Innovation Edge calls for pitches for SA ventures focused on positive parenting by fathers

Investor Innovation Edge has put out a call for pitches for ventures that have solutions that increase the positive involvement of fathers and father figures in children’s lives in South Africa.

The company is accepting submissions until 30 September.

It is looking for solutions that enable quality father-child relationships and that focus on a child’s early years up to six years old.

Selected applicants will pitch their ideas to the Innovation Edge Investment Committee in November 2021.

“Sadly, many young children in South Africa grow up without the benefit of a dependable, consistent and motivated male caregiver,” it said in a statement.

“Barriers include social and cultural norms, unemployment and the inability to provide financially, prohibitive parental leave policies, and unwelcoming health sector institutions – particularly in the critical first 1 000 days of life period.”

Criteria to apply for Innovation Edge funding and venture building support

Submissions are open to individual innovators, registered non-profit, and for-profit social enterprises in South Africa.

To apply, ventures must be at the stage of feasibility testing, prototyping, market testing, or transition to scale. They cannot be in the ideation phase.

They must also directly or indirectly benefit children aged 0-6 and not exclude those in low-income families.

Selected applicants will pitch their ideas to the Innovation Edge Investment Committee in November 2021.

If successful, they will receive up to R1.3 million in grant funding, strategic coaching, and connections to social capital.

Meanwhile, Innovation Edge will host a virtual briefing session on 30 August. The session will tackle questions regarding funding and provide further information on applications and the criteria for ventures.

Those who are interested in attending the Innovation Edge briefing session can sign up for the event by filling out this form.

Those that are interested in submitting a pitch can do so on the Innovation Edge website.

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Featured image: Gift Habeshaw via Unsplash