Thursday, July 3, 2025
Techgist Africa | Africa Leading Tech News, Reviews and Tips
  • News
    • World News
    • World Regional News
    • News – East Africa
    • News – West Africa
    • News – South Africa
    • News – Middle East And North Africa
  • The Big 5
  • Specials
  • Opportunities
  • Innovators
  • Events
  • Videos
  • Contact
No Result
View All Result
Techgist Africa | Africa Leading Tech News, Reviews and Tips
  • News
    • World News
    • World Regional News
    • News – East Africa
    • News – West Africa
    • News – South Africa
    • News – Middle East And North Africa
  • The Big 5
  • Specials
  • Opportunities
  • Innovators
  • Events
  • Videos
  • Contact
No Result
View All Result
Techgist Africa | Africa Leading Tech News, Reviews and Tips
No Result
View All Result
Home Africa

South Africa Launches $95m Fund to Grow Small Businesses

Tech Gist Africa by Tech Gist Africa
04/18/2019
in Africa, News
0 0
0
South Africa Launches $95m Fund to Grow Small Businesses

Photocredit: forbes.com

0
SHARES
Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

In order to grow the South African economy, President Cyril Ramaphosa has unveiled a $95 million fund to be invested in Small and Medium Scale Enterprises and startups operating in the country.

The South African SME Fund is an initiative stemmed from the CEO Initiative which was set up by the heads of major firms to address some of the most significant challenges restraining the country’s economic growth, particularly in the SME sector.

The scheme will fund SMEs with turnover between $1.40 million and $35.23 million and will support ten prominent black businesses, 200 SMEs, and five black entrepreneurs over the next five years. Just like any VC funding initiatives, it will help in the mentoring of the enterprises to be invested in.

“This initiative is beginning to pay off and is operating at a level that matters most. SMEs create the jobs we need the most. It is the SMEs you are targeting, and that is precisely where we want you to keep your focus,” said Ramaphosa in a launch speech in Johannesburg.


See also: Morocco-based Outlierz Ventures Announce 5 African Startup Investments


The fund, equivalent to ZAR 1.4 billion includes pledges from South African businesses and already, R725 million ($50 million) has been committed. Ketso Gordhan, the CEO of SA SME Fund said that the fund will be the largest institutional venture capital investment in South Africa.

“The ecosystem is broader than just funders — funders that will create the impact process that is required. What we are seeking to do is address the challenge of unemployment, which is huge. There are certain initiatives we can embark on to address it”, said Ramaphosa.

The fund was set up under the leadership of South Africa’s top-echelon business leaders, with Adrian Gore, the CEO of Discovery as chairperson, and celebrity banker Michael Jordaan as the fund’s Investment Committee Head.

According to the World Bank, SMEs play a significant role in most economies, particularly in developing countries. Formal SMEs contribute up to 60% of total employment and up to 40% of national income (GDP) in emerging economies. These numbers are significantly higher when informal SMEs are included.

“With this fund, small and medium enterprises with growth potential would be identified and put through partnerships with our members, who would offer them support and access to new markets. The fund is about creating the growth for black businesses and building them into companies that would contribute to employment, which is the biggest problem facing the country,” said Gore at the launch.

 

More on TechGist Africa:

  • Farmcrowdy Lands Additional Seed Funding of $1 million
  • Daystar Power Closes $10 million Investments for Expansion in West Africa
  • Miss.Africa Initiative Announces Seed Funding of $5000 for Women in Africa
  • GreenTec Capital to Promote Investment in African ventures
  • Nigerian Firm ‘Pan African Towers’ Signs $20 million Investment Deal
ShareTweet
Plugin Install : Subscribe Push Notification need OneSignal plugin to be installed.
Tech Gist Africa

Tech Gist Africa

Tech Gist Africa is a leading online technology and digital media outlet, dedicated to providing latest tech news, product launch, startup news across Africa and sharing simple social media and digital marketing tips for startups, entrepreneurs and business owners.

