Skip to main content

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
In the Room

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 Summit

  • 500+

    Attendees

  • 30+

    Speakers

  • 15+

    Exhibitors

  • 10

    Funders

Key Topics & Actionable Insights

  • State of Small Business Funding

    Where the money is going, who gets approved and why, drawn from industry data.

  • Bootstrapping & Pre-Seed Funding

    Building on your own revenue first, then what it takes to raise the very first round without the common traps.

  • Building a Strong Pitch Deck

    The slides, numbers and story funders expect to see before they say yes.

  • Alternative Funding Options

    Non-traditional routes to capital beyond the bank loan.

  • What Venture Capitalists Look For

    How VCs and angel investors judge a business, straight from the people who invest.

  • Sector Tracks

    Agribusiness, fintech and technology funding, with funders from each sector.

The 2025 Programme

Three parts, one day

Part 1: Early-Stage Funding

  1. Address by the Deputy Minister of Small Business Development

    Jane Sithole · Deputy Minister of Small Business Development

  2. Welcome and introduction

    Velly Bosega · CEO, SME South Africa

  3. Bootstrapping 101: how to self-fund your startup

    Sheldon Tatchell · Founder and CEO, Legends Barber

  4. The SME Landscape Report and the SME South Africa partnership

    Darlene Menzies · CEO, Finfind

  5. Exhibitor introductions

  6. 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

  1. Building a strong pitch deck for early-stage funding

    Donald Valoyi · Founder and CEO, Zulzi

  2. Access to finance

    Gary Markson · Head: Coverage Business and Commercial Banking, African Bank

  3. Panel discussion

    Alternative funding options for early-stage entrepreneurs

    Jedd Harris · Chief Strategy Officer, Sourcefin
    Thandeka Dludla · Business Manager, Old Mutual

  4. 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

  1. Funding trends and insights

    Louise Naidoo · Product Head: FNB Commercial (Transact)

  2. Agri-business funding

    Litha Kutta · Head: Partnership Development and Ecosystem Coordination, Land Bank

  3. 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

Johannesburg · 12 June 2025

Gallery & Highlights

Outcomes

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.

2025 Exhibitors

  • Business Partners
  • FNB
  • Flow48
  • Flowcode
  • Fund the People
  • Fyrebox
  • GEP
  • Get Funds
  • Innovation Hub
  • Old Mutual SMEgo
  • Oricred
  • PSTM
  • SME Advice
  • Sourcefin
In Their Words

What 2025 Attendees Said

  • "It was nice to hear what the funder expects from us to qualify for grants."

    Glory Fankomo

    2025 Attendee

  • "It was inspiring to hear that there is so much funding out there! Speakers were candid and were reachable."

    Lerato Mapekula

    2025 Attendee

  • "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

  • "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.

12 June 2025 The Recap

Report

Harassment or bullying behavior
Contains mature or sensitive content
Contains misleading or false information
Contains abusive or derogatory content
Contains spam, fake content or potential malware

Block Member?

Please confirm you want to block this member.

You will no longer be able to:

  • See blocked member's posts
  • Mention this member in posts
  • Invite this member to groups
  • Message this member
  • Add this member as a connection

Please note: This action will also remove this member from your connections and send a report to the site admin. Please allow a few minutes for this process to complete.

Report

You have already reported this .