Will Green

🌟 Empowering Innovation and Growth in South Africa 🌟 Exciting times ahead for South African entrepreneurs! The recent launch of the R300m seed fund by the SA SME Fund, in collaboration with the Technology Innovation Agency (TIA) and E Squared Investments, is a monumental step toward nurturing early-stage tech start-ups. At FUEL, we believe that innovation thrives when backed by the right resources. Lack of access to initial funding has long been a hurdle for many, but this new initiative promises to unlock potential and accelerate the development of visionary ideas. As we celebrate this milestone for the start-up ecosystem, we are reminded of the incredible drive and creativity that SMEs bring to the table. With this seed fund, entrepreneurs can look forward to stronger support in accessing venture capital, transforming challenges into growth opportunities. Here’s to fueling the future of technology and entrepreneurship in South Africa! 🌍💡 #EmpoweringAfrica #Entrepreneurship #Innovation #GrowthMindset #Teamwork

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A fascinating read, not only of a great businessman & maverick but the story of building one of SA's most recognisable brands. The book is filled with Whiteyisms, stories of struggles and highlights the successes of many years of focus & grit. Favourite Whiteyism: "there may be a gap in the market, but is there a market in the gap?" Get the book today.

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I really enjoyed this article by Andile Masuku on the importance of prioritising connectivity for innovation. We often undervalue the power of community in unlocking both growth and innovation, focusing instead on short-term (and often transactional) sales enablement. One of the key lessons I have learned in my time at 54 Collective VC is that building genuine, trust-based relationships within ecosystems fosters long-term value, which is far more impactful. This approach not only strengthens networks but also ensures sustainable success across the ecosystem. https://lnkd.in/dFukcwgq

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The investment landscape is evolving. The Johannesburg Stock Exchange has seen a striking 64% decrease in listings since the 1990s. This isn't unique to South Africa – it's a global trend. But where others see challenges, we see opportunities. This shift from public to private markets is opening new doors for investors. At Grovest, we're embracing this change, developing innovative strategies that offer portfolio diversification and potential for higher returns. Our Twelve B initiative is a prime example. We're turning South Africa's energy challenges into investment opportunities by focusing on commercial and industrial solar projects. With the 125% Section 12BA tax incentive, we're encouraging local investment while promoting energy independence and sustainability. We're also democratising investment through our GoGetta platform. This crowdfunding initiative connects investors with high-potential ventures across Africa from just R1,000/share, supporting entrepreneurs who might otherwise struggle to access capital. It's not just about investment – it's about fostering innovation and growth across the continent. These initiatives show how alternative investments can fill the gap left by declining public listings. We're not just providing investment opportunities; we're addressing critical needs in our economy. The future of investing lies in adaptability. While traditional stock exchanges remain important, forward-thinking investors need to explore new avenues.  I believe the key to robust, future-proof portfolios is a blend of traditional and alternative investments. Our mission is to make these opportunities accessible, contributing to a more dynamic and resilient South African economy. #JSE #AlternativeInvestments #Grovest #PioneeringOpportunities

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4 major trends to think about in the Hospital and healthcare ecosystem. 1. Site of care shifts 2. Margin management 3. Workforce volatility 4. Health Equity This data is based in the US but interesting to see very similar trends in SA through our conversations with hospitals and healthcare ecosystem partners. For the full cheatsheet: https://lnkd.in/dpZNrhY3

