Business Partners of South Africa has launched the Basadi-Women Growth Fund, a ZAR90 million (approximately US$4 million) initiative dedicated to supporting women entrepreneurs. This fund is specifically designed to provide tailored business financing solutions to women who own viable formal small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) but often face significant systemic barriers in accessing funding through traditional financial channels, such as limited collateral and gender bias in lending practices.
Flexible Financing and Holistic Support
The Basadi-Women Growth Fund offers flexible financing packages ranging from ZAR250,000 (US$11,000) to ZAR5 million (US$221,000). These funds are versatile and can be utilized for a broad spectrum of business needs, including:
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Property acquisition for business premises
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Working capital to support day-to-day operations
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Equipment or asset financing to enhance productivity
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Business acquisitions or takeovers
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Replacement finance for existing obligations
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Purchasing a viable start-up franchise
A key differentiator is the fund’s competitive pricing and flexible terms, structured specifically to promote sustainability and long-term growth. This includes the crucial option for an interest capitalisation or a repayment moratorium of up to six months, which provides essential breathing room for women-owned businesses during critical start-up or expansion phases.
René Botha, Regional Investment Manager at Business Partners, highlighted that the initiative goes beyond mere funding. The program is built on a holistic approach that also provides access to technical support, networking, and mentorship opportunities. The goal is to address the deeper structural challenges that limit women’s entrepreneurial success and help them scale their businesses, given that women-led firms in South Africa often scale at a significantly slower pace than their male counterparts. Botha stressed that increasing women’s participation in entrepreneurship is vital for sustainable economic growth, noting that the positive societal impact women entrepreneurs create should outweigh any barriers to entry they face in driving economic and societal progress. The ultimate goal is clear: when women succeed, communities thrive.
