YIEDI
YIEDI is a South African ESD and SME acceleration consultancy that designs and delivers enterprise and supplier development programmes, business incubation, and entrepreneurship training for corporates, SMEs, and youth and women entrepreneurs across all nine South African provinces.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2014
- HeadquartersSandown, South Africa
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What YIEDI does
YIEDI is a South African private limited consulting firm, founded in 2014 and headquartered in Sandton, Johannesburg, with additional offices in Ballito (KwaZulu-Natal) and Cape Town (Western Cape) and operational reach across all nine South African provinces. The company specialises in enterprise and supplier development (ESD), SME acceleration, business incubation, and entrepreneurship training, serving multinational and South African corporates (including IBM, Standard Bank, Nedbank, ABSA, FNB, SAB, and T-Systems), as well as small and medium enterprises, youth, and women entrepreneurs. Its flagship proprietary tool is the 120-Point Business Diagnostic Assessment, an instrument used to evaluate SME readiness and design tailored acceleration interventions.
The firm's service portfolio comprises multi-week corporate accelerator and incubation programmes (including the IBM Techscale cohort, the WomX Programme for women entrepreneurs, and the Business in a Box SME accelerator), structured entrepreneurship curricula, and BBBEE-aligned supplier development advisory. Delivery combines in-person cohort workshops with mentorship and partner-led technical modules.
YIEDI's revenue model rests on professional-services fees from corporate ESD/CSI contracts, government and public-sector contracts, and sponsorship or donor funding that underwrites cohort delivery. Over its operating history, the firm reports having supported more than 1,500 businesses, and it operates with a small team of 1-10 employees. Under the leadership of CEO Jayshree Naidoo, the company functions as a delivery vehicle connecting corporate compliance and development mandates with on-the-ground SME and entrepreneur cohorts.
YIEDI firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- YIEDI
- Legal name
- YIEDI Pty Ltd
- Website
- https://yiedi.co.za
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2014
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- YIEDI is a South African ESD and SME acceleration consultancy that designs and delivers enterprise and supplier development programmes, business incubation, and entrepreneurship training for corporates, SMEs, and youth and women entrepreneurs across all nine South African provinces.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
YIEDI industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Enterprise Development Consulting
- NAICS
- Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services (54)
- SIC
- Services-Engineering, Accounting, Research, Management (8700)
- akta.pro primary industry
- ESG Governance, Sustainability Reporting & Assurance Advisory (BPAHAFAJ)
Keywords
Where YIEDI is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Sandown
- HQ country
- South Africa
- HQ region
- Africa
Offices3 records
Markets served
YIEDI business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Corporate ESD Programme Delivery: YIEDI designs and delivers data-driven accelerators and customised ESD programmes for corporate clients (multinationals and South African corporates), who pay for programme design, delivery, monitoring, and reporting services.
- Government and Development Organisation Contracts: Partnerships with government departments and development organisations to deliver entrepreneurship training, youth development, and SME support programmes.
- Sponsorship and Donations: YIEDI receives funding from sponsors and donors who support specific initiatives, entrepreneur cohorts, or digital access programmes for rural entrepreneurs.
Go-to-market motion3 records
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels7 records
YIEDI product offering
Product offeringCore offering
YIEDI is a South African enterprise development consultancy that designs and delivers Enterprise and Supplier Development (ESD) programmes, SME acceleration and incubation initiatives, and entrepreneurship training for corporates, government, and entrepreneurs. Programmes are accredited or non-accredited, nationally delivered across all provinces, and built around a proprietary 120-Point Business Diagnostic Assessment that informs customised development plans. Key named programmes include IBM Techscale, WomX, Business in a Box, Youth Entrepreneurship, and Industry-Specific ESD offerings.
