Uplifting MSMEs with access to funding
104+ Growth and Empowerment Solution
The 104+ SMME Support Platform is a dynamic initiative designed to bridge the gap between small, medium, and micro enterprises (SMMEs) and the resources they need to thrive in South Africa’s evolving economy. Powered by collaborative partnerships across the public and private sectors, the platform offers a comprehensive directory of funding, market access, training, and support services tailored to the needs of emerging businesses. By simplifying access to opportunities and enabling more inclusive economic participation, 104+ SMME Solution aims to unlock the full potential of South Africa’s entrepreneurial ecosystem.
What 104+ offers:
Debt financing (senior, mezzanine, or subordinated) from a minimum of R10 million, structured around the South African prime interest rate.
Businesses connected to the Sanlam ecosystem get added preference.
The ability to withdraw money at any time.
Requirements
Location: South African MSMEs, or rest of Africa
Turnover limit: < R200,000,000 annually
B-BBEE/Empowerment Credentials: Preference for strong empowerment, but not required
Business Type: Commercially viable MSMs (emphasis on MSEs)
Social/Environmental Impact: Must create jobs and have positive impact (implicit in growth focus)
Investment instruments: Debt (senior, mezzanine, subordinated) with interest/equity kickers
Return expectations: Target return = South African Prime interest rate p.a.
Minimum Investment Size: ≥ R10,000,000 (exceptions possible)
Exposure Limits: ≤ 10% of Total Committed Capital per beneficiary (15% with approval); ≤ 25% per entity/group (35% with approval)
Sanlam Ecosystem Preference: Yes (preference for businesses leveraging Sanlam marketplaces)
On the website we notice that there are other requirements, please replace it with this
Sanlam SANParks Rural SMME Programme
The Sanlam SMME Fund is an Interest Free, early-stage investment vehicle, providing purchase order funding to small, medium, and micro enterprises (SMMEs) who supply SANParks with goods and services. The objective of the Sanlam SMME Fund is to help SMMEs to fulfil their procurement commitments, which are impediments to economic participation, and in so doing, demonstrate the Sanlam Group’s confidence and commitment to the growth of the SMME sector, the creation of jobs and ultimately strengthening the economy.
Requirements
SMMEs operating in and around South Africa’s national parks that have secured purchase orders within SANParks
Majority Black-owned SMMEs
SMMEs that operate within 50kms radius of the park’s gates and with some parks it will be 100kms or 300kms radius depending on the park
Youth4Business
Youth4Business is a dynamic initiative between YES and Sanlam, that supports small businesses in key sectors including creative, green, and digital. We’re committed to building sustainable livelihoods by integrating youth-owned enterprises into supply chains to unlock new opportunities for youth and drive economic growth.
Requirements
We help South Africans with valid SA IDs who are between 18–35 years old
They must own or co-own a registered or operational business
They must be able to commit to the programme’s activities, training, and check-ins
Please note that applications for this year have now closed. The intake for 2027 will be advertised in due course. Kindly keep an eye on this website for updates.
ASISA ESD Fund
This fund invests in enterprises with high growth potential, supply chain alignment, differentiated competitive advantage and the strategic business fundamentals required to succeed. ASISA ESD Fund invest in equity, debt, or combined structured deals of between R1m and R30m to support businesses requiring expansion capital to grow and create jobs and social impact.
Resilient Investment Fund
This fund is focused on providing capital to entrepreneurs and commercially viable SME businesses that are well positioned to address some of South Africa’s most pressing challenges, and the Sustainable Infrastructure Fund that aims to foster greater pipelines of infrastructure investment through corporate and industrial sponsors.
Requirements
Needs to be an established SME with at least 3 years in operation and audited Financial Statements
Loan size – R20m to R100m
Ability to repay loan and interest over a maximum of 5 years
Operations are not harmful to people or planet