Justicia Shipena
Forty entrepreneurs will be pitching their businesses in the final edition of the Old Mutual Sustainable, Economic and Empowerment Drive (OM SEED).
The entrepreneurs were selected from 116 applications received across the Omaheke, Otjozondjupa, Omusati, and Kunene regions and will now participate in regional business visits.
The shortlisted entrepreneurs, drawn from Omaheke, Otjozondjupa, Omusati, and Kunene, will now participate in regional business visits.
During this phase, judges will meet them in person to assess their businesses and evaluate their impact on local communities. The process begins in the Omaheke Region.
This year marks the final edition of OM SEED, run under the theme “Rooted in Growth for Sustainability”.
The programme continues to support grassroots entrepreneurship in Namibia by providing opportunities for small business growth.
Shortlisting took place on 16 July 2025 in partnership with the Financial Literacy Initiative (FLI) and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).
“OM SEED embodies Old Mutual Foundation’s commitment to enabling economic participation through sustainable entrepreneurship. Under our Community Development pillar, we strive to create opportunities for inclusive growth, empowering individuals to transform ideas into businesses that uplift entire communities,” said Patricia Olivier, chairperson of the Old Mutual Foundation.
OM SEED provides seed capital, business training, and mentorship to help early-stage entrepreneurs build viable businesses and contribute to economic and social development.
The next step will be selecting the top three entrepreneurs from each region.
Those selected will receive seed funding and take part in an incubation programme in Windhoek later this year.
