Masisizane Fund Launches Programme to Help South African SMEs Unlock Growth Capital
Masisizane Fund Launches Programme to Help South African SMEs Unlock Growth Capital. Masisizane Fund has launched a 12-month programme designed to help established South African small and medium-sized enterprises strengthen their businesses and prepare to secure growth capital.
The Masisizane Investment Readiness Programme (MIRP) targets businesses that have demonstrated market traction but may still have financial, operational, governance or compliance gaps that can make it difficult to attract funding.
Rather than providing funding alone, the programme will offer business development support, mentorship, financial and operational strengthening, governance assistance, growth planning and specialist advisory services.
Masisizane investment head Thabang Hleza said the programme is designed to help SMEs build the systems, governance structures, financial records and growth plans expected by investors.
MIRP will use a five-stage framework beginning with a diagnostic assessment of each participating business’s financial, operational, governance and compliance capabilities. The findings will inform an individual growth roadmap containing actions, milestones, timelines and accountability measures.
Businesses will also receive assistance with investor documentation and data room preparation, while their progress will be monitored against agreed milestones.
The programme is intended to support businesses seeking funding of between R1 million and R20 million. According to Masisizane, participants should complete the programme with stronger internal systems, improved visibility of business performance, investment documentation and a clearer growth strategy.
Two implementation partners will deliver the programme. Fetola will focus on agribusiness and manufacturing, while 22 On Sloane, in partnership with Teksa Holdings, will focus on logistics and services.
Eligible businesses must be formally registered and operating in South Africa, be at least 51% black-owned, have operated for at least three years and generate annual revenue between R1 million and R50 million.
MIRP is open nationally, with preference given to businesses in high-impact regions, women-owned enterprises and businesses owned or managed by people living with disabilities.
Applications are open through the programme’s implementation partners for eligible SMEs in the respective sectors.
