This article was written by Nedbank.
Nedbank, officially announced the launch of The Greenhouse — a bold and catalytic initiative introduced under its Green Economy Social Impact Strategy, in partnership with FURTHER.
The Greenhouse is a purpose-built platform designed to identify, empower, and scale the next generation of green economy entrepreneurs in South Africa. At its core, the initiative combines catalytic grant funding, world-class coaching, and holistic capacity-building to equip early-stage ventures with the resources, guidance, and support they need to achieve sustainable, long-term impact. This tailored programme is intended to foster a new wave of businesses that not only address environmental challenges, but also contribute to economic and social transformation.
Maluta Netshaulu, Head: Social Impact Portfolio Development at Nedbank, said “a thriving green economy is not just about protecting our environment — it’s a powerful driver of economic and social transformation. With The Greenhouse, we’re investing in real people and real solutions, ultimately establishing new enterprises, developing skills, and driving job creation that will build a more sustainable and inclusive South Africa.”
Over the course of a 12-month, milestone-based development journey, 19 high-potential entrepreneurs will receive funding alongside tailored coaching and technical development.
Participants will also gain access to a community of leading green economy and high-performance experts, as well as strategic support from Nedbank Corporate and Investment Banking (CIB).
This support includes specialised expertise in finance, governance, tax, human resources, and marketing — critical areas that strengthen business foundations and ensure scalability.
To further empower these entrepreneurs, legal and compliance support will be provided through partnerships with Norton Rose Fulbright and Cliffe Dekker Hofmeyr. The programme will specifically focus on entrepreneurs addressing urgent challenges in agriculture, energy, water, and waste — sectors that are central to creating a green and climate-resilient future for South Africa.
Entrepreneurs selected to participate in The Greenhouse have demonstrated a clear proof of concept, innovative business models geared towards sustainable growth, potential for meaningful job creation, and a strong commitment to delivering measurable environmental and social impact. Priority was given to those who have not previously had access to major ecosystem development programmes, unless this intervention is positioned to unlock significant step change growth.
Through The Greenhouse, Nedbank seeks to deepen understanding — both internally and externally — of its unwavering commitment to the green economy and to driving systemic transformation. By officially launching this bespoke, impact-driven programme in collaboration with FURTHER, Nedbank reinforces its brand essence of being ‘money experts who do good,’ translating this ethos into real, measurable impact on the ground.
By investing in early-stage, impact-driven entrepreneurs, Nedbank & FURTHER aim to bridge the difficult gap between start-up and scale, foster collaboration and peer learning, and empower job creation and inclusive economic growth. In doing so, the initiative will strengthen a connected community of green innovators committed to long-term resilience and sustainable transformation.
‘Our mission is to grow and empower a community of impact-driven entrepreneurs, nurturing their long-term development and creating opportunities that benefit not just their businesses, but also their communities and the country at large,’ said Ian Calvert, CEO of FURTHER.
Nedbank’s Green Economy Social Impact Strategy is founded on the principle that sustainability and economic growth are intrinsically linked.
Picture: Nedbank