4 Funding Programmes open Right Now for SMEs in South Africa

Being an entrepreneur comes with its challenges and one of them is gaining access to funding. The time it takes to find various funding programmes can be daunting, from the research stage to the application process.

Fortunately, you no longer have to search on your own. We have compiled a list of funding programmes that are open in 2025. There’s a range of programmes available with different requirements for turnover, duration of business operation, diversity requirements, and more.

1. The JSE Enterprise Acceleration Programme

The JSE Enterprise Acceleration Programme aims to support the growth of private companies in South Africa. They plan to achieve this by providing a network that will position SMEs to attract the funding they need.

Through this programme, SMEs gain access to one-on-one mentoring, masterclasses, expert assistance on KPIs within the programme, as well as preparation on raising capital.

Like all programmes, there’s a set criterion you need to meet, which is:

• SME must be in operation for a minimum of two years
• Be a founder-led business.
• Turnover must be at least R 20 million.
• Have a teachable team of founders and management.
• High growth prospects.
• Have your funding needs outlined clearly.
• The business must have a desire to give back to the local entrepreneurial ecosystem.
• Must be diverse in having black and female representation in the management teams.

Once you know that you’re ready to go on the hunt for funding, you need to ensure your business has a funding checklist to guide your funding applications.

2. Township and Rural Entrepreneurship Programme (TREP)

The Township and Rural Entrepreneurship Programme (TREP) provides blended finance and business development support to informal, micro, and small enterprises in township and rural economies. The goal is to help these businesses integrate into the mainstream economy by enhancing their quality, competitiveness, and ability to tap into local and export markets.

TREP also seeks to assist businesses in leveraging opportunities created by economic disruptions. Eligible businesses span multiple sectors, including clothing and textiles, bakeries, retail, automotive, personal care, and artisanal services. The scheme covers production costs, working capital, compliance assistance, business training, and market access.

Financial support is structured as a mix of loans and grants, with a maximum funding of R 1 million. The financial support provided by TREP is divided into two parts. 50% is given as a grant, which has a maximum limit of R 100 000. The remaining 50% is a loan that has a fixed interest rate of 5% and must be repaid over 36 months.

To apply for TREP, businesses must meet the following criteria:

• Be registered with CIPC, including cooperatives.
• Be 100% South African-owned.
• Have at least 70% South African employees (non-citizen employees must have valid work permits).
• Operate in a township or rural area.
• Possess a business license with the local municipality.
• Be registered with SARS and UIF.
• Have a valid business bank account.

3. National Empowerment Fund

The National Empowerment Fund (NEF) was established by the National Empowerment Fund Act No 105 of 1998 (NEF Act). As a catalyst for Broad-Based Black Economic Empowerment (B-BBEE). The NEF exists to provide financial and non-financial support to black owned businesses in order to promote the participation of black people in the South African economy.

To apply for funding through NEF, businesses must meet the following criteria:

• A minimum of 50,1% black ownership or interest is required.
• Black people must be operationally involved at the managerial and board levels.The business must create a reasonable number of jobs.
• The business must demonstrate the ability to repay the NEF funding
• The business must be commercially viable.
• The business must comply with all relevant laws and regulations.
• Rural and Community Development Projects must have substantial involvement from the communities they serve.
• Significant participation by black women is encouraged.
• Possibility of co-funding with private or public sector institutions is encouraged in larger projects.

4. Technology Innovation Agency

The Technology Innovation Agency (TIA) falls under the the Department of Science, Technology and Innovation. TIA exists to promote innovation in South Africa that improves quality of life. The TIA aims to support the government in stimulating an environment of innovation and invention.

TIA supports SMMEs, innovators, as well as research and higher education institutions. They provide support in all stages, from proof of concept all the way to the pre commercialisation stage.

These are the funds established by TIA: the Seed Fund, the Technology Development Fund, and the Commercialisation Support Fund.​

All applicants for TIA must meet the following requirements:

• Be a South African citizen or a permanent resident with valid South African identity documents.
• Must be compliant with corporate governance practices.Must be tax compliant.
• Registered with the Companies and Intellectual Property Commission (CIPC).
• Have the contractual capacity to engage with TIA.
• Any primary technology development must be carried out in South Africa unless officials from TIA give written permission to do otherwise.
• Divestment by public servant shareholders (no shareholding by public servants).
• Must be registered on the Central Supplier Database (CSD), unless National Treasury has advised that you are precluded from doing so.
• Intellectual Property (IP) owned by foreign entities must be licensed or assigned to a South African entity, such as a university, science council, or a registered legal entity with the
• Companies and Intellectual Property Commission (CIPC), to be eligible for funding.
• Applicants must comply with the B-BBEE Act and other policy and legislative requirements. Foreign owned IP applicants must ensure their South African entity has the minimum required equity ownership.

Now that you know what some of the open programmes are, you can apply to get your business funded. Or, come and find out more about funding opportunities for businesses that want to scale at the Funding Summit.