Oyster farmer secures N$100 000 support
Dean Brandt’s oyster mushroom venture has been awarded N$50 000 in seed funding after winning the 2025/26 SanlamAllianz Bridge Programme in Windhoek, in a boost for efforts to turn Namibia’s encroacher bush problem into a commercial agricultural opportunity.
Brandt, founder of Brandt Auster Farming CC, produces oyster mushrooms using encroacher bush as a sustainable growing substrate, an approach aimed at converting invasive biomass into a productive input while supporting local food production.
His win brings total programme support to N$100 000, following earlier assistance provided through the SanlamAllianz Bridge Programme, which is designed to help early-stage entrepreneurs strengthen business models, improve operations and access markets and finance.
The five-month programme, implemented by SanlamAllianz in partnership with the Namibia Investment Promotion and Development Board (Namibia Investment Promotion and Development Board), supports selected entrepreneurs through structured coaching, mentorship and seed capital injections.
At the graduation ceremony in Windhoek, officials said the initiative is intended to address persistent barriers facing micro, small and medium enterprises, particularly around financial management, operational systems
and scaling capacity.
“The programme was designed to help entrepreneurs strengthen their operational systems, financial management and strategic planning while addressing barriers to growth,” said Nankela Amupadhi, MSME business Advisory Services Manager at NIPDB.
Other participants also highlighted the role of funding and mentorship in enabling expansion. Bruno Nghimwena, founder of Moonsnack, said seed capital received through the programme helped his business secure product barcoding and expand distribution into more than 60 retail outlets in Namibia and a further 120 stores in Botswana.
SanlamAllianz said the Bridge Programme is intended to convert early-stage ideas into investable enterprises, with a focus on sustainability, scalability and job creation in Namibia’s MSME sector.
“Entrepreneurship is not simply about building businesses; it is about building people who can build businesses,” said Natasha Bassingthwaighte, project manager at Impact Tank (Impact Tank), adding that the programme bridges the gap between ambition and execution.
The programme forms part of broader efforts to strengthen Namibia’s small business ecosystem, with emphasis on innovation-led enterprises and green growth opportunities such as agricultural circular economy models.
