Sold Out · 18 June 2026
SME Funding
Summit 2026
SME Funding Summit is the premier funding event focused on delivering relevant funding advice and guidance to small to medium-sized enterprises from across the country.
Connect directly with VCs, institutional lenders, and discover the exact actionable insights designed to make your business undeniable to investors.
Time Until Kickoff
- 500+ Founders Attending
- 20+ Funders & Experts
- Direct Access to Funders
- Fully Booked for 2026
Actionable Insights Delivered
-
Venture Capital & Angel
Understand exactly what investors look for and how to position your SME for equity funding.
-
Alternative Financing
Explore non-dilutive options including government grants, revenue-based finance and tender capital.
-
Business Valuation
Learn how to calculate and defend the value of your business, enabling you to negotiate fair terms.
-
Investor Networking
Connect directly with VCs, angels, and institutional capital providers who are actively deploying funds.
-
Pitch & Due Diligence
Fix the hidden paperwork mistakes and get your financials and pitch deck fully investor-ready.
-
Scaling Globally
Discover actionable strategies for taking your growth-focused SME into international markets.
Official Programme
What to expect on the day
-
08:00
Registration & Welcome Coffee
-
08:30
Welcome Address
Velly Bosega · CEO, SME South Africa
-
08:40
The State of SME Funding in South Africa
Darlene Menzies · CEO, FinFind
-
09:25
FNB
Gold Sponsor
-
09:55
Enabling Agri-Finance Access Through Partnerships
Litha Kutta · Land Bank
-
10:15
Beyond the Cheque: Why Business Support is the Real Differentiator in SME Funding
Thabang Hleza · Head of Investments, Old Mutual Masisizane Fund
Silver Sponsor
-
10:45
Inside the Investor's Mind: Unconventional CA
Jameel Khan & Rinaldo Josie
Facilitated by Maryna Steyn
-
11:15
Mid-Morning Networking & Tea
-
11:30
Bootstrapping for Growth
Panelists: Zibusiso, Tebogo & Jenna
Facilitated by Omega
-
12:00
Alternative Lending for SMEs
Jedd Harris · Chief Strategy Officer, Sourcefin
-
12:30
Turning Compliance into a Funding Advantage
Mr Modiba · CIPC
-
12:50
SME Elevator Pitch
Judges: Lebo Gunguluza & Mokgome Mogoba
-
13:05
Networking Lunch
-
14:05
Is Your Business Funding-Ready?
Ruan Fourie · CEO, AAA Consortium
-
14:30
Using Procurement Opportunities to Unlock Funding
Lerato Sebata · ROI Group
-
14:50
Navigating Corporate Funding Pathways
Lilah Clark · JSE
-
15:10
Government Panel
SEDFA
-
15:40
Equity, Mezzanine and Institutional Capital for Scaling SMEs
Mokgome Mogoba · Kholo Capital
-
16:00
High-Level Debt Funding for SMEs Ready to Scale
Mapule Phathela · IDF Capital
-
16:20
Summit Wrap-Up & Final Remarks
2026 Partners
Backed by South Africa's leading capital providers
Headline Experts
Darlene Menzies
CEO at Finfind
Don Mashele
Head of Development Impact Support at SEDFA
Jameel Khan
Co-founder at Unconventional CA
Jedd Harris
Chief Strategy Officer at Sourcefin
Jenna Sprenger
CA(SA) and founder
Lerato Sebata
CEO at ROI Group(Pty)Ltd
Lilah Clark
SME Development Manager at JSE
Litha Kutta
Head Partnership Development and Ecosystem Coordination at Land Bank
Mapule Phathela
Post-Investment Associate at IDF Capital
Marumo Modiba
Senior Manager of the Corporate Education and Voluntary Compliance Unit (CIPC)
Mokgome Mogoba
Founder & Managing Partner at Kholo Capital
Rinaldo Josie
Operations Executive
Ruan Fourie
CEO and Founder of AAA Consortium
Tshepo Mekoa
Founder at Brima Logistics
Zibusiso Mkhwanazi
Executive Chairman at M+N, CEO of Avatar X, and author
We Don't Just Talk Capital.
We Facilitate It.
The inaugural summit put founders in the same room as the people writing the cheques — real introductions, real deals, real momentum. 2026 raises the stakes.
Johannesburg · 2025
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
The Venue
Focus Rooms
Sandton, Johannesburg
A premier executive conferencing venue providing a private, secure environment for high-level funding discussions.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are tickets still available?
What's included in my ticket?
Will I actually meet investors?
Can I send a colleague in my place?
Fully Booked
We're Officially
Sold Out.
Every seat for the 2026 SME Funding Summit has been claimed — thank you, South Africa. Join the waitlist to be first in line when 2027 opens.