Shawn Theunissen
Property Point Founder
Jackie van Niekerk
Attacq
CEO
Green Seeds an innovative development programme co-created by Attacq and Property Point is designed to turn small businesses into scalable players in the green economy
Ten South African entrepreneurs developing innovative green solutions have been selected to join the second Green Seeds Competition, a national accelerator designed to drive sustainability and inclusive growth in the property and built environment sectors. The new cohort was officially inducted during a launch event held in Waterfall City, marking the start of their 12-month journey of mentorship, pilot opportunities, and business development.
Hosted by leading business accelerator Property Point in partnership with Attacq, the JSE-listed real estate investment trust, the programme supports black-owned small businesses with commercially viable solutions to environmental and operational challenges. Over the next 12 months, participants will receive mentorship, design-thinking support, and access to pilot opportunities within Attacq’s property portfolio.
The initiative comes at a time when South Africa is intensifying efforts to build climate resilience and unlock inclusive economic growth. As environmental pressures and sustainability imperatives continue to shape the future of business, the Green Seeds Competition aims to build a pipeline of investable, black-owned green enterprises, that demonstrate how innovation can drive both transformation and impact.
Selected from a National pool of applicants, 2025 includes ten enterprises from six provinces, chosen for their innovation, scalability, and potential to deliver measurable environmental and social impact.
Among those selected are:
House Harvest (Makhanda, Eastern Cape) – Innovating sustainable farming through solar- powered aquaponics and eco-friendly waste management.
ATOK Aluminium Solutions (Polokwane, Limpopo) – Specialists in sustainable aluminium products.
A1 ICT Trading (Mbombela, Mpumalanga) – Delivering ICT and telecom solutions that drive smart business operations.
IC AGRI PLASTIC (Rustenburg, North-West) – Producing durable agricultural materials from recycled plastics and tyres.
Letlotlo (Rustenburg, North-West) – Developing sustainable business innovations that serve local communities.
GreenX (Stellenbosch, Western Cape) – Advancing clean-tech and sustainable enterprise development
LEEP Solutions (Cape Town, Western Cape) – Offering advanced environmental and energy efficiency solutions.
Joburg Ash (Johannesburg, Gauteng) – Transforming industrial waste into sustainable building materials.
Greener Pastures (Benoni, Gauteng) – Driving sustainable agriculture and livestock management.
OPS360 (Alberton, Gauteng) – Delivering advanced property and operational management technologies.
According to Property Point Founder Shawn Theunissen, the Green Seeds initiative is about transforming potential into performance by giving small businesses access to the markets, mentorship, and networks they need to thrive.
“South Africa’s most powerful innovations are coming from small businesses solving big problems,” Theunissen said. “Through Green Seeds, we’re helping those ideas grow into enterprises that can scale, employ, and lead.”
The programme, he explained combines technical business development with pilot access, allowing entrepreneurs to test and refine their models in real-world commercial environments.
Attacq CEO Jackie van Niekerk said the initiative reflected the company’s long-term commitment to sustainability and innovation within the property sector. “At Attacq, sustainability is part of our business strategy and values,” she said. “Through this partnership, we’re investing in innovators who are helping shape the property sector’s future. When corporates open doors for entrepreneurs, transformation becomes real.”
“The real story here,” says van Niekerk, “is that this model connects the dots between the green economy and enterprise development. It’s about linking innovation at the margins to formal corporate value chains, something South Africa has been missing for years.”
A Year of Growth and Proof
The first Green Seeds cohort, launched in 2024, already showed tangible results. It’s winner, Ingqwele Consulting, developed an energy management system projected to save Attacq R1.25 million annually through behavioural and data-driven energy efficiency – proof that local entrepreneurs can deliver measurable change.
Participants in the 2025 programme will undergo a structured 12-month journey that includes baseline business assessments, design thinking workshops, and mentorship from industry experts. They will also plan and execute pilot projects across Attacq properties before presenting their refined, market-ready innovations at a Final Showcase in July 2026.
Theunissen concluded, “We’re seeing a clear shift from corporate social responsibility to corporate co-creation. Together we are partnering to use our ecosystems as living laboratories for innovation, and that’s how real change happens.” Gutentor Advanced Text