Product overview
YIEDI (Youth, Innovation, Entrepreneurship Design Institute) is an enterprise development and entrepreneurship consultancy, not a software product company. Its offering consists entirely of consulting-led programmes and proprietary assessment tools. The core portfolio includes Enterprise and Supplier Development (ESD) Programmes, Business Acceleration and Incubation Programmes, Corporate ESD Programmes, and Industry-Specific ESD Programmes — all delivered as accredited or non-accredited offerings. Supporting programmes include the IBM Techscale Programme (delivered in partnership with IBM for Black tech companies), WomX (women entrepreneurs), the Business in a Box Programme (new entrants with company registration and e-commerce access), and Youth Entrepreneurship Programmes. A key proprietary tool is the 120-Point Business Diagnostic Assessment, which underpins the data-driven accelerator model by assessing businesses across financial systems, marketing, operations, compliance, and leadership. Mentorship and Volunteer Programmes complement the offering with structured mentoring and facilitation opportunities. YIEDI does not offer a SaaS platform, API, or standalone software product.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Enterprise and Supplier Development (ESD) Programmes Structured programmes that support entrepreneurs and small businesses through capability building, mentorship, market access, and supplier readiness development, delivered as accredited or non-accredited offerings for corporates and SMEs.
- Business Acceleration and Incubation Programmes Structured programmes helping early-stage and growth-stage SMEs build capability, move from survival to scalability, and access markets through mentorship, strategic guidance, and peer networks.
- Corporate ESD Programmes Flexibly designed programmes for corporate partners, delivered as either accredited or non-accredited offerings, supporting enterprise and supplier development objectives and BBBEE compliance.
- Industry-Specific ESD Programmes Sector-targeted development programmes designed to empower specific industries, transform supply chains, and build entrepreneurial capacity within key economic sectors.
- IBM Techscale Programme A six-month accelerator programme delivered in partnership with IBM South Africa, targeting established black-owned tech companies in financial services, healthcare, and telecommunications sectors. Participants receive mentorship, coaching, business development support, investor readiness training, and access to IBM's resources and networks.
- Business in a Box Programme A high-touch entrepreneurship programme for new entrants, providing tools to validate business ideas, company registration through CIPC, marketing and branding support, professional logo, electronic business cards, banners, and access to an e-commerce platform for selling products and services.
- WomX Programme A women-focused entrepreneurship development programme supporting women-owned businesses through enterprise development initiatives, mentorship, and market access opportunities.
- Youth Entrepreneurship Programmes Programmes designed to support young entrepreneurs, addressing youth unemployment by providing training, mentorship, access to networks, and opportunities for economic participation across South Africa.
- Mentorship and Volunteer Programmes Programmes offering mentorship and volunteer opportunities including Mentorship Mondays, school innovation sessions, business programme facilitation, and mentoring and advisory services for entrepreneurs and young founders.
- 120-Point Business Diagnostic Assessment A proprietary business diagnostic tool that assesses businesses across financial systems, marketing, operations, compliance, and leadership, producing a detailed diagnostic report informing customised development plans for programme participants.
Quantifiable outcome
- Over 1,500 businesses supported across Africa with measurable impact including 800+ beneficiaries and 400+ new jobs created
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use YIEDI
Customer profileNamed customers9 records
Segments6 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
YIEDI technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature1 record
YIEDI partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
18 partnerships are on record, tiered core and secondary.
- IBM South AfricacoreYIEDI implements the IBM Techscale programme on behalf of IBM SA, a six-month accelerator targeting established black-owned tech companies in financial services, healthcare, and telecommunications sectors. IBM provides resources, mentors, and market access opportunities for programme participants. Seven SA tech startups were welcomed into the programme, with IBM SA leadership committing to close engagement as businesses grow.
- WITS (University of the Witwatersrand)secondaryAcademic partnership for entrepreneurship education and research collaboration.
- University of Johannesburg (UJ)secondaryAcademic partnership for entrepreneurship education and programme delivery.
- Workshop 17secondaryWorkspace partner providing facilities for YIEDI operations across multiple locations including Sandton, Ballito, and Cape Town.
- Standard BanksecondaryCorporate partner for ESD and entrepreneurship development programmes.
- NedbanksecondaryCorporate partner for ESD and entrepreneurship development programmes.
- ABSAsecondaryCorporate partner for ESD and entrepreneurship development programmes.
- First National Bank (FNB)secondaryCorporate partner for ESD and entrepreneurship development programmes.
- SAB (South African Breweries)secondaryCorporate partner for ESD and entrepreneurship development programmes.
- T-SystemssecondaryCorporate partner for ESD and entrepreneurship development programmes.
- CSIR (Council for Scientific and Industrial Research)secondaryGovernment research organisation partner for innovation and entrepreneurship development.
- JSE (Johannesburg Stock Exchange)secondaryCorporate partner for ESD and entrepreneurship development programmes.
