New funding initiative targets SA SMEs

by SAVIOUS KWINIKA 
JOHANNESBURG, (CAJ News) – A new national initiative aimed at helping South African small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) navigate the funding landscape was launched in Johannesburg on Wednesday, with its creators promising a simpler route to relevant finance.

Access to Finance™, created and powered by the National Small Business Chamber (NSBC) Africa, was officially launched in partnership with TransUnion Africa at The Business Show: Africa 2026 at the Sandton Convention Centre.

The initiative is designed to help SMEs better understand their funding requirements and, where they meet qualifying criteria, connect with participating funders whose solutions align with their business and financing needs.

Mike Anderson, founder and chief executive of NSBC Africa, launched the initiative at the opening of the two-day business event, which brings together entrepreneurs, business owners, executives, funders and major brands.

For many smaller businesses, securing finance can be a complex process.

Entrepreneurs may struggle to determine whether their businesses are ready for funding, identify the most suitable form of finance or find funders that match their particular circumstances.

Access to Finance™ seeks to address those challenges through a structured digital journey that helps businesses assess their funding needs before connecting them with relevant funding opportunities.

Rather than simply presenting SMEs with a list of potential funders, the initiative aims to improve the alignment between businesses seeking capital and providers offering appropriate financial solutions.

TransUnion Africa, the initiative’s exclusive credit bureau partner, will support the programme as part of a shared goal of strengthening SME participation in South Africa’s financial ecosystem.

Lee Naik, chief executive and regional president of TransUnion Africa, said better data visibility could help viable businesses become more visible to lenders and improve access to credit.

“Small businesses are one of South Africa’s most important engines of growth and job creation,” Naik said, adding that stronger financial profiles could help lenders make more informed decisions.

Anderson said the initiative was intended to make the funding journey “smarter, simpler and more connected”, enabling finance-ready businesses to move closer to the capital they need to invest and expand.

The launch forms part of NSBC Africa’s broader business-growth ecosystem.

The non-profit organisation has spent more than 18 years supporting entrepreneurship and SME development by connecting businesses with knowledge, markets, funding, opportunities and networks.

The initiative’s broader ambition is to strengthen the link between SMEs and the organisations that finance growth, while helping more businesses become funding-ready.

For South Africa’s entrepreneurs, that could mean less time navigating an often fragmented funding landscape — and more time focused on building businesses, creating jobs and contributing to economic growth.

– CAJ News