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𝐅𝐮𝐧𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐅𝐫𝐨𝐧𝐭𝐢𝐞𝐫: 𝐔𝐧𝐯𝐞𝐢𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐘𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐒𝐨𝐮𝐭𝐡 𝐀𝐟𝐫𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐧 𝐅𝐮𝐧𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐀𝐫𝐬𝐞𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝐂𝐚𝐬𝐡-𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐩𝐩𝐞𝐝 𝐝𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐦𝐬 𝐨𝐫 𝐛𝐢𝐥𝐥𝐢𝐨𝐧-𝐝𝐨𝐥𝐥𝐚𝐫 𝐯𝐢𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬? Navigating the South African funding landscape can feel like conquering a mountain, but fear not, entrepreneur extraordinaire! This guide equips you with the weaponry you need at every stage, from scrappy startup to high-growth venture. 𝟏. 𝐋𝐨𝐚𝐧 𝐋𝐨𝐜𝐤𝐞𝐫: 𝐅𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐧𝐝 𝐨𝐫 𝐅𝐨𝐞? ✅ 𝐁𝐚𝐧𝐤 𝐁𝐨𝐨𝐭𝐲: Fixed-rate loans offer predictable ammo for steady needs, but stricter eligibility might make qualifying a boss battle. ✅ 𝐂𝐫𝐞𝐝𝐢𝐭 𝐋𝐢𝐧𝐞 𝐂𝐚𝐯𝐚𝐥𝐫𝐲: Flexible access to cash for operational costs, but managing interest rates is like taming a wild dragon. ✅ 𝐒𝐁𝐀 𝐒𝐡𝐢𝐞𝐥𝐝: Government-backed guarantees can be your knight in shining armor for loan approval, but research the specific terms and conditions before signing. 𝟐. 𝐔𝐧𝐯𝐞𝐢𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐕𝐂 𝐕𝐚𝐮𝐥𝐭: ✅ 𝐊𝐧𝐨𝐰 𝐘𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐈𝐧𝐯𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐬: Seek out VC firms like Invenfin, Knife Capital, and Jolidee for ventures in tech, healthcare, and creating positive change. ✅ 𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐓𝐡𝐞𝐲 𝐂𝐫𝐚𝐯𝐞: Scalable business models, A-Team founders, and a clear path to riches (profitability). ✅ 𝐑𝐞𝐦𝐞𝐦𝐛𝐞𝐫: VCs aren't one-size-fits-all. Align your goals with their investment styles before entering the vault. 𝟑. 𝐀𝐥𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐧𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐯𝐞 𝐀𝐯𝐞𝐧𝐮𝐞𝐬: 𝐁𝐞𝐲𝐨𝐧𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐌𝐚𝐢𝐧𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐦 ✅ 𝐂𝐫𝐨𝐰𝐝 𝐏𝐨𝐰𝐞𝐫: Rally the citizen army with crowdfunding for smaller projects, but be aware of platform fees and regulations. ✅ 𝐀𝐧𝐠𝐞𝐥 𝐀𝐥𝐥𝐢𝐞𝐬: Connect with high-net-worth individuals seeking high-growth ventures. They often offer not just cash, but mentorship as well. ✅ 𝐆𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐧𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐆𝐫𝐚𝐧𝐭𝐬: Research government initiatives like SEFA and TIA. These can be funding fountains for specific sectors, but eligibility requirements might be the gatekeepers. 𝟒. 𝐏𝐢𝐭𝐜𝐡 𝐏𝐞𝐫𝐟𝐞𝐜𝐭: 𝐌𝐚𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐃𝐞𝐜𝐤 ✅ 𝐒𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐲𝐭𝐞𝐥𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐒𝐮𝐩𝐫𝐞𝐦𝐚𝐜𝐲: Craft a captivating narrative that spotlights your problem, solution, market opportunity, and what sets you apart from the competition. ✅ 𝐍𝐮𝐦𝐛𝐞𝐫𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐍𝐮𝐦𝐛 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐍𝐚𝐲𝐬𝐚𝐲𝐞𝐫𝐬: Validate your business model with solid financials and growth projections that hit the mark. ✅ 𝐓𝐚𝐢𝐥𝐨𝐫𝐞𝐝 𝐭𝐨 𝐓𝐫𝐢𝐮𝐦𝐩𝐡: Adapt your deck to each investor's area of expertise and interests . Remember, South Africa: With the right tools and knowledge, your funding journey can be the launchpad to success. So, unleash your hustle, explore your options, and transform your dreams into reality! #FundingFrontiers #SouthAfricanStartups #FundingForEveryStage #eTalkzWorkshop #LetsGetFunded

