News & Insights | Innovation Bridge Portal

Read our insights and analysis that will keep you up to date and help you to gain a better understanding of trends and shifts in the ecosystem and beyond.

Enabling Agri-Finance Access Through Partnership

The Land Bank Handed Founders the Funder’s Scorecard. Here Are the 10 Things You’re Really Judged On.

In Part 1, we learned that funders can’t back a business they can’t see. In Part 2, the Land Bank’s Litha Kutta showed exactly what they read once they can. The session was about agriculture — the lesson belongs to every founder. (Part 2 of the Innovation Bridge Portal’s series covering the SME

Minister Ndabeni Launches Peo Pele Youth Fund

Government Launches Peo Pele Youth Fund to Expand Opportunities for Young Entrepreneurs

South Africa has taken another step towards strengthening youth entrepreneurship with the launch of the Peo Pele Youth Fund, a new government initiative aimed at improving access to finance and integrated business support for youth-owned enterprises. Launched by the Minister of Small Business

“Capital Does Not Respond to Your Talent.” Ten Businesses Just Proved What It Does Respond To.

At the JSE’s closing bell on 1 July 2026, ten growth-stage SMEs finished a 12-month accelerator with 134 new jobs, 32.75% average revenue growth and over R37 million raised. The most valuable thing they gained wasn’t any of that. (Part 1 of the Innovation Bridge Portal’s series covering the JSE