FUNDING NEWS

Access to institutional capital remains one of the biggest barriers to growth for small and emerging finance businesses. While demand for SME finance is strong, funders require a high level of structure, financial discipline, and strategic clarity before approving wholesale funding. This case study highlights how Funding Connection supported a small order finance business to successfully secure funding from the SEFDA Wholesale Fund , resulting in an approval twice the amount

The Small Enterprise Finance Agency (SEFA)  is one of South Africa’s key government funding institutions. It was created to support small, micro, and survivalist businesses  that often struggle to access bank finance. SEFA provides loans, credit guarantees, and business support to help entrepreneurs start and grow their businesses. 1. Start-Up Funding SEFA finances new businesses that are still in the early stages or not yet trading. They support: First-time entrepreneurs Sma

The National Empowerment Fund (NEF)  is one of South Africa’s leading development finance institutions, focused on supporting Black-owned businesses . The NEF provides both loans and equity finance to help entrepreneurs start, grow, or buy businesses. Below is a complete guide on what they finance and what entrepreneurs can expect. 1. Start-Up Businesses The NEF finances new businesses that are not yet trading or have only recently started. They look for: A clear business mod

The Industrial Development Corporation (IDC)  is one of South Africa’s largest development finance institutions. Its goal is to support industrial growth, job creation, and economic transformation. The IDC mainly finances medium to large projects, high-impact industries, and businesses that can expand production in South Africa. Below is a full, easy-to-understand guide on what the IDC can finance. 1. Large-Scale Start-Ups and New Industrial Projects The IDC finances new indu

For many emerging farmers and agri-entrepreneurs in South Africa, the dream of owning a farm or scaling an operation is often stalled by a critical barrier: access to affordable capital. Traditional loans can be daunting, and grant funding is highly competitive. Recognising this challenge, the Land and Agricultural Development Bank of South Africa (Land Bank) offers a powerful solution: Blended Finance. This innovative funding model is specifically designed to make agricultur

SEFA provides financial support to small and medium enterprises (SMMEs) and co-operatives of up to R 15 million. Their funding is designed to cover various business needs, from starting up to expanding. 1. Types of Financing Offered: SEDFA offers three main types of funding, often in combination: Debt Finance (Loans): This is the most common. It's a sum of money provided to a business that must be paid back over an agreed period with interest. Loan amounts can range from mic

Starting a business or scaling an existing one often requires capital. The traditional methods of financing are evolving, and many entrepreneurs are exploring a range of options to secure funding. In this post, we will delve into various ways you can finance your business growth, highlighting the advantages and disadvantages of each method. Understanding Business Finance Business finance is the backbone of any startup or growing enterprise. Without sufficient funds, it can be

Here is something that can help your business during the COVID-19 crisis – bridging finance! Bridging finance or a bridge loan is a short-term loan offered by commercial banks that allow your company to meet current obligations by providing immediate cash flow. Bridge loans are short term, up to one year, have relatively high interest rates and are usually backed by some form of collateral, such as real estate or inventory. The lenders can customise these loans for many diffe

THE NATIONAL YOUTH DEVELOPMENT AGENCY, INDUSTRIAL DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION AND SMALL ENTERPRISE FINANCE AGENCY HAVE LAUNCHED A...

The cooperation agreement signed by IDC, SEFA and NYDA will result in a coordinated approach to provide funding and support services to...

The Industrial Development Corporation (IDC) and the German Development Bank (KfW) have partnered to make a R500-million facility...