The Business must:

• Be a company. We do not invest into ideas or research.
• Be revenue generating. (Taking even the smallest amounts of revenue offers opportunities to learn and improve.)
• Be incorporated in the Republic of South Africa and preferably be based in/around Cape Town.
• Solve a burning need for its clients.
• Not be capital intensive.
• Be scalable.
• Display innovation in its processes, products or services.
• Have barriers to entry that create a competitive advantage.

The Entrepreneur must:

• Have invested some of their own money into the business.
• Understand that an idea alone has no monetary value.
• Be able to execute, lead and sell.
• Provide a concise, realistic business plan that clearly shows how the funding provided will be applied to grow the business.
• Be willing to accept funding in stages, subject to achieving certain milestones.
• Be willing to listen to advice and criticism from partners and shareholders, i.e. give up some control over the business.
• Be willing to accept governance systems that will reduce business risk.
• Be willing to remain the majority shareholder.
• Be willing to work exceptionally hard for long periods of time.
• Be patient.
• Have the highest ethical standards.

On average, only 10% of applications proceed to the due diligence phase and only 1-2% of applicants receive funding.