BRICS Youth SkillsBRICS Youth Skills
Micro-Enterprise Ladders

Climb your ladder — rung by rung.

Every UCan business has the same four rungs: Struggling → Stable → Successful → Significant. Pick a ladder, see what each rung costs and returns, and choose the next step that fits your stage.

Drone BusinessFood Security

Drone Business

From hobby drone to firefighting fleet.

SDG 1SDG 2SDG 3SDG 8SDG 13
  1. Rung 1 · DR 01Struggling
    Trial Run · Typography
    Cost
    R1 800
    ROI
    R25 000
  2. Rung 2 · DR 02Stable
    Self Subsidised · Frames
    Cost
    R20 000
    ROI
    R100 000
  3. Rung 3 · DR 03Successful
    Security & Planting
    Cost
    R250 000
    ROI
    R600 000
  4. Rung 4 · DR 04Significant
    Commercial · Firefighting
    Cost
    R1 500 000+
    ROI
    R20 000 000
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Food SecurityFood Security

Food Security

From back-yard plot to commercial tunnel.

SDG 1SDG 2SDG 3SDG 8SDG 13
  1. Rung 1 · FS 01Struggling
    Trial Run
    Cost
    R650
    ROI
    R15 000
  2. Rung 2 · FS 02Stable
    Self Subsidised
    Cost
    R1 000
    ROI
    R30 000
  3. Rung 3 · FS 03Successful
    Business Box
    Cost
    R49 950
    ROI
    R78 000
  4. Rung 4 · FS 04Significant
    Commercial
    Cost
    R250 000+
    ROI
    R400 000
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Starter FarmerFood Security

Starter Farmer

Grow Reel & Tunnel progression for new farmers.

SDG 1SDG 2SDG 3SDG 8SDG 13
  1. Rung 1 · SF 01Struggling
    Trial Run
    Cost
    R650
    ROI
    R15 000
  2. Rung 2 · SF 02Stable
    Self Subsidised
    Cost
    R1 000
    ROI
    R30 000
  3. Rung 3 · SF 03Successful
    Business Box (incl. Grow Reel)
    Cost
    R49 950
    ROI
    R78 000
  4. Rung 4 · SF 04Significant
    Commercial · Grow Reel & Tunnel
    Cost
    R250 000+
    ROI
    R400 000
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Landrace SeedsFood Security

Landrace Seeds

Grow, dry & register local seed varieties.

SDG 1SDG 2SDG 3SDG 8SDG 13
  1. Rung 1 · LR 01Struggling
    Local Vegetable Seeds
    Cost
    R0
    ROI
    R15 000
  2. Rung 2 · LR 02Stable
    Incl. Medicinal Seeds
    Cost
    R1 000
    ROI
    R30 000
  3. Rung 3 · LR 03Successful
    Medicinal Seeds + Seedballs
    Cost
    R49 950
    ROI
    R78 000
  4. Rung 4 · LR 04Significant
    Registering Seed Varieties incl. Hemp
    Cost
    R340 000+
    ROI
    R2 000 000
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Worm FarmFood Security

Worm Farm

Vermicompost from bucket to bamboo dome.

SDG 1SDG 3SDG 8SDG 11SDG 13
  1. Rung 1 · WF 01Struggling
    Trial Run
    Cost
    R0
    ROI
    R1 000
  2. Rung 2 · WF 02Stable
    Self Subsidised
    Cost
    R1 000
    ROI
    R10 000
  3. Rung 3 · WF 03Successful
    Business Box (incl. Grow Reel)
    Cost
    R49 950
    ROI
    R50 000
  4. Rung 4 · WF 04Significant
    Commercial · Grow Reel & Tunnel
    Cost
    R250 000+
    ROI
    R400 000
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UCanBuild · Hemp KhayaShelter

UCanBuild · Hemp Khaya

From shack to Ubuntu Village in hempcrete.

SDG 1SDG 2SDG 3SDG 8SDG 13
  1. Rung 1 · HK 01Struggling
    Trial Run
    Cost
    R20 000
    ROI
    R36 000
  2. Rung 2 · HK 02Stable
    Self Subsidised
    Cost
    R49 000
    ROI
    R60 000
  3. Rung 3 · HK 03Successful
    Hemp Khaya
    Cost
    R300 000
    ROI
    R500 000
  4. Rung 4 · HK 04Significant
    Ubuntu Village (Commercial)
    Cost
    R5 000 000+
    ROI
    R18 000 000
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UCanBuild · Fencing PolesSecurity

UCanBuild · Fencing Poles

Assemble & install fencing — to smart perimeters.

SDG 1SDG 2SDG 3SDG 8SDG 13
  1. Rung 1 · FP 01Struggling
    Trial Run
    Cost
    R650
    ROI
    R15 000
  2. Rung 2 · FP 02Stable
    Self Subsidised
    Cost
    R1 000
    ROI
    R30 000
  3. Rung 3 · FP 03Successful
    Pole + Mesh Installs
    Cost
    R49 950
    ROI
    R78 000
  4. Rung 4 · FP 04Significant
    Commercial · Smart Perimeter
    Cost
    R250 000+
    ROI
    R400 000
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Music MogulCulture

Music Mogul

African music investment — funder match 0 → 60%.

SDG 5SDG 8SDG 10SDG 16SDG 17
  1. Rung 1 · MM 01Struggling
    0% Investment
    Cost
    —
    ROI
    —
  2. Rung 2 · MM 02Stable
    20% Investment from funder
    Cost
    —
    ROI
    —
  3. Rung 3 · MM 03Successful
    40% Investment from funder
    Cost
    —
    ROI
    —
  4. Rung 4 · MM 04Significant
    60% Investment from funder
    Cost
    —
    ROI
    —
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River Clean-UpWaste Management

River Clean-Up

Water Warriors → catchment recycling at scale.

SDG 1SDG 2SDG 3SDG 8SDG 13
  1. Rung 1 · RC 01Struggling
    Water Warriors · Trial Run
    Cost
    R650
    ROI
    R15 000
  2. Rung 2 · RC 02Stable
    River Clean-Up as Art
    Cost
    R18 000
    ROI
    R30 000
  3. Rung 3 · RC 03Successful
    Larger Catchment Mechanism
    Cost
    R49 950
    ROI
    R78 000
  4. Rung 4 · RC 04Significant
    Commercial · Collect & Recycle
    Cost
    R350 000+
    ROI
    R500 000
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Water DistillingWaste Management

Water Distilling

Personal water supply — from trial bottle to commercial distillation.

SDG 1SDG 3SDG 6SDG 8SDG 13
  1. Rung 1 · DW 01Struggling
    Personal Water Supply · Trial Run
    Cost
    R0
    ROI
    R15 000
  2. Rung 2 · DW 02Stable
    Home Water Supply · Self Subsidised
    Cost
    R1 000
    ROI
    R30 000
  3. Rung 3 · DW 03Successful
    Personal Water Supply · Business Box
    Cost
    R49 950
    ROI
    R78 000
  4. Rung 4 · DW 04Significant
    Commercial Distillation
    Cost
    R250 000+
    ROI
    R400 000
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