By Andrew Maren, Founder and CEO of ProfitShare Partners
It’s Time to Fund SMEs, Not Just Flashy Apps: if fintech in Africa is to succeed, it must move beyond hype and deliver real Funding solutions for SMEs.
Since launching in 2017, PSP has deployed over R1.2 billion in SME finance, with 90% of that Funding going to black-owned, previously disadvantaged businesses.
“Africa doesn’t need more super apps — we need SME finance models that actually unlock growth,” said Andrew Maren, CEO of ProfitShare Partners. “Fintech innovation should be about inclusion, not just infrastructure.”
The Problem: Traditional Finance Isn’t Built for African Entrepreneurs
Banks typically won’t fund SMEs without collateral or a long credit history. But that’s not how most small businesses in Africa operate. PSP’s transactional funding model changes this — offering capital based on verified Purchase Orders or contracts. It’s fast, flexible, and built for real-world entrepreneurs.
- Over R1.2 billion paid to SMEs
- Average portfolio growth of 292%
- Some clients grew by 1,000% in 12 months
“We’re not replacing banks — we’re building the missing middle,” said Maren. “A Funding bridge between hustling entrepreneurs and formal finance.”
Fintech With Purpose: Inclusion Over Innovation
AI in fintech, embedded finance, and super apps are the buzzwords in 2025 however, you can’t automate your way to inclusion. Small business Funding must be fast, fair, and scalable.
PSP uses real-time data and alternative risk models to assess businesses and disburse Funding — often in days, not weeks. Their approach proves that fintech for SMEs in South Africa can be both smart and inclusive.
What’s Next: Scalable, Embedded SME Finance
To serve more entrepreneurs, PSP is now integrating with:
- Procurement and supply chain APIs
- Compliance automation tools
- Embedded finance platforms
Their goal: make SME Funding in Africa seamless, measurable, and impactful.
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SME Funding in South Africa: How Fintech is Closing the Gap for Small Businesses
Africa’s fintech sector is evolving at lightning speed — from mobile wallets to AI-driven apps. But while innovation grabs the headlines, millions of entrepreneurs are still asking the same question:
Where is the Funding for small businesses?
For South African SMEs, access to finance remains one of the biggest barriers to growth. And while flashy apps may dominate the conversation, real economic change starts with giving businesses the capital they need to deliver, grow, and thrive.
A Practical Solution to SME Funding Challenges
Entrepreneurs across South Africa are building businesses with incredible potential — but many still struggle to access the working capital they need to fulfil contracts, grow operations, or scale their businesses.
Often, the challenge isn’t a lack of ambition or capability — it’s finding finance models that are flexible, opportunity-driven, and suited to the fast-moving realities of small business life.
That’s where alternative SME Funding models, like contract-first finance, are making a difference.
A New Model: Contract-First Funding for Small Businesses
One Funding approach gaining momentum is contract-first finance, where entrepreneurs can access working capital based on verified Purchase Orders or contracts — not just historical paperwork or rigid credit scoring.
ProfitShare Partners (PSP) has been applying this model since 2017, long before “fintech for SMEs” became an industry buzzword. The company was founded to tackle one of South Africa’s most persistent challenges: getting working capital into the hands of entrepreneurs who need it most.
Since then, PSP has deployed over R1.2 billion in SME Funding, with nearly 90% going to black-owned, previously disadvantaged businesses — a track record that reflects both scale and impact.
Importantly, this model doesn’t compete with banks — it complements them, bridging a Funding gap that can help entrepreneurs grow to the point where they can access more traditional finance options.
As Andrew Maren , CEO of ProfitShare Partners, explains:
“We’re not here to replace banks — we’re here to help build the missing piece. A Funding solution that’s fast, fair, and built for real-world entrepreneurs.”
Fintech for Good: Less Hype, More Impact for SMEs
Buzzwords like AI in fintech, embedded finance, and super apps are everywhere in 2025. But true financial inclusion doesn’t come from technology alone — it comes from applying technology with purpose.
At PSP, this means:
- Using real-time data to assess SME potential.
- Disbursing working capital within days, not weeks.
- Offering Funding solutions that are scalable, fast, and accessible.
The company’s long-standing experience in this space shows that fintech, when applied with the right intent, can deliver real results:
SMEs Funded by PSP report an average portfolio growth of 292%.
Some businesses have scaled by over 1,000% in just 12 months.
These aren’t just statistics — they’re proof that when small businesses are Funded properly, they deliver results.
The Future of SME Finance: Seamless, Scalable, Inclusive
The SME Funding landscape is evolving fast, and technology has a crucial role to play. At PSP, their approach has been shaped by nearly a decade of experience working directly with entrepreneurs and understanding their real-world challenges.
Through partnerships and technology, they’re integrating with:
- Procurement and supply chain platforms — to unlock Funding opportunities in real-time.
- Compliance automation tools — to streamline processes and reduce barriers.
- Embedded finance ecosystems — to bring SME Funding directly to the platforms where entrepreneurs do business.
The goal is simple: Make SME finance in South Africa seamless, measurable, and impactful — not just for a select few, but for the broad base of entrepreneurs driving the country’s economic potential.
Why SME Funding in South Africa Matters
Small businesses aren’t just the backbone of the economy — they are engines of job creation, innovation, and growth. But without access to finance, their potential remains untapped.
Fintech has the tools to change that — but only if the focus shifts from flashy apps to Funding models that actually work for entrepreneurs on the ground.
Africa doesn’t need more super apps.
We need solutions that unlock growth, inclusion, and real economic progress.
And with over seven years of proven experience, ProfitShare Partners has shown that scalable, impactful SME Funding is possible — today, not someday.
Need Working Capital for Your SME?
If you have a valid Purchase Order or contract and need fast, flexible Funding to deliver — ProfitShare Partners can help.
Apply for business Funding today and discover how Purchase Order Funding can help your business grow.
👉 Click here to get started.
