Young Entrepreneurs in South Sudan Invited to Apply for Free Business Training

(JUBA) – Young entrepreneurs in South Sudan have been given a fresh opportunity to grow their businesses as Orange Corners South Sudan announced the opening of applications for its Cohort 4 programme.

The initiative is supported by the Kingdom of the Netherlands and aims to help start ups and small businesses in Juba move from ideas to impactful enterprises through a six month programme that combines training, mentorship, networking and access to funding opportunities.

Applications opened on 1 September 2025 and will close on 5 October 2025. The programme is free and targets young innovators who want to build sustainable businesses that can contribute to South Sudan’s growing entrepreneurial ecosystem.

Organisers said applicants will first undergo a shortlisting exercise in the third week of October, followed by a two day bootcamp in the fourth week of October. Final interviews will take place in late November, with the official declaration of selected entrepreneurs expected in the third week of December. The Cohort 4 programme is scheduled to launch in January 2026.

The programme has already supported several entrepreneurs through earlier cohorts, including those who showcased their products at events such as the Bargain Bazaar. Many participants credit Orange Corners with helping them refine their business models, access new markets and build stronger professional networks.

The initiative is run in collaboration with local partners such as BizEx and Cypress, which focus on business development and youth empowerment.

Orange Corners says its focus is to create an enabling environment for entrepreneurs who face limited access to capital, training and structured mentorship in South Sudan:

The programme aims to improve business survival rates and foster innovation driven growth by linking start ups to both local and international networks – Orange Corners.

Bargain Baazar, a local Women’s entrepreneurship community organisation said the business training is crucial at a time when South Sudan’s economy is seeking to diversify beyond oil and strengthen the role of youth and women led enterprises:

With a young population and increasing interest in small and medium enterprises, the country’s start-up ecosystem should be seen as an important driver for jobs and long term stability.

Orange Corners South Sudan Cohort 4 Roadmap