What are the capital trends that entrepreneurs should be aware of as they plan their financial strategies for 2026?
In 2026, the South African entrepreneurial landscape is no longer playing by the old rules. While the “wait and see” approach dominated the boardroom last year, this month’s data reveals a different story: a surge in strategic liquidity. As supply chains realign and the “Green Economy” moves from a buzzword to a procurement requirement, the most successful SMEs are the ones stopping the hunt for “any capital” and starting the search for the right capital.
We are currently witnessing a massive consolidation in the funding ecosystem. From updated DTIC grant structures to the evolving criteria of Development Finance Institutions (DFIs), the barriers to entry have shifted from purely financial to operational. Today, securing working capital isn’t just about covering a gap; it’s about positioning your business to seize the structural reforms currently sweeping through South African trade. If you aren’t leveraging the new wave of incentives and flexible credit lines now, you aren’t just standing still – you’re falling behind.
Here are some of the trends that our team have identified this month.
Our digital channels suggest interest in infrastructure funding is on the up
As a specialist advisory team, we look at our digital channels to help provide some insights into what matters to our stakeholders. This includes insights around trends related to businesses looking to raise capital or access Working Capital.
Looking at our Google Search Console, these are some of the keywords / phrases which are trending higher:
- “Infrastructure Funding”
- “Infrastructure Project Funding Process Funding”
This could suggest increased interest in the Critical Infrastructure Programme and projects looking to access Development Finance Institutions.
Our two highest ranking pages in the last month:
Lula highlights recent industry trends around entrepreneurs looking to access working capital
Lulalend are one of our key partners. This South African fintech provides fast and flexible business funding to SMEs and sole traders that traditional lenders often can’t serve. They can
They can achieve this thanks to their innovative online business model and credit scoring algorithm.
Recent data from Lula suggests the following industries are seeing an increase in the number of businesses successfully accessing capital.
• Construction & infrastructure-linked businesses
• Logistics and distribution
• Wholesale, retail & trade
• Restaurants, travel & tourism
• IT and communications
You can check your eligibility online HERE.
South Africa has a space economy
As the South African economy continues to evolve, we are always on the lookout for new industries.
As the global “New Space” economy continues to expand, South Africa is positioning itself as a regional hub for space-tech. This is being driven through a number of initiatives including the NOVA Space Startup Programme launched by the Riversands I-Hub.
The programme is specifically scouting for companies developing both upstream capabilities (satellite manufacturing, launch services, and hardware) and downstream capabilities (earth observation data, GPS applications, and space-to-earth communications).
You can read the full article here on the SA Trade Desk.
3 years in – Is PayShap on your payment radar in 2026?
Have you considered incorporating PayShap in your payment stack to enhance your working capital?
March 2026 marked three years since PayShap launched, PayInc’s answer to low-cost, real-time payments and its push for greater financial inclusion in South Africa.
We picked up an interesting thought leadership piece from Derick Truscott who is the Chief Financial Officer and Product Executive at Hyphen, where he leads financial strategy as well as company and product performance management.
Truscott argues that businesses may wish to look more closely at PayShap Request to Pay (RTP) – an extension of the PayShap rail that allows a business or individual to send a payment request to any registered ShapID and receive funds instantly. A few banks have gone live with the feature, though it will go through teething phases as institutions align their transaction limits, default ShapID logic, and fees.
For small, informal, or one-off transactions, RTP creates a neat way for traders and contractors to collect on invoices without hitting consumers with heavy fees.
Read the full article from Truscott here.
Looking to raise capital for your business in 2026?
Our advisory team has assessed over 2500 SMEs, raised over R3bn in capital and allows you to claim Enterprise and Supplier Development (ESD) points in the process while also helping you meet Preferential Procurement targets by supporting women-owned businesses.
We are the ideal partner for forward-thinking entrepreneurs who want to raise meaningful capital.
Whether you are looking for short-term working capital or more structural growth and expansion funding, we want to help you make the best decisions for your business. If you would like to discuss a capital raising for your business, we have a proven track record of being able to assist.
Please reach out to us – we would love to work with you and unlock the entrepreneurial potential in the country.
