Scaling Out for Impact
A co-venture between Innovate UK, Newton Fund and The Technology and Innovation Agency of South Africa.
In 2020, the Scaling Out for Impact (SOFI) programme brought together 38 entrepreneurs from the UK and South Africa to co-create innovations that serve low-income communities in South Africa’s townships and rural economies. We are proud of the 15 collaborative projects that have emerged, and are looking for funders and supporters who can assist these project teams to implement and scale their innovations.
The SOFI Project
Innovating in low income communities for a sustainable future
Disadvantaged communities in emerging economies often demonstrate the greatest resourcefulness and ingenuity, because they must. They routinely face the world’s most complex challenges. Rather than seeing these communities simply as receivers of assistance, they should be recognised as creators of value and innovative new solutions that are accessible and relevant to them. We think it is time to invest in innovators and entrepreneurs who understand first-hand the challenges in their own communities.
Scaling Out for Impact (SOFI) connects and builds complementary partnerships between ventures in South Africa and the UK. The goal is to harness collaboration whilst involving communities to drive local economic development and address critical challenges in South Africa. Funding is available to support both UK and South African organisations to develop shared opportunities together.
SOFI 2020 brought together 38 pioneering innovators from South Africa and the UK on an immersive 6-week virtual programme (within the constraints of the Covid-19 pandemic), learning about challenges facing rural and township communities in the areas of healthcare, circular economy and digital economy challenges. Participants also had the opportunity to collaborate in real-time, building relationships and bringing together their expertise and experience to co-create new ideas and opportunities.
Through the SOFI programme, the majority of participants went on to form 15 collaborative teams comprising of UK and SA innovators, harnessing complementary technologies, capabilities and local knowledge to develop 15 inclusive and innovative solutions that are ready to be implemented and scaled in South Africa and beyond. Projects are outlined in the SOFI 2020 portfolio - please get in touch if you can offer additional funding, access to networks or other support to any of our project teams.
“We immediately discovered that there are partners for us in South Africa who although have slightly different problems to us, have exactly the same values.”
“SOFI has opened our eyes to our ability to forge meaningful working relationships whilst being physically removed.”
Background
SOFI builds on a growing shift in thinking where low-income individuals around the world are recognised as a viable, and sizable consumer segment in its own right. Deepa Prahalad, design strategist and expert on innovation in emerging markets, says that this is in part due to a reduction of extreme poverty around the world and the widespread adoption of mobile phone technology.
SOFI a co-venture between Innovate UK, Newton Fund, and the Technology and Innovation Agency (South Africa). It is supported by the Black Business Council and the Department of Science & Technology (South Africa), and delivered by Liminal.
We would like to thank all the participants of the SOFI programme for their enthusiasm and energy; the speakers, mentors and advisers who have contributed to the programme and supported our participants; as well as the organisations who have provided the resources to deliver the programme.
“During these times, more solidarity, more partnership, more friendship is what the world needs... SOFI is the type of partnership we want to see flourish.”
Daan Du Toit
Department of Science and Innovation SA
“Now is the time for collaborative entrepreneurship.”
Ndaba Mandela
“Through SOFI, it’s clear to see that having the consciousness to see and share problems, and the creativity to imagine the solutions is the only way we will address the challenges we face in our communities and on our planet.”
Emma Wade-Smith OBE
Department for International Trade UK
