To be part of the Association is to be part of a lifelong support system, so you can realise your vision not just today, but every day.

To be part of the Association is to be part of a lifelong support system, so you can realise your vision not just today, but every day.

The Aim of
Our Association

The aim of the Association is to foster an ethical culture of lifelong learning, creating opportunities for world-class entrepreneurial development and equipping Fellows to start enterprises successfully.

Graduating into the Association

Our Association the Alumni Network of graduates, made up of Candidate Fellows who have successfully completed their degree as wellas met the Allan Gray Orbis Foundation programme requirements, and are now known as Allan Gray Fellows.

Cultivating responsible entrepreneurship

The Fellows are encouraged and nurtured so that they can gain deliberate industry experience, find an entrepreneurial flair within their context, engage in entrepreneurial action and create socio-economic value through responsible entrepreneurship.

Developing valuable relationships

Our Association is more than a supportive framework, it serves as a sounding board for Fellows to test their entrepreneurial ideas, glean feedback, hone skills and develop mutually beneficial relationships with each other and partners of the Foundation.

Testimonials

  • I’m most proud of being the president of the Association of Allan Gray Fellows. I think being a Fellow has opened doors in ways that no other affiliation has for me. I have a global and lateral way of approaching life, constantly thinking about transformation and opportunities to improve, develop and grow things. And it’s largely attributable to the entrepreneurial programme I underwent with the Foundation.
    Arushka Bugwandeen 2014
  • The Fellowship builds character. With the Fellowship, the real rewards come down the line in the form of membership to the Association, which gives one a wide network of professionals and business people to form bonds and flesh out ideas with. It also provides a framework of support for ventures and thinking groups. It’s important to be part of a like-minded community and that’s why the Association is vital and remains sustainable.
    Mbali Sikakana 2016
  • I applied for the Fellowship as I had respect for the seemingly audacious vision it had espoused. The Fellowship presents a unique opportunity to be in an enabling community of peer change agents as well as access to a well-resourced organisation with Talent equally committed to building South Africa. Over and above this, it presents financial support for your studies as well as ventures you may start in future.
    Melvyn Lubega 2016
  • The experience has changed my life beyond what I initially anticipated. I would, as a result, encourage others to join the Fellowship not only for the financial benefit, but for the community of astute entrepreneurs and future change-makers that they would be part of. A wise man once said that ‘your network is your net worth’, and this opportunity certainly increases one’s ‘net worth’ substantially!
    Sechaba Selialia 2016
  • If you are interested in going beyond a profession and making a significant impact on the region I would encourage you to apply [to the Fellowship]. The value is really in the opportunity to expand your mindset and leave university with a much broader perspective than you may otherwise have had
    Bradley Wattrus
  • I would encourage anyone with a burning desire to make an impact to apply for the Fellowship. This is because the Fellowship not only provides immense opportunities, but because it surrounds one with like-minded individuals who are just as passionate about making an impact.
    Lethabo Motswaledi

I’m in that phase where I’m building up my work experience, building up that skill set I believe I would need to start up in the future. To me the Foundation is helping me build that skill set; so we’re getting a lot of exposure through the Startership Seminar for instance: the basic first steps you need to start up. And you’re also building your network through the Fellows you interact with.

– Eunice Steyn, Association of Allan Gray Fellows, 2015

What the Association covers

Graduated Fellows become members of the Association
To provide support for each graduated Fellow’s lifelong entrepreneurial journey
Workshops      
Speakers and seminars
Entrepreneurial induction
Three month business accelerator                    
Access to business funding
Ethical business practices
Forums
Networking and social events
Like-minded communities
Entrepreneur - focused experiential national and international trips
Start your own business
Job creation
Lifelong membership
Access to postgraduate funding                     

Disclaimer: Official statistics are released on an annual basis

Ideation, Validation and Creation

As a means of encouraging ideation, the Allan Gray Orbis Foundation has developed a carefully refined internal Ideation Accelerator, known as the IVC programme (Ideation, Validation and Creation). The IVC programme is open to any Programme Participants who might have a business idea which they would like to pursue. The programme allows for exploration of an idea through curriculum, business coaching and market testing and has seen a lot of success.

The Ideation process is designed for Candidate Fellows and Fellows who are yet to discover a problem or potential solution but would like to actively embark on an intentional journey through entrepreneurship and the IVC Programme. The aim of the Ideation process is for Programme Participants to learn about the key processes, tools and mindset required to spot opportunities and develop solutions to these problems.
The Creation Process for Candidate Fellows and Fellows who have validated their business idea, have found product-market fit and are post-revenue. The aim of the Creation process is to get the Programme Participants ready for funding or acceleration.
The Validation Process is for Candidate Fellows and Fellows who have identified a problem they wish to solve. A business is only created once there is proof that the idea solves a real customer problem and creates value for those customers. The aim of the Validation process is for Programme Participants to make sure their ideas are desirable, viable and feasible.

FAQS

Can anyone join the Association?

Membership of the Association is exclusive to graduates of the Allan Gray Fellowship.

Does the Association fund entrepreneurial ideas?

No, the Association doesn’t invest in or financially fund entrepreneurial ideas, but rather seeks to support the endeavours of Fellows in their efforts to start businesses of their own with access to financial and other resources. Fellows have access to E2; a venture capital channel for any ideas emanating from the Association.

How can organisations / people partner with the Association?

Organisations who are interested in partnering with the Association can contact the Association Director, Daniel, or the Community Manager, Wande, to explore any potential partnerships.

Daniel Hampton: danielh@allangrayorbis.org / 0799336834
Wande Madikane: WandeM@allangrayorbis.org / 0721972014

I have an opportunity that the Association of Allan Gray Fellows should know about – who do I contact?

Please refer all opportunities to the office of the Association Director or the Community Manager.

Daniel Hampton: danielh@allangrayorbis.org / 0799336834
Wande Madikane: WandeM@allangrayorbis.org / 0721972014

No one ever changed the world alone. Great things happen at the confluence of dreams where visions validate each other and like-minds provide support for the road ahead. It’s much more than just an association, more than networking, mingling and common conversation. To be part of the Association is to be part of a lifelong support system, so you can realise your vision not just today, but every day.