- EskomsecondaryState-owned enterprise partner for ESD and entrepreneurship development programmes.
- NWKsecondaryCorporate partner for ESD and entrepreneurship development programmes.
- GijimasecondaryCorporate partner for ESD and entrepreneurship development programmes.
- Britehouse Specialist SAP DivisionsecondaryTechnology corporate partner for ESD and entrepreneurship development programmes.
- Branson CentresecondaryEntrepreneurship centre partner for programme delivery and ecosystem development.
- TEEC (Tshwane University of Technology Entrepreneurship Centre)secondaryAcademic partner for G.D Open Programme delivery.
Scale indicators6 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
YIEDI competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Edge Growth: South African enterprise and supplier development (ESD) and SME growth specialist. Directly comparable to YIEDI in serving large corporates' B-BBEE/ESD needs and running SME acceleration programmes.
- Endeavor South Africa: High-impact entrepreneurship support organisation supporting scale-up entrepreneurs through mentorship and networks. Comparable to YIEDI's mentorship-led acceleration model for growth-stage SMEs.
- Branson Centre of Entrepreneurship: South African entrepreneurship centre offering mentorship and acceleration for entrepreneurs. Listed as a YIEDI partner and comparable in target segment and programme design.
- Awethu Project: South African-based entrepreneur identification and acceleration platform targeting early-stage ventures. Comparable to YIEDI's SME acceleration and entrepreneurship-development programmes.
- The Hope Factory: South African entrepreneur development and mentorship organisation pairing corporate mentors with SMEs. Directly comparable to YIEDI's mentorship and ESD programme delivery.
- Shanduka Black Umbrellas (Black Umbrellas): South African non-profit SME incubation and enterprise development provider, originally spun out of Shanduka Foundation. Closely comparable to YIEDI in delivering corporate-backed SME acceleration and mentorship programmes.
- SmartStart (SmartStart Technology): South African entrepreneur-development platform focused on small business survival and growth, particularly township entrepreneurship. Closely comparable to YIEDI's township and SME development focus.
Emerging players
- Tony Elumelu Foundation: Pan-African entrepreneurship development programme providing training, mentorship and seed capital to African entrepreneurs. Comparable in mission to YIEDI but broader African footprint and larger scale.
- Harambee Youth Employment Accelerator: South African youth employment and skills development organisation working with corporates and government. Partially comparable to YIEDI's youth entrepreneurship programmes and corporate/government contracting model.
Regional players
- African Leadership Academy: Pan-African leadership and entrepreneurship development institution for youth. Adjacent to YIEDI's youth entrepreneurship programmes, with stronger brand and broader African reach.
Market position
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
YIEDI social profiles
Digital presenceYIEDI financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
YIEDI leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles1 record
YIEDI funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
YIEDI M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about YIEDI
What does YIEDI do?
YIEDI is a South African enterprise development consultancy that designs and delivers Enterprise and Supplier Development (ESD) programmes, SME acceleration and incubation initiatives, and entrepreneurship training for corporates, government, and entrepreneurs. Programmes are accredited or non-accredited, nationally delivered across all provinces, and built around a proprietary 120-Point Business Diagnostic Assessment that informs customised development plans. Key named programmes include IBM Techscale, WomX, Business in a Box, Youth Entrepreneurship, and Industry-Specific ESD offerings.
Is YIEDI a public or private company?
YIEDI is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was YIEDI founded?
YIEDI was founded in 2014. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is YIEDI based?
YIEDI is headquartered in Sandown, South Africa, in the Africa region.
How does YIEDI make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Corporate ESD Programme Delivery is the primary driver. The others are government and Development Organisation Contracts and sponsorship and Donations.
Who are YIEDI's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Edge Growth, Endeavor South Africa, Branson Centre of Entrepreneurship, Awethu Project, The Hope Factory, Shanduka Black Umbrellas (Black Umbrellas) and SmartStart (SmartStart Technology). Emerging players are Tony Elumelu Foundation and Harambee Youth Employment Accelerator. African Leadership Academy is listed as a regional player.
Does YIEDI have an API?
No public API is recorded for YIEDI.
What industry is YIEDI in?
YIEDI's product category is Enterprise Development Consulting. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPAHAFAJ, ESG Governance, Sustainability Reporting & Assurance Advisory. Its NAICS code is 54 and its SIC code is 8700.