2025 · Summit Recap
SME Funding
Summit 2025
Relive the 2025 SME Funding Summit. On 12 June 2025, entrepreneurs, funders and ecosystem players came together in Johannesburg to tackle funding readiness and growth.
The day opened up real conversations, unpacked industry data and gave small businesses practical tools to take their next step.
- 12 June 2025
- 08:00 to 17:00
- The Empire, 16 Empire Rd, Parktown, Johannesburg
500+
business owners at the 2025 SME Funding Summit.
Missed it? Watch the sessions, then join the early-access list to be first to hear about 2027.
Watch the Sessions See the 2026 Summit500+
Attendees
30+
Speakers
15+
Exhibitors
10
Funders
Key Topics & Actionable Insights
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State of Small Business Funding
Where the money is going, who gets approved and why, drawn from industry data.
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Bootstrapping & Pre-Seed Funding
Building on your own revenue first, then what it takes to raise the very first round without the common traps.
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Building a Strong Pitch Deck
The slides, numbers and story funders expect to see before they say yes.
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Alternative Funding Options
Non-traditional routes to capital beyond the bank loan.
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What Venture Capitalists Look For
How VCs and angel investors judge a business, straight from the people who invest.
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Sector Tracks
Agribusiness, fintech and technology funding, with funders from each sector.
The 2025 Programme
Three parts, one day
Part 1: Early-Stage Funding
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Welcome and introduction
Velly Bosega · CEO, SME South Africa
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The SME Landscape Report and the SME South Africa partnership
Darlene Menzies · CEO, Finfind
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Address by the Deputy Minister of Small Business Development
Jane Sithole · Deputy Minister of Small Business Development
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Bootstrapping 101: how to self-fund your startup
Sheldon Tatchell · Founder and CEO, Legends Barber
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Exhibitor introductions
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Panel discussion
Seed funding essentials: what investors are looking for
Sthembiso Zwane · Partner, Grovest
Jade Kirkel · Co-Founder and CEO, Joy Joy
Part 2: Growth-Stage Funding
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Building a strong pitch deck for early-stage funding
Donald Valoyi · Founder and CEO, Zulzi
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Access to finance
Gary Markson · Head: Coverage Business and Commercial Banking, African Bank
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Panel discussion
Alternative funding options for early-stage entrepreneurs
Jedd Harris · Chief Strategy Officer, Sourcefin
Thandeka Dludla · Business Manager, Old Mutual -
Panel discussion
What venture capitalists and angel investors are looking for
Jameel Khan · Co-Founder, Unconventional CA
Shaun Naidoo · Group Executive, Vunani Limited
Part 3: Industry-Specific Funding
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Funding trends and insights
Louise Naidoo · Product Head: FNB Commercial (Transact)
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Agri-business funding
Litha Kutta · Head: Partnership Development and Ecosystem Coordination, Land Bank
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Panel discussion
Fintech funding: disrupting traditional financial models
Hlengiwe Makhathini · Chief Investment Officer, IDF Capital
Mokgome Mogoba · Founder and Managing Partner, Kholo Capital
2025 Speakers
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Jane Sithole
Deputy Minister of Small Business Development
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Velly Bosega
CEO, SME South Africa
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Darlene Menzies
CEO, Finfind
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Sheldon Tatchell
Founder and CEO, Legends Barber
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Jade Kirkel
Co-Founder and CEO, Joy Joy
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Sthembiso Zwane
Partner, Grovest
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Donald Valoyi
Founder and CEO, Zulzi
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Gary Markson
Head: Coverage Business and Commercial Banking, African Bank
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Jedd Harris
Chief Strategy Officer, Sourcefin
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Thandeka Dludla
Business Manager, Old Mutual
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Jameel Khan
Co-Founder, Unconventional CA
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Shaun Naidoo
Group Executive, Vunani Limited
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Louise Naidoo
Product Head: FNB Commercial (Transact)
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Litha Kutta
Head: Partnership Development and Ecosystem Coordination, Land Bank
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Hlengiwe Makhathini
Chief Investment Officer, IDF Capital
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Mokgome Mogoba
Founder and Managing Partner, Kholo Capital
Gallery & Highlights
Founders, funders and the people who back small business, in one room for a day: the sessions, the panels and the conversations on the exhibition floor.
Johannesburg · 2025
The audience during a 2025 session
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Deputy Minister of Small Business Development, Jane Sithole
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Deputy Minister Jane Sithole with Velly Bosega
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Darlene Menzies presenting the SME Landscape Report
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The seed funding panel
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The venture capital and angel investor panel
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The fintech funding panel
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Sheldon Tatchell in the auditorium
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Litha Kutta on agri-business funding
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Jedd Harris on alternative funding
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The FNB exhibition stand
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The Business Partners exhibition stand
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The Old Mutual SMEgo exhibition stand
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The Sourcefin exhibition stand
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The Flow48 exhibition stand
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The SME Funding Summit team
Summit Insights & Impact
The 2025 Funding Summit delivered tangible value to the SMME ecosystem. By focusing on practical, actionable advice, the day moved beyond theory and gave entrepreneurs the real-world tools they need to grow.
A key outcome was the announcement of new partnerships aimed at SME development, including a notable R300m commitment from the Inclusive Justice Institute to support small businesses in the tech and agri sectors, showing the summit's role as a catalyst for significant investment.
Partner with the summit
The 2025 partners and exhibitors put their funding, banking and support in front of the business owners who need it. Put your brand in the room for the next one.
2025 Partners
The brands that backed the 2025 summit
- SME Advice
What 2025 Attendees Said
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"It was nice to hear what the funder expects from us to qualify for grants."
Glory Fankomo
2025 Attendee
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"It was inspiring to hear that there is so much funding out there! Speakers were candid and were reachable."
Lerato Mapekula
2025 Attendee
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"The highlight of my day was getting to meet so many similar people and hearing that the same people like us got through their success with the same reason why we were there — funding!"
Lord-Byron
2025 Attendee
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"Meeting other entrepreneurs from different industries, as well as the presentation, were parts of the highlights of the day."
Vuyolwethu Bobelo
2025 Attendee
2025 · Summit Recap
See You at
the Next One.
Thank you to every founder, funder and partner who made the 2025 SME Funding Summit happen. Join the early-access list to be first in line for 2027.