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You will experience many frustrations when building a startup, and if you are South African with international ambitions, then one of those will be Exchange Control ("Excon"). As you may know, exchange control refers to a set of regulations put in place by the South African Reserve Bank (SARB) that govern the movement of foreign currency in and out of the country. The idea is that these regulations will help manage financial stability and promote domestic investment, which sounds beneficial, and to some extent, it is. However, this control can also present significant problems for startups looking to secure foreign funding, which we generally need due to the lack of startup capital (particularly within certain spaces like deep tech) within our economy. For South African-based startups like ours, it can be challenging to secure funding because investors are generally wary of the hurdles involved in repatriating their profits (SARS and their officials will give you a story about how the repatriation is not unduly restricted, but there are enough cases where the process is protracted). It would be easier for them to invest locally, wherever they are based, or in jurisdictions that allow for free flow of funds, rather than in South Africa. This, coupled with the challenge of paying for international services such as cloud computing, software licenses, and global talent acquisition, makes building a startup in South Africa just that much more challenging. So, how can startups like ours navigate exchange controls in South Africa? I’ve found that it’s important to start by structuring for success. Fortunately, my background in investment banking was helpful in this respect, but either way, I highly recommend consulting with financial advisors/lawyers in the space who can guide you in the correct strategies for your specific startup. In an Ideal scenario, government initiatives would streamline exchange control regulations for tech startups like us at VitruvianMD. This would make it easier for investors to inject capital into promising companies, fostering innovation and growth within the South African tech sector. However, even within the current exchange control framework, by demonstrating the right approach and strategy, startups can build trust with potential (international) investors and overcome the current regulations. As always, if you have any questions or want to find out more about our startup, VitruvianMD, I would be happy to chat; please feel free to drop me a message! P.S. It took a lot of self-control not to turn this into a long rant about the numerous headaches and time we have wasted on this 😂 #Startups #SouthAfrica #ExchangeControl #Innovation #Investment #VitruvianMD #StartupTips #StartupFunding

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UK-Based Assura plc is set to list on the Johannesburg Stock Exchange (JSE) next week. Assura is a diversified healthcare REIT. It manages over 600 healthcare buildings and services over six million patients annually. The group’s portfolio is valued at £3.2 billion (R75 billion). The group has been listed on the London Stock Exchange (LSE) since 2003. “The company’s buildings support the trend of moving a greater range of services out of hospital into a community setting and recent areas of strategic expansion have included diagnostic treatment centres for NHS Trusts,” said the group. The group’s latest financial results were also strong, with the company’s portfolio of 625 properties seeing an annualised rent roll of £179.1 million (R4.1 billion). It also completed the acquisition of 14 private hospitals for £500m (R11 billion) with day one rental income of £29.4 million (R680 million). Three developments have been completed with a total combined spend of £46 million (R1 billion). Assura also recently sold 12 assets for cash proceeds of £25 million (R580 million), with five developments with a total cost of £44 million (R1 billion)and £27 million (R625 billion) remaining to be spent. The group also revealed its rationale for its listing on the main board of the JSE: - Broaden the Company’s shareholder base with new South African investors; - Give South African investors a local platform to more easily invest in and trade Assura shares; - Increase liquidity for shareholders and - Diversify the Company’s shareholder base and position it for future growth. The Financial Surveillance Department of the South African Reserve Bank has already approved Assura’s secondary listing on the JSE’s Main Board, which will be classified as ‘domestic’. The company is using the fast-track listing process, which the JSE introduced for companies seeking a secondary listing in South Africa. This system was designed to make it easier for companies already listed on accredited exchanges such as the London Stock Exchange to access the South African capital markets in a much shorter timeframe. Assura will retain its primary listing on the LSE’s Main Market, and shares traded on the JSE will be fully fungible with those on the LSE. The listing and commencement of trading of Assura ordinary shares on the Main Board of the JSE will start at 09h00 on Thursday, 21 November. Assura is now the latest company to join the Johannesburg Stock Exchange following years of delistings on the stock market. #investment https://lnkd.in/dykUdSwH

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Check out the latest #venturecapital survey from Africa Private Equity News partner Southern African Venture Capital & Private Equity Association (SAVCA)

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How To Become a CEO: Skills and Tips for Entrepreneurs! Becoming a chief executive officer (CEO) requires a certain dedication. Becca Millstein CEO of Fishwife, advises aspiring entrepreneurs to pursue the role only if they’re deeply passionate about it and believe they’re the right person to lead. “Also, only do it if you want to do it for at least the next 10 years of your life,” says Becca. “If you want to do that, it’s the best job in the world." Whether you’re working your way up the corporate ladder or starting your own company, here’s how to become a CEO. #ceo #leadership

