Day: 24 March 2025

Are you bootstrapping your business, but just not stretching your Rands enough, or do you think there’s something you’re not doing right? Well, the SME South Africa Funding Summit will cover the ins and outs of bootstrapping a business.

Bootstrapping might not be the most preferred method of funding a business, but it’s one of the most practical, and it’s how many entrepreneurs start, even if they do get other forms of funding down the line.

Initially bootstrapping your business means that you have a proof of concept that investors can look at, and funding institutions can see that your business idea is indeed viable.

Why Would an Entrepreneur Need to Know About Bootstrapping?

According to the South African Accounting Academy, one of the reasons why businesses in South Africa fail is not only because of a lack of access to finance, but lack of planning, financial expertise and poor cash flow management. In other words, the little cash they have to start their own business is either not effectively used or isn’t properly planned for.

It’s easy to think that funding your businesses out of pocket is bound to fail without big funding, but success isn’t just about having money, it’s about managing what you have wisely. With a solid strategy, a clear plan, and strong financial literacy, even a small amount of startup capital can be stretched to build something sustainable. It’s not just about how much you have, but how well you use it.

Fortunately, the SME South Africa Funding Summit will have experts with real bootstrapping experience to give you the guidance you need.

How Will the Summit Help With Bootstrapping?

There are essential aspects of bootstrapping that every entrepreneur needs to know. Attendees of the SME South Africa Funding Summit can expect the following:

Bootstrapping 101:

Bootstrapping is a challenging way to fund your business, and it surely isn’t a process that should be the result of thumb-sucking. Entrepreneurs need to ensure that they conduct the necessary research to increase the likelihood of succeeding. At the summit, you’ll receive guidance on the holistic process of bootstrapping a business.

Bootstrapping mistakes to avoid:

When you’re starting a business with little to no guidance, you’re bound to make mistakes, and some of those mistakes can have a financial strain on you and your business. At the SME South Africa Funding Summit, we’ll have industry leaders like Sheldon Tatchell of Legends Barber to provide necessary insight on bootstrapping your business, bootstrapping mistakes to avoid, and how to scale your business with funding at the right time.

When to stop bootstrapping your business:

While this type of funding can work for some time, it’s important to know when to stop bootstrapping your business and take the next step. Entrepreneurs will receive insight on how to start looking for investors when they’re ready to stop bootstrapping.

The Funding Summit takes place on the 12th of June, 2025 and will be the highlight of your search for funding. Come and join the eventful day for only R 350 entrance fee. No tickets will be sold at the door, so make sure you grab yours before it’s too late! Book yours on our events page.

Given South Africa’s history of marginalisation and poverty, there is an incredible need for successful small businesses that address the job creation and economic impact to rectify these legacy issues. Small businesses account for about 28% of jobs in the country, indicating the tangible impact they have in alleviating these socioeconomic issues.

Isn’t it time that the businesses that support the economy have support?

The Potential Social Impact of the Funding Summit

SME South Africa currently helps businesses by providing access to funding opportunities as well as catering to the small to medium enterprise market as a resource platform for entrepreneurs to gain the necessary knowledge and tools to propel their businesses.

Among the many free resources, articles, guides, webinars and SME Advice consulting platforms to name a few, the brand is extending its impact on small businesses with its latest addition: The SME South Africa Funding Summit.

With the funding summit, these efforts are taken a step further by giving entrepreneurs an easily accessible way to meet leaders face-to-face and gain the secrets of succeeding in any industry.

Eliminating the Barriers to Gatekeeping

Business is highly competitive, and as an entrepreneur, you might sometimes feel like there isn’t enough support or that certain resources are intentionally kept out of reach. However, the SME South Africa Funding Summit aims to eliminate these barriers by providing access to crucial information and opportunities. This summit also addresses social impact through the following:

• Accessibility: Many summits cost thousands of rands, but with the SME South Africa Funding Summit, you don’t have to break the bank. Tickets are only R350.
• Insights from entrepreneurs who’ve built businesses from nothing: Relatability is key when inspiring or mentoring small business owners. Many of our speakers have started from the bottom, overcoming challenges that many entrepreneurs face today, and have gone on to create lasting impact in their industries and communities.
• Increased chances of business success: By attending this summit, businesses will learn what works and how to avoid common mistakes, positioning themselves for growth and future job creation.
• Funding opportunities for business growth: Funding is one of the biggest barriers preventing businesses from scaling. The SME South Africa Funding Summit provides access to funding opportunities and equips businesses with the knowledge to ensure they are prepared and eligible for funding.

Success Stories of Our Funding Summit Speakers

Legends Barber founder, Sheldon Tatchell

Sheldon Tatchell, founder of Legends Barber, started with just one haircut at a time on a stoep. From these humble beginnings, he grew the business into a nationwide chain with over 50 shops across South Africa and Namibia. Along the way, he tackled unemployment by creating job opportunities and empowering youth through his Legends Training Centre.

Serial-entrepreneur, Velly Bosega

Velly Bosega’s journey from selling Zam-Buk on the street to owning multiple businesses, one of which is an accomplished digital marketing agency, is an inspiring story. Due to his passion for entrepreneurship, he also founded SME South Africa, which uplifts SMEs through tools and funding. Not only is he creating jobs, but he’s also empowering other entrepreneurs to do the same.

Founder of Zulzi, Donald Valoyi

Donald Valoyi founded Zulzi in 2013 as a small e-commerce platform and expanded it into a fast delivery service. By 2015, he introduced one-hour deliveries for students, later scaling to groceries, liquor, and pharmaceuticals. Partnering with Checkers, he helped launch Sixty60, revolutionising online shopping. Through Zulzi, he secured funding, built a logistics network, and created jobs, driving economic growth and innovation in South Africa.

Our entrepreneurial success stories don’t end here, there are several other highly accomplished speakers joining us at the SME South Africa Funding Summit.

Grab your ticket to the Funding Summit before they are sold out.