WDB Investment Holdings increase equity stake in Seed Engine to 51%

Partnership reaffirms commitment to development of black women and youth entrepreneurs

WDB Investment Holdings (WDBIH) has increased its stake in Seed Engine (incorporating Seed Academy and the WDB Seed Fund) from 35% to 51%, officially confirming Seed Engine as a proudly 51% black women owned company. Venture capital company Grovest is Seed Engine’s second major shareholder with a 30% stake. The increased share underscores the long-standing relationship between WDB and Seed Engine and their joint commitment to the transformation of the South African economy through the development of black women and youth entrepreneurs.

Seed Engine incorporates Seed Academy, an entrepreneur activation business, as well as the WDB Seed Fund, a Section 12J fund focused on growth-stage businesses. Donna Rachelson, CEO of Seed Engine, says WDB’s impeccable track record of fast-tracking women entrepreneurs speaks for itself. “We know that growing entrepreneurship is one of the biggest challenges facing our country. We also know that the development of women entrepreneurs is an even greater challenge as only one in three entrepreneurs are women and only 38% of black women owned businesses are formally funded. WDB and Seed Engine are focused on making a meaningful impact by supporting entrepreneurs who are resilient and able to build sustainable businesses that create jobs,” explains Rachelson.

The WDB Seed Fund provides access to funds, markets, high level mentorship and business support to investee companies, whilst simultaneously offering significant tax benefits for corporate and individual investors.

WDB, incorporating the WDB Trust and WDB Investment Holdings, has a 25-year track record of delivering high-impact socio-economic programmes dedicated to increasing the participation of women in the South African economy. Faith Khanyile, CEO of WDB Investment Holdings says the partnership serves both the business and social agenda of WDB in promoting true socio-economic transformation to ensure women are economically self-reliant. “WDBIH’s increased investment in Seed Engine comes from a well-established strategic partnership and we are confident that our shared vision will continue to provide strong leadership and advocacy for female entrepreneurs.”

Khanyile adds that the creation of more business opportunities for women is of vital importance which led WDB to increase its stake to 51%. “We are fully confident that our mission of ensuring even more women are equipped to compete successfully in the South African economy will come to full fruition. The fact that women entrepreneurs are currently underrepresented in relation to the population is something we aim to change one success story at a time.”

This transaction also comes at the recent conclusion of the inaugural and highly successful AccelerateHer programme, a three-month business accelerator for female entrepreneurs – a joint initiative of WDB and Seed Academy which creates a pipeline for the WDB Seed Fund.

“Constructively engaging women entrepreneurs is critical to supporting economic growth. Women entrepreneurs support and uplift their families, their communities, and have the power to profoundly uplift South Africa as a whole,” says Rachelson.

About WDB Seed Fund

WDB Seed Fund is a Section 12J Fund, increases the participation of youth and women entrepreneurs in South Africa’s economy by investing in growth-stage businesses. Partnered with WDB Investment Holdings, the Fund’s mandate is to address the needs of growth-stage businesses while providing investors with ED/SD recognition and tax benefits.

About Seed Academy

Seed Academy believes entrepreneurs are integral to economic growth and are the job creators of the future. With the right training, support and funding they can build successful, sustainable businesses.

Seed Academy understands the needs of entrepreneurs and that these differ dependent on the life stage of the business. They offer developmental workshops, accredited core skills training and support and funding for the three key stages of a business – Ideation, Build & Grow, Grow & Scale – whilst aligning to Corporates’ Transformation strategies.

The programmes have been designed with sustainability in mind – to ensure entrepreneurs are equipped, personally and professionally, to know what it takes to build, grow and scale a business.