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Join us on Asset TV for an enlightening Discretionary Fund Management Masterclass featuring Roland Gräbe, CFA, Interim Chief Investment Officer at Old Mutual Multi-Managers. In the masterclass, Roland shares valuable insights on economic fundamentals, including the rand, the economic volatility, upcoming elections and their impact on investors. He also delves into asset classes, discussing risk factors and opportunities between local and global equities. Roland then closes off by outlining the pivotal role of Discretionary Fund Management for advisors in investment education. Don't miss out on this insightful discussion. Watch now: https://lnkd.in/dfkymJTC #OldMutualWealth #integratedwealthplanning #wealthmanagement #financialplanning

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Takealot sells Superbalist! Superbalist has been acquired by a South African consortium of retail and private equity investors led by Blank Canvas Capital MyBroadband learned of the sale from an anonymous source, and Takealot confirmed that it no longer owns Superbalist as of 1 September 2024. “This strategic acquisition will support Superbalist’s ongoing growth, allowing the Takealot Group to dedicate its efforts to further expanding Takealot and Mr D,” the company said. “We extend our best wishes to the Superbalist team as they embark on this new chapter in their journey.” Takealot said that throughout the transition period, Superbalist services will continue to operate without interruption, ensuring customers experience no disruptions. “Takealot will also continue to provide warehousing and logistics services to Superbalist through a multi-year service agreement,” it said. News that Takealot was looking to offload Superbalist first emerged in March, when well-placed industry sources told Daily Investor that Takealot was investigating the sale of the online clothing retailer. Superbalist, initially known as Citymob, was founded in November 2010 by three local entrepreneurs – Luke Jedeikin Claude Hanan and Daniel Solomon. Citymob quickly became a favourite among online shoppers thanks to its exclusive experiences, premium products, and hand-selected styles. In 2013, Citymob pivoted the business to fashion e-commerce as Superbalist, which became South Africa’s largest online fashion retailer. Naspers-owned takealot.com acquired Superbalist in August 2014 after it received a US$100 million cash injection to expand its South African operations. At the time, former Takealot CEO Kim Reid said he was excited about the acquisition because the millennial generation is deemed the most powerful and relevant market. Superbalist continued to operate as an independent brand under its existing management team, led by Hanan and Jedeikin. However, the founders left Superbalist in December 2019 and joined The Foschini Group (TFG) two years later to help the company realise its e-commerce ambitions. Last year, Superbalist embarked on a Section 189 process to restructure its business. It explained that growth post-Covid has not reached the levels that had been forecast. #mergersandacquisitions #disposals #privateequity https://lnkd.in/dQJUYWJf

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One of the biggest challenges facing startups in South Africa is the extended sales cycle within the corporate sector. While larger organisations deliberate, analyse, and evaluate a product offering under the guise of "significant interest," time is precious—and costly—for startups. Months of engagement without a signed contract or definitive response places immense pressure on limited resources. Established companies may absorb the waiting period, but startups often struggle to survive even a few months without income. This approach perpetuates a vicious cycle where promising innovations never see the light of day due to cash flow constraints, stifling growth and discouraging further innovation. Slow sales cycles don't just impact startups; they hinder the broader economy. By supporting faster decision-making, corporates could empower a thriving ecosystem that fuels job creation, innovation, and economic resilience. Recognising the benefit of "option value" to corporates, it would be fantastic to see leadership drive a responsive, decision-making culture, helping to support a sustainable startup ecosystem to the benefit of all. #Innovation #Startups #CorporateSA #EconomicGrowth #SouthAfrica

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For the first time in the history of Southern African Venture Capital & Private Equity Association (SAVCA)’s VC Industry Survey, South African startups raised over R3 billion, more than doubling previous funding raised in a single year. Encouragingly, 2023 also saw a hike in corporates investing alongside early-stage fund managers. While deal volume has remained stable, investments are increasingly supporting portfolio companies with follow-on investments. These are all sure signs of a thriving and, importantly, an ever-maturing VC industry. Source: SAVCA VC Industry Survey 2024 #venturecapital #africaninnovation #africanstartups

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Founders in my network - if you could learn anything from an industry-leading expert to elevate your venture, what would it be? Tell us by completing our short survey and help us curate the final agenda for this year's Startup Club ZA Founder Days in Cape Town and Jozi 🚀

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While other economic sectors are making strides towards closing the gender gap, unfortunately our sector (the tech sector) is lagging well behind. Our event last week brought this into stark reality for us with some truly concerning statistics emerging. The advent of a new technology such as AI provides all of us the opportunity to hit the reset button and consider how we think about redress via an emerging growth trend. Much to do…

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