The Western Cape Government, through its Department of Economic Development and Tourism (DEDAT), is partnering with Finfind, a South African online finance-matching platform for micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs), to make funding options more accessible to businesses across the province.
Under the agreement, MSMEs will be able to access Finfind’s free funding-matching service through the Department’s website. The platform matches businesses seeking finance with funders and their available products, covering debt, equity, grants, incentives, leasing and rental.
The initiative addresses a gap highlighted by funding data from the province. More than 80% of businesses in the Western Cape that apply for finance have annual turnover below R1 million and account for more than 80% of full-time employment in the MSME sector. According to the data, these businesses remain among those with the least access to funding.
The data comes from Finfind’s dataset used in the SA MSME Access to Finance Report 2025. The report also found that 83.2% of MSMEs applying for funding in the Western Cape have annual turnover below R1 million, while those businesses account for 83.1% of permanent jobs in the province.
The funding application data points to several practical barriers. Some 52.2% of applicants reported having no collateral, while 65.3% were unable to provide their latest Annual Financial Statements. Another 63.4% reported having no formal accounting system, which can make it harder to meet documentation requirements associated with bank and development finance institution lending models.
The new digital route is designed to address part of that problem by connecting businesses with funding options and information about what individual funders require. The Department will add an “APPLY FOR FUNDING” button to its website, directing businesses into Finfind’s onboarding process.
Finfind’s platform also verifies business owner and company information with the Department of Home Affairs and the Companies and Intellectual Property Commission (CIPC), according to the announcement.
The agreement extends beyond the Department’s website. It also provides for coordination between Finfind, the City of Cape Town and the Western Cape’s five District Municipalities to expand access to funding support through government touchpoints across the province.
For Darlene Menzies, CEO of Finfind, the partnership addresses a problem that begins before a business submits a funding application.
“Most entrepreneurs don’t know where to start when it comes to funding – they don’t know who the funders are or which finance products match their needs. The Western Cape government is addressing this challenge for this vital sector through our partnership”.
Dr Ivan Meyer, Western Cape Minister of Agriculture, Economic Development and Tourism, said the initiative is intended to connect MSMEs with support through the Department’s digital channels.
“The Western Cape Government remains committed to providing an enabling environment for growing our MSMEs. For this reason, I have identified business support as one of my core priority areas in my portfolio as Western Cape Minister of Agriculture, Economic Development and Tourism. Partnerships like this strengthens our ability to connect MSMEs with practical support that directly enables growth. By making a credible access-to-finance pathway available through the Department’s digital channels, we are reducing barriers and helping more businesses take the next step towards funding and potential expansion.”
