communities in which they operate, lowering unemployment rates and stimulating the economy.
When you choose to support BU, you are contributing to a credible, proven programme of economic development and transformation. You are helping to create an environment where big businesses and 100% black owned SMMEs can flourish together and all can benefit from a vibrant and diversified economy.
When you donate to Black Umbrellas, you are investing in South Africa’s future.