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Where To Access Funding For Women-Owned Businesses

Female entrepreneurship continues to be on the rise with many South African women rising to the challenge of launching their ventures, while also contributing to the development of their communities. While the country has made some gains in supporting women entrepreneurs, access to funding for women-owned businesses in South Africa continues to be a challenge. Female entrepreneurs continue to face a plethora of challenges in creating and growing their businesses.  

"For centuries, women have been bootstrapping to take care of the families and communities – it could be said “we’re born to build sustainable communities” and we should continue to demonstrate how this is a better way of doing business." - Marang Marekimane

We are also seeing a huge number of female entrepreneurship support networks, for example, Future Females and AWIEF, both formal and informal. These are starting to expand and grow. Digital media tools and social media make it easier than ever for women to work together.

🌻 FEMALE ENTREPRENEURSHIP STORIES OF SUCCESS 🌻

Where To Access Funding For Women-Owned Businesses  

Female entrepreneurs have limited access to finance in comparison to their male counterparts. This highlights the need for new lending models and more women-focused lending institutions. There are, however, government and private enterprises with programmes and funds in place aimed at providing access to funding for women-owned businesses in South Africa

Here is a list of funds and financial assistance programmes that provide funding for women entrepreneurs in South Africa.

  • Enablis Acceleration Fund 

  • Business Partners Women in Business Fund

  • National Empowerment Fund (NEF)

  • Isivande Women’s Fund (IWF) 

  • Masisizane Fund

New This Week (08 August 2022)  

Business Opportunities Available For Female Entrepreneurs

In celebration of Women’s Month, we look at industries that are ripe with opportunities for women looking to launch new business ideas.

  • Digital Marketing 

  • Influencer Marketing 

  • Tech Products 

  • Skincare and Beauty 

  • Male-Dominated Industries 

Women have a dynamic role to play in all areas of society, including launching businesses in traditionally male-dominated industries. To find out more about these opportunities, read our article below. 

Need a Bridging Finance? For a Free Quote for Business Funding, visit SME South Africa. 

👑 FEMALE ENTREPRENEURSHIP STORIES OF SUCCESS 👑

Women Entrepreneurship and Funding Case Studies 

Download SME South Africa’s ‘Female Entrepreneurship & Funding’ Case Studies and learn more about the funding journeys of local women entrepreneurs who are behind some of the country’s most Bankable, Scalable and Future-fit businesses.

What’s inside:

  • The strategies they used to secure funding.

  • The impact of business funding on their businesses’ growth.

  • How they navigated the challenges they faced during the application process.

  • Their advice for other female entrepreneurs.