Start an Impact Hub in South Africa

Support the next generation of South African entrepreneurs to drive innovation and scale their impact businesses.

Together, let’s build a future where local talent thrives, partnerships grow, and innovative solutions developed to solve South Africa’s most pressing challenges.

Welcome to the future of social innovation in South Africa

From Cape Town to Johannesburg, the entrepreneurial landscape is thriving with innovative solutions. South Africans are redefining resilience, creativity, and community-driven impact, and the momentum is growing.

 

As we enter this new era of building South Africa, there are increasing opportunities for impact entrepreneurship to drive economic growth and job creation. Now is the time to join a global movement that supports local entrepreneurs—the Impact Hub Network.

 

Join our FREE event–Scaling Entrepreneurial Communities for Impact–to learn more on scaling and expanding your network!

What is Impact Hub?

Impact Hub is an impact-driven community of entrepreneurs and innovators coming together to connect, collaborate, and share knowledge. 

Locally-rooted while globally-connected in over 120 cities worldwide, Impact Hubs are part of a Network that supports entrepreneurs in addressing local challenges.

With access to valuable programmes, resources, and opportunities, Impact Hubs benefit from global insights and expertise to drive meaningful impact in their local communities.

Why start an Impact Hub

Global brand recognition

Build trust and credibility with a strong recognisable brand. This will help you attract potential customers, partners, and investors.

Resilient business model

The Impact Hub business model has proven to be competitive and resilient, making it a strong foundation for your social enterprise.

Ready-made network

Our established network of social entrepreneurs, innovators and mentors can help you connect with like-minded individuals and grow your business.

Allies & partners

Build relationships with local, regional, and global organisations that share your commitment to creating positive social and environmental impact.

Knowledge & learning

Elevate your skills with capacity-building sessions and knowledge-sharing platforms. Learn from experts and peers for collective growth.

Expand reach

Tap into a diverse network of 25,000 Impact Makers across 60+ countries, each with their unique perspectives, talents, and visions.

Who we are

Meet the Impact Hubs making a difference in their cities

Impact Hub Lagos

Launched: September 2017

Focus areas: Youth, Inclusion, Sustainability and Creative Industries

 

Impact Hub Lagos is committed to increasing access to capital, supporting the growth of Africa’s climate tech and creative sectors, and empowering the next generation of impact-driven entrepreneurs.

1 k

Alumni

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Indirect beneficiaries

Impact Hub Kigali

Launched: September 2017

Focus areas: Youth, Inclusion, Sustainability and Creative Industries

 

1 k

Alumni

1 k

Indirect beneficiaries

Impact Hub Vienna

Launched:

Focus areas:

0 k

Alumni

1 k

Indirect beneficiaries

Join the Impact Hub movement

As an Entrepreneurial/Business Support Organisation, you have the opportunity to create lasting, positive change. By starting or rebranding to an Impact Hub, you can be part of a thriving global movement. 

Establishing an Impact Hub in your city means empowering the next generation of South African entrepreneurs with the tools and support they need to succeed.

Whether in Cape Town, Johannesburg, or beyond, your organisation can play a pivotal role in driving innovation, creating jobs, and fostering sustainable growth.

You can’t change the world alone.

The path to lasting social change and sustainable development requires a global effort. Impact Hub facilitates that collective action, offering:

Dedicated space for collaboration

A physical and digital platform where entrepreneurs, community leaders, and impact-driven individuals meet to exchange ideas and form powerful partnerships.

Access to a global network

Tap into a wealth of knowledge and resources from Impact Hubs around the world, adapted to meet the needs of South Africa’s dynamic entrepreneurial ecosystem.

Supportive community

Gain access to mentorship, training programmes, and peer support networks that support entrepreneurs overcome challenges and scale their impact.

Ready-to-go brand

Benefit from our comprehensive branding materials to build a strong business identity and effectively attract clients, partners, and investors.

Schedule an info call with us

All your questions answered

We are not a franchise but have developed a co-owned network structure. The Impact Hub Intellectual Property (IP) and Brand are owned by the “Impact Hub Association”, a collective of all Impact Hubs. When joining our network, you will become a co-owner of the network and be entitled to be part of the decision-making as well as all strategic conversations. You will shape the future of the network together with the rest of the local Impact Hubs.
Every Impact Hub needs to operate a space. A physical home for your community will elevate the change you can create together. You can partner with public institutions, real estate developers, universities and other organisations to create a place that embodies your community’s needs and values.
There is a one-time Joining Fee ranging from €14,000 to €35,000, depending on the GDP of the city applying. Upon acceptance into the Impact Hub Founding Journey, there is an application fee of €5,000 per team. This amount is subtracted from the total Joining Fee. For instance, if the Joining Fee for your city is €30,000, you will pay €5,000 upon acceptance into the Journey, with the remaining €25,000 payable upon receiving your Impact Hub license. Once you're part of the network, each Impact Hub pays a monthly membership fee equivalent to 2.5% of the revenue generated after taxes under the Impact Hub brand. Additional charges apply for services such as technology and events.
The whole application phase takes about 3-4 months. As each context and team is different, the timeline may vary. The application phase, as the title suggests, shall be no longer than 100 days. The 100-day Founding Journey closes with the licence review. Once you have the licence, your team has up to 12 months to start the full Impact Hub experience.
If you have an organisation that you wish to convert into an Impact Hub, you will need to rebrand. Impact Hub does not allow co-branding since we don’t want to give the impression that various entities host or even own the Impact Hub jointly. Once you join the Impact Hub Network, you become a full member of the Network and the Impact Hub brand will have to replace the current local brand.
Your local team is responsible for fundraising to secure the necessary investment for your Impact Hub. We provide each team with a Fundraising Coach for support during the first 6 months of operations. Additionally, you can leverage the Network for best practices, inspiration, and connections to facilitate fundraising efforts.

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Sign up to access our free guide on inclusive communication and unlock valuable insights, opportunities, and monthly inspiring updates delivered straight to your inbox.

Download the guide!

Sign up to access our free guide on inclusive communication and unlock valuable insights, opportunities, and monthly inspiring updates delivered straight to your inbox.

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