Global non-profits and small businesses secured a transformative R8 million in the Xero Beautiful Business Fund, empowering dreams of sustainability, community connection, tech innovation, and future upskilling… and 4 of them are South African.
Global (21 November 2023) – 28 small businesses and non-profits from around the world have emerged as victors in the inaugural Xero Beautiful Business Fund, securing a total of R8 million to propel their impactful initiatives.
And four of them are South African.
Xero, the global small business platform, recently revealed the winners of its global prize pool. These local heroes showcased their dedication and vision through compelling 90-second videos, earning recognition in categories such as Innovating for sustainability, Strengthening community connection, Trailblazing with technology, and Upskilling for the future.
Colin Timmis, Country Manager Xero South Africa, expressed his admiration for the winners, stating, “The winners have shown an incredible passion and tenacity that’s behind so many small businesses in South Africa. We’re honoured to be able to help these small businesses unlock the next stage of growth.”
The South African recipients, each receiving R250,000 in funding, embody the spirit of innovation and community betterment.
Innovating for Sustainability: Constantia Food Club
Constantia Food Club, a food-buying club in Cape Town, takes a unique approach to sustainability by connecting small local growers and producers directly with customers. Their mission is to support local regenerative farmers, reduce biodiversity loss, and create a decentralised food system. With the awarded funds, Constantia Food Club plans to build a new clubhouse, expanding their capacity to serve more customers and offer increased support to local growers and the environment.
Courtney Atkinson, Co-founder of Constantia Food Club, expressed excitement about the impact of the funding, saying, “This funding from Xero will help us grow not only our own operations but also those of the Food Club network — unlocking exponential change. We’re so excited to pursue this next stage in our business.”
Strengthening Community Connection: Oranjezicht City Farm Market
The Oranjezicht City Farm Market in Cape Town connects small-scale organic farmers and food producers with thousands of customers. With Xero’s support, they aim to develop a comprehensive online ‘how-to guide’ to start a farmers market, fostering the emergence of such markets in communities across South Africa.
Trailblazing with Technology: Mygrow
Mygrow, a company dedicated to building emotional intelligence in employees through neuroscience-based software solutions, plans to use the funding to advance their AI functionalities. This acceleration will assist in developing, measuring, and tracking emotion-based soft skills, aligning with their vision of creating an emotionally intelligent world.
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Upskilling for the Future: Curate
Curate is reshaping the photography and videography content creation landscape through its technology-enabled platform connecting content creators and clients. With the Xero funding, they intend to provide equipment, training workshops, and educational material via an automated technology platform. This initiative aims to empower creatives, offering resources to upskill and execute projects more effectively.
“We’re extremely grateful to everyone who took the time to enter and share their inspiring stories with us, and a huge thank you to the judges who helped us select the winners,” expressed Timmis.
The Xero Beautiful Business Fund reflects the collective power of small businesses and non-profits to drive positive change in their communities and beyond, showcasing how dedicated entrepreneurship can achieve growth, innovation, and social impact.
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