Related Posts

Apple WWDC 2025
Events

Apple Unveils iOS 26, macOS Tahoe, and AI Innovations at WWDC 2025

by Tech Gist Africa
06/15/2025
0

Apple kicked off its annual Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC) with a series of announcements highlighting significant advancements in software design...

Read more
Zero Carbon Charge South Africa

Zero Carbon Charge, a South African startup secures US$5.6 Million investment

06/15/2025
Kera Senegal

KERA, a Senegalese E-Health Startup Secures $10 Million Funding

06/15/2025
Nile South Africa

Nile, a South African Agri-Tech Startup Secures $11.3 Million in a funding round

06/15/2025
DHL Group

DHL Group to Invest $575 Million in Healthcare and Logistics Expansion Across Africa and the Middle East

06/15/2025
Next Post
Absa, Pivotal Software to Hold SpringOne Tour in South Africa

Absa, Pivotal Software to Hold SpringOne Tour in South Africa

African Development Bank

AfDB Approves €12.5 million Investment, Targeting SMEs in Francophone West Africa

Ericsson, Orange roll out 4G network in Sierra Leone

Ericsson, Orange roll out 4G network in Sierra Leone

No Result
View All Result

The Big 5

Blockchain

The Role of Blockchain in Enhancing Africa’s Financial Systems and Security

by Tech Gist Africa
06/30/2025
0

...

Artificial Intelligence

How Artificial Intelligence is Transforming Industries Across Africa

by Tech Gist Africa
06/23/2025
0

...

Africa startups

Kenyan Startups Invited to Apply for €100,000 develoPPP Ventures Grant

by Tech Gist Africa
06/15/2025
0

...

Neuralink Elon Musk

Neuralink Secures $650 Million in Series E Funding to Advance Brain Implant Technology

by Tech Gist Africa
06/15/2025
0

...

Telegram Grok

Telegram Scores $300 Million xAI Deal to Integrate Grok Across One Billion Users

by Tech Gist Africa
06/15/2025
0

...

TGA

  • About us
  • Terms and Conditions
  • Privacy Policy
  • Contact

TGA

  • About us
  • Terms and Conditions
  • Privacy Policy
  • Contact

AFRICA

  • Made In Africa
  • People
    • Tech Leaders
    • Innovator of the Week
  • Start-Up Spotlight

NEWS

  • Africa News
  • World News

THE BIG 5

  • Big 5 Daily
  • Weekly News Roundup

SPECIALS

  • Guest Articles
  • How Tos
  • Op-Eds
  • Reviews
  • Tech Leaders
  • Tips

VIDEOS

  • Interviews
  • Tech Videos

TGA

  • About us
  • Terms and Conditions
  • Privacy Policy
  • Contact

AFRICA

  • Made In Africa
  • People
    • Tech Leaders
    • Innovator of the Week
  • Start-Up Spotlight

NEWS

  • Africa News
  • World News

THE BIG 5

  • Big 5 Daily
  • Weekly News Roundup

SPECIALS

  • Guest Articles
  • How Tos
  • Op-Eds
  • Reviews
  • Tech Leaders
  • Tips

VIDEOS

  • Interviews
  • Tech Videos

Copyright © 2020 Techgistafrica. All Rights Reserved

No Result
View All Result
  • News
    • World News
    • World Regional News
    • News – East Africa
    • News – West Africa
    • News – South Africa
    • News – Middle East And North Africa
  • The Big 5
  • Specials
  • Opportunities
  • Innovators
  • Events
  • Videos
  • Contact

Copyright © 2019 TECHGISTAFRICA. All Rights Reserved

Welcome Back!

Login to your account below

Forgotten Password?

Retrieve your password

Please enter your username or email address to reset your password.

Log In
This website uses cookies. By continuing to use this website you are giving consent to cookies being used. Visit our Privacy and Cookie Policy.