Toolkit

Launch League Let's Talk Financing

The Launch League Let’s Talk Financing toolkit, developed by the UK-South Africa Tech Hub and Viridian, is a set of open licence resources for hubs to use in running a workshop or guiding a conversation with entrepreneurs through a step-by-step process.

By completing their Financing Card, entrepreneurs will understand their business’ stage, revenue model, assets and risk appetite, and growth plans — and therefore determine what financing options are available to them.

Who should use this toolkit?

Hub facilitators aspiring to understand the ins and outs of investment and financing options.

Hub facilitators looking to guide entrepreneurs to understand what SMME financing options are available for them.

Hubs wanting specific resources that they can point their entrepreneurs to.

How to use this toolkit

Play Video

This one-page infographic explains what is in this toolkit and how to use it.

Core toolkit resources

Below are the core resources you will need to facilitate a Let’S Talk Financing workshop, and guide entrepreneurs through the process to understand what financing is appropriate for their businesses.

A Hub’s Guide to Let’s Talk Financing

This guide explains the principles of SMME financing, and how to walk entrepreneurs through a step-by-step process to understand realistically what their financing options are using this toolkit.

Let’s Talk Financing facilitator deck

This slide deck can be used by facilitators to present a Let’s Talk Financing workshop, which guides SMME owners through their financing options.

Entrepreneur financing card

This funding card can be used to help entrepreneurs better understand the types of financing that may be available for their business.

South African financing database

Viridian and the UK-South Africa have created a database of funds and organisations that finance early stage South African entrepreneurs. Once entrepreneurs have filled out their Let’s Talk Financing Card, they can search the database for the funds and funders that align with their stage of business, business model, assets and risk appetite, and growth plans.

This is an evolving database. If you know of a funder of early-stage South African businesses that is not on this list – please fill in this form to add the funder to the database.

This is an evolving database. If you know of a funder of early-stage South African businesses that is not on this list – please fill in this form to add the funder to the database.

Other Resources related to SMME financing

We’ve collated other resources that are useful for you and your entrepreneurs to understand the financing landscape, and the fundraising process.

Hub network members who have already used this toolkit

All resources for this toolkit

3 resources

Core Toolkit Resources

A Hub’s Guide to Let’s Talk Financing

This guide explains the principles of SMME financing, and how to walk entrepreneurs through a step-by-step process to understand realistically what their financing options are using this toolkit.

Let’s Talk Financing facilitator deck

This slide deck can be used by facilitators to present a Let’s Talk Financing workshop, which guides SMME owners through their financing options.

Entrepreneur financing card

This funding card can be used to help entrepreneurs better understand the types of financing that may be available for their business.

Additional resources on SMME financing

Discover your Financial Personality

This 10-question quiz helps people determine what their financial personality is.

A Guide To Asset-Based Community Development

This article explains what types of assets exist within a community. The incubator and business can innovatively use these otherwise overlooked assets.

The Unseen Sector: A Report On The MSME Opportunity In South Africa

This report provides a snapshot of the small business landscape in South Africa, where it is thriving and what challenges need to be addressed by government and corporate policy to achieve a stronger MSME ecosystem.

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An Assessment of South Africa’s SME Landscape

This report conducts a comprehensive assessment of the state of SMEs in South Africa, with a focus on the key challenges, opportunities, risks and proposed next steps.

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1665 KB

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The Founder’s Guide to Fundraising in South Africa

This guide provides knowledge and other appropriate tools for founders on their fundraising journey.

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10078 KB

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Access to Finance Guide

This guide, developed by Property Point, leads the entrepreneur through funding options and requirements.

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12639 KB

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