What is The Microfranchising Launch?

The MicroFranchising Launch is an annual national competition that is designed to kick-start Microfranchising in South Africa by holding a trade show and workshops to find the best microfranchise-able businesses in rural areas, informal settlements and townships.  The MicroFranchising Launch is a three part initiative that includes an annual national competition, the trade show and workshops and an internship program.

The Annual National Competition is held March through June with the aim of finding the best microfranchises or microfranchise-able businesses in each of the following sectors: light/energy; water/sanitation; cooking/ovens; food/agriculture; health/wellbeing; education/training; and transportation/communication. The winners (up to five in each category) will be funded to attend the Trade Show and Workshops in Cape Town. To be eligible to participate the business must meet the following criteria: (1) be profitable; (2) have a unique system, an attractive brand, and deliver a product or service that outshines the competition; (3) benefit the previously disadvantaged, through ownership, operation or both.

The Trade Show and Workshops to be held August 31st – September 2nd, 2011, in Cape Town, South Africa will include the winners of the competition along with other micro-franchisors. The aim of the trade Show is to showcase innovative new business ideas and attract investors while the Workshops will provide each winner of the competition with a half-day workshop focused on their business in order to develop a customized business plan.

The Internship Program which runs between September 2011 and February 2012, provides graduate students both national and international with the opportunity to work with the MicroFranshising Launch competition winners to help implement their business plan.

The Townships Project is a registered charity which supports microfinance institutions (MFIs) in South Africa. These MFIs make repayable, interest-bearing loans to entrepreneurs, primarily women, to start or expand small businesses, to become self-sustaining and to break the cycle of poverty.  As of March 2011, The Townships Project has contributed to more than 100,000 lives changed with an investment of about $50 per person.

Canadian Charitable Registration No. 86418 8420 RR0001