The Design Innovation Seed Fund (DISF) is a funding opportunity for innovative designers, inventors, entrepreneurs, and product developers who are yet to generate revenue. Managed by CDI Capital, it offers financial aid to assist recipients in designing and building prototypes, testing solutions, and confirming their hypotheses about technical and marketrelated challenges, acting as an accelerator for innovation. The DISF has already allocated R17.8 million in grant funding, sparking the development of 35 innovative products and attracting investments amounting to R377 million, proving to be an invaluable asset for earlystage innovation.
A cityfunded programme in Cape Town is assisting small and mediumsized enterprises (SMEs) in the clothing and textile sector. Aimed at training businesses to unlock procurement opportunities and establish lasting supply relationships, the initiative is already on track to sign new contracts with large retailers.