Amazon Web Services investment programme opens for Black-owned SMEs

AWS' Equity Equivalent Investment Program is a 18-24-month enablement and acceleration programme for South African Black-owned SMEs who want to build their AWS business and grow as partners in the Amazon Partner Network (APN).

"We recognise the challenges that SMEs have in accessing low-cost funding, accessing markets and connecting with buyers, building networks and developing and enabling their people," AWS said in a statement.

Applicants must be 100% Black-owned and must meet all three ownership criteria (i.e. economic interest, voting rights and net-value points) based on the Flow-Through Principle at the date of application.

Applicants must also have demonstrable sales ability and should be generating a minimum of R500,000 per annum based on a 12-month rolling period.

Further requirements include a valid Level 1 B-BBEE Contributor certificate or affidavit at the date of application and two full-time employees.

Find out more about the application criteria and process here.