Locally, digital solutions play a pivotal role particularly for underserved populations. As the digital landscape evolves and expands, many startups across South Africa are emerging as powerful catalysts for change, driving innovation in both urban and township economies. Among these pioneering ventures, there are certain companies that are making significant strides in addressing the unique challenges faced by South African consumers and small businesses. Here are some standout examples of small businesses that are leading the pack in their respective industries.
Cloudy Deliveries
Cloudy Deliveries was founded by Colin Mkosi in 2020. A delivery service similar to Uber Eats, this startup uses bicycles to do deliveries for local restaurants, supermarkets and other stores in the community of Langa in the Western Cape. An initial seven second-hand bicycles grew to 15, and today Cloudy Deliveries works with over 250 young people in the community, having already done over 50 000 deliveries. Cloudy Solutions helps to provide these young people with a source of income to be able to sustain their lives and their families.
Sum1 Investments
In 2020, Kurhula Baloyi embarked on a mission to transform the investment landscape in South Africa, addressing the glaring disparities in the under-representation of black individuals and communities in investment circles. Her belief that everyone should have access to opportunities that can help them build wealth led to her establishing Sum1 Investments, which provides short-term investments for stokvels and savings groups. Sum1 Investments leverages the power of the collective to create wealth and improve financial inclusion via investment platforms within communities. “At Sum1 Investments we hope to democratise investments one stokvel at a time. Together, we are not just building wealth, but creating pathways for a more inclusive and equitable financial ecosystem in South Africa, ” says Kurhula Baloyi, Founder, of Sum1 Investments.
Shop2Shop
Shop2Shop is a South African online platform advancing financial inclusion via an accessible and user-friendly all-in-one management solution that connects small businesses for easy trading, offering a range of products, from groceries to clothing, and simplifies purchasing with tools for inventory management, order tracking, and secure payments, promoting local commerce and community growth.
This game-changer in the fintech space enables merchants to manage card transactions and build a transactional history, with access to working capital that creates opportunities for growing profitable businesses. With payment processing via WhatsApp, Shop2Shop is a safe and credible alternative to cash for small businesses and traders. “By making digital payments accessible to everyone, Shop2Shop is playing a crucial role in bridging the gap between formal and informal economies,” says Thembi Dlamini, Head of Supplier Management at Shop2Shop. Whether it’s a small shop in a township or a service provider in the city, Shop2Shop’s platform ensures that all businesses, regardless of size, have access to modern payment solutions.
Shesha
Launched in May this year, Shesha is a new South African-owned e-hailing service formed to disrupt the established e-hailing landscape, largely dominated by international giants and offers reliable, secure and affordable priced rides. Currently operating throughout Gauteng with the onboarding of over 13 000 drivers, Shesha will be expanding to other provinces in the future. Shesha collaborates with the local taxi industry including the South African National Taxi Council (SANTACO) and National Taxi Alliance (NTA), with 10% of Shesha shares allocated to the Gauteng E-Hailing Trust to help operators gain access to essential benefits such as medical aid, provident funding and pensions.
Lawyered Up
Small businesses often face challenges related to accessing and affording legal services. Lawyered Up is a unique digital legal service platform that provides easy access to important legal documents while connecting modern-day entrepreneurs, freelancers, and independent contractors with trained and qualified attorneys. With the belief that legal support should be a necessity, not a luxury, this service offers affordable, AI-driven legal assistance to empower SMEs to thrive by focusing on growing their businesses. “By empowering SMMEs with accessible legal solutions, Lawyered Up is helping fuel entrepreneurship, driving innovation, and ultimately contributing to the growth of our economy,” says Serisha Barrat, CEO of Lawyered Up.
Zaio
Zaio is an online coding school offering accredited and beginner friendly self-paced courses in
full stack, front end, and back end development. With an average time for completion of the bootcamps being between 12 and 24 weeks, Zaio provides students with the skills they need to become professional developers. Career support is included in the curriculum including job coaching, interview prep, and referrals to potential employers within a hiring network.
As South Africa continues to embrace digital transformation, startups such as Cloudy Solutions, Zaio, Shesha, Lawyered Up, Sum1 Investments and Shop2Shop are leading the charge in creating innovative solutions that cater to the unique needs of the country’s diverse population. By focusing on inclusivity and accessibility, these companies are not only driving economic growth but also paving the way for a more equitable future.
