Catch our conversations with future-focused corporate executives, senior leaders, impact investors and subject matter experts as we discuss the most influential topics at the forefront of ESD and SME Development in South Africa.
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Catch our conversations with future-focused corporate executives, senior leaders, impact investors and subject matter experts as we discuss the most influential topics at the forefront of ESD and SME Development in South Africa.
SMEs Are Innovating, But Where’s the Funding? | Panel Discussion By 100 Women in Finance x Edge Growth
The Cutting Edge Podcast
1 hour 23 minutes 3 seconds
4 months ago
SMEs Are Innovating, But Where’s the Funding? | Panel Discussion By 100 Women in Finance x Edge Growth
In this episode of The Cutting Edge, recorded live at an event organised by 100WF and hosted by Edge Growth Ventures, moderator Zinathi Gquma (Business Day TV anchor and host) leads a powerful discussion on how innovation within SMEs is reshaping South Africa's economic landscape despite an underwhelming growth.
4 business growth experts shared their insights on:
↳ Why SMEs must embrace innovation as a strategic pillar, not just a buzzword, to compete with established players.
↳ How technology adoption enables smaller companies to operate at scale with fewer resources and respond more quickly to customer needs and demands.
↳ The critical funding gap for innovative ventures and why South Africa's venture capital landscape remains underdeveloped compared to global capital ecosystems.
↳ Why true innovation means selling your ideas, not just creating them.
↳ How a lack of corporate support for SMEs is holding businesses back from growing.
Featured in the panel:
- Noluvo Nela - Partner, Edge Growth Ventures
- Cleola Kunene - JSE Head of SME Development
- Sizwe Ndlovu - CTO, Pineapple Insurance
- Zinathi Gquma - Business News Anchor & Moderator
🟢 Essential listening for entrepreneurs, funders, ecosystem builders, and policymakers committed to unlocking South Africa's economic potential through SME innovation and development.
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ABOUT 100 Women in Finance:
100 Women in Finance (100WF) is a global nonprofit organisation dedicated to strengthening the finance industry by empowering women to reach their professional potential at every stage of their careers. With over 35,000 members across 30+ locations worldwide, 100WF delivers on its mission through education, peer engagement, and impact initiatives, all guided by its Vision 30/40, a goal for women to hold 30% of senior investment and executive roles by 2040.
#smeinnovation #southafricaneconomy #businessgrowth #entrepreneurship #economicgrowth
The Cutting Edge Podcast
Catch our conversations with future-focused corporate executives, senior leaders, impact investors and subject matter experts as we discuss the most influential topics at the forefront of ESD and SME Development in South Africa.
