The National Youth Council, in conjunction with Bellatrix Investment Manager, launched the NextGen facility for Namibian youth entrepreneurs.

The incubation programme is to empower and uplift young Namibian entrepreneurs.

The programme is to promote entrepreneurship through financial assistance, providing support to twenty to thirty young entrepreneurs across all 14 regions.

The support will include starting a business or growing existing businesses.

Through the programme, young entrepreneurs will receive mentorship and be taught business principles.

The Executive Chairperson of the National Youth Council, Sharonice Busch, said that the programme demonstrates the National Youth Council's ability and commitment to unlock the potential of young people.

"Our hope as NYC is to equip young entrepreneurs with the tools, financial and otherwise, to turn business ideas and dreams into sustainable enterprises to create employment and create social and economic growth. NextGen demonstrates that we should be a learning organisation." 

The participants have about three weeks to apply.

After the approval of their applications, the participants will go through a three-month incubation entrepreneur programme.

The director of Bellatrix Investment Managers, Jesaya Hano-Oshike, says Bellatrix Investment is very passionate about SMEs. 

"The couple of products that we provide—purchase order financing, invoice discounting, term loans, and equity financing—are what we will be supporting at the NextGen facility. We have a lot of funds, but the one we are dealing with is the one that is financing SMEs, which sits at about N$17 million."

All those who are interested are urged to ensure that their businesses are registered to be eligible.