Enterprise & Supplier Development, SME Acceleration & ESG Impact Solutions
At YIEDI, we design inclusive ESD and SME development ecosystems that enable entrepreneurs, small businesses and corporates to unlock opportunities, scale sustainably and deliver long-term social and economic impact.
Enterprise and Supplier Development (ESD)
Enterprise and Supplier Development (ESD)
Industry Specific Programs
Industry Specific Programs
Corporate Programs
Corporate Programs
(YiEDI)Youth, Innovation, Entrepreneurship Design Institute
Youth, Innovation, Entrepreneurship Design Institute
YIEDI is a trusted partner in entrepreneurial development. Since 2014, we have delivered programmes that support scalable businesses nationally.
We design innovation-driven ESD and SME support programmes that develop entrepreneurial skills, build resilient businesses, improve access to markets, and drive measurable economic transformation.
About YIEDI
Founded in 2014, YIEDI is dedicated to delivering transformative enterprise, supplier development, and entrepreneurship training initiatives. We operate at the nexus of innovation and impact, shaping inclusive economies, unlocking potential, and strengthening SME growth across Africa.
We are committed to
- Co-creating lasting economic transformation
- Designing human-centred, impact-led programmes
- Amplifying the potential of youth and small businesses
- Connecting vision to execution and opportunity to legacy
- Creating customised impact driven programs to suit the strategic corporate
What We Stand For
Our work is driven by the belief that entrepreneurship is not just about starting a business, it is about designing the future.
From underrepresented entrepreneurs to boardroom stakeholders, we bring structure, scale and soul to every engagement.
Would you like to collaborate with YIEDI?
At YIEDI, we’re all about collaboration and innovation. Join us to connect with passionate individuals and leaders in our field.
Our Entrepreneurial Philosophy
Entrepreneurship, to us, is more than a commercial activity; it is a collective mindset. At YIEDI, we believe that real transformation happens when innovation meets intention and when success is measured not only in profits, but in progress.
We partner with our clients to co-create programmes that are practical, inclusive, and responsive to the challenges faced by entrepreneurs. Whether at the idea stage or scale-up, we walk with entrepreneurs through their journey.
Collaboration over isolation:
Shared growth is sustainable growth
Inclusion by design:
Entrepreneurs from all backgrounds deserve opportunity
Learning by doing:
We prioritise experimentation and agility
Purpose before product:
We back businesses that build value beyond profit
Entrepreneurship is not a straight line. It is a journey, and we walk it with you.
- Jay Naidoo
Impact at a Glance
YIEDI has supported over 1 500 businesses across Africa through high-impact, practical support.
Our partnerships with corporates and academic institutions ensure access to resources, insights, and networks. We have delivered accelerators and training across key sectors, and co-designed sustainable opportunities with the communities we serve.
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Testimonials
The PropreneurX Programme was a defining moment in my business growth. It gave the the courage & motivation to go for Corporate & Retail clients. And educated me on the Compliance needed to persue this market.
I’m forever grateful for the YIEDI Team! To date, I have completed 3 retail projects & have had repetitive business for a corporate client.
Being a recipient of the IBM Techscale programme delivered by Yiedi has been a game-changer for Smartee. YIEDI's exceptional team provided invaluable support, enabling us to scale operations, validate our product and technology, and confidently enter the market. The exposure and ongoing networking opportunities through platforms like Innovations of the World South Africa, WomX, and IBM Techscale have been instrumental to Smartee’s growth journey.YIEDI's commitment and dedication to uplifting founders, entrepreneurs, youth and people is truly commendable.
My time with YIEDI was incredibly fulfilling, as I had the opportunity to engage with trainers who were not only knowledgeable but also willing to support me beyond the duration of the training. To this day, I continue to rely on some of them for their expertise and guidance. Most importantly, it was through YIEDI that I gained the support of a multinational company to help develop my innovation further. Thanks to this ongoing support of the multinational company, facilitated by YIEDI; my innovation continues to gain increasing acceptance in the market.
Since my first engagement with YIEDI in 2024, I have been impressed with the level of professionalism, attention to detail, fast turnaround times and overall quality of reporting on Enterprise Development initiatives we have participated in. Most importantly, we have been delighted at the impact that the YIEDI mentoring and development programmes have had on the beneficiary entities of the programmes. A pleasure to work with the team.
Entrepreneurship is a very long journey, one that needs you to have an ecosystem that goes beyond your ideal, an ecosystem that enables you in all aspects of your life.
YIEDI has been that program for me. The program understands how difficult it is to build a successful business and they walk the journey with you
The IBM Tech Scale program was a pivotal moment for Blue Pearl. With YIEDI’s guidance, I refined my pitch and learned to sharpen my value proposition – how to position my business, how to leverage the program, and most importantly, how to transact with IBM. When we joined, Blue Pearl was just two people. Today, we are over 120 staff across seven countries, delivering more than 400 projects globally. IBM unlocked opportunities to network with customers, partners, and international markets – helping us grow from a small team into a global business partner. YIEDI gave me the support and pointers that gave my pitch the oomph it needed, and IBM opened the doors. All I had to do was walk through them.
As someone who has worked with hundreds of incubators across over 29 countries I know a thing or two about ones that work vs ones that make a lot of promises, I recommend YIEDI. Absolutely organisation you wish you had met earlier. Exceptionally experienced on the ground and truly proactive in all the projects we have done with them, making them a true partner and not just an organization one works with. They have been invaluable in the execution of some incredibly difficult challenges and their ideas and thoughts have saved us from some monumental mistakes. Motivated by a true passion to leave the world in a better state. It is a true honour to work with them and we look forward to many more years of collaboration.
I attended the G.D Open Programme delivered by YIEDI and TEEC. I received everything I was promised and more. I am now ready to sit with investors.
Entrepreneurship is no longer a lonely journey, I still engage with my fellow entrepreneurs from the co-hort and we support one another.
After attending the WomX Programme delivered by YIEDI, I would absolutely recommend it to other women businesses. I have made many changes from the learnings I received.
I am now a part of a tribe of woman that I can reach out to. Thank you for all your support and encouragement but most importantly for the invaluable information that was shared this year.
We are a Technology Consultancy, mostly working on Systems Implementation and Business Analysis & Strategy implementation for projects in a variety of clients in Private and Public Sector.
The objective is to assist clients in achieving a seamless digital solution with little friction from vision to tangible solution.