Allan Gray Makers Inter-College Entrepreneurship Competition South Africa

The Allan Gray Makers Inter-College Entrepreneurship Competition 2025 is closed. Applications were open in early 2025 (deadline was 25 April 2025), and the cycle includes rounds leading up to a national final in September. If you’re a TVET student, watch out for the next round. At BursaryForms, we’ll help you catch it.

About Allan Gray Makers

Allan Gray Makers is a programme under Allan & Gill Gray Philanthropies (South Africa), focused on encouraging entrepreneurship among students in Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) colleges. The Inter-College Competition is part of their work to build entrepreneurial culture, support existing businesses & business ideas, and facilitate mentoring.

Fields Covered / Categories

This competition accepts entries in several categories including both ideas and existing businesses. Categories in 2025 were:

  • Innovative Business Idea — for students with a profitable concept ready to launch.
  • Tech Business — for existing businesses offering tech-products or services.
  • Trade Business — for skilled trades (e.g. plumbing, electrical, construction, carpentry etc.)
  • General Business — for existing businesses not fitting into the other categories.

Prizes & Support

Participating students stood a chance of winning:

  • Part of a R320,000 prize pool for 2025.
  • Mentorship and business support for one year.
  • National recognition and opportunity to network.

Eligibility Requirements

The requirements for entering include:

  • You must be a student at one of the 50 public TVET colleges in South Africa.
  • The business or business idea must be owned at least 50% by the entrant.
  • You cannot be an employee of a TVET college.
  • No entry fee is required.
  • Entries after the closing date or entries that are incomplete or non-compliant will be disqualified.
  • Some sector restrictions: ideas or businesses in tobacco, firearms (apart from sporting use), alcohol, adult content, gambling/wagering are excluded.

This page was updated on September 25, 2025 to provide the most current bursary information.

Indicate “www.bursaryforms.co.za” when asked how you heard about this bursary.

How to Apply

The process in 2025 was:

  • Register online through the Allan Gray Makers Inter-College portal.
  • Fill out the entry form, which includes business or idea details, ownership, etc.
  • Submit before the applications deadline.
  • Compete in “Internal Rounds” at your college, then regionals, then National Final in September.

Related Bursaries in South Africa

Apply for multiple bursaries in South Africa to increase your chances of receiving funding this year.

Closing Date

25 April 2025 was the deadline for applications in the 2025 competition. Any entries after that were not accepted.

Contact Allan Gray Makers

For questions or updates on future competitions, reach out:

Allan Gray Makers (Allan & Gill Gray Philanthropies South Africa)
Email:   agmakers@allangillgrayphilanthropies.org
Website: Allan Gray Makers Inter-College Competition Page

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the Inter-College Competition open now?
No. The 2025 competition has closed. The deadline was 25 April 2025. Watch Allan Gray Makers’ official site for announcements about the 2026 cycle.
Who can enter?
Students enrolled at any of South Africa’s 50 public TVET colleges. You must own at least half of the business you submit.
Can I enter if I’m not a full-time student?
Yes — part-time or full-time students at TVET colleges are eligible.
Is there an entry fee?
No. You do not need to pay a fee to enter.
What are the categories?
Innovative Business Idea; Tech Business; Trade Business; General Business.
How is the competition structured?
There are several rounds: internal college rounds, regional rounds, then a national final in September.
What happens if I own less than 50% of the business?
Your entry will not meet eligibility, because owning at least 50% is required.
Are there any business types excluded?
Yes. Businesses or ideas in tobacco, firearms (except sporting use), alcohol, adult content, gambling or wagering are excluded.
What is the prize amount?
The total prize pool was R320,000 in 2025.
How do I apply?
Register online via the Allan Gray Makers Inter-College portal, complete the form, submit before the deadline.