These days, customers have many different payment options available. This includes Apple Pay – an easy contactless payment solution for people with Apple devices. It’s always a good idea to offer as many relevant payment options as you can for your customers. This will make it easier for more people to pay for your business, which could help you access more customers.

This guide covers exactly how your business can accept Apple Pay.

How Does Apple Pay Work?

Apple Pay is a mobile wallet payment system developed by Apple. The app uses near-field communication (NFC) technology to transmit payments between devices. Basically, this means you can tap your phone that has Apple Pay installed on it to a payment device, and the payment will go through. NFC is a type of wireless payment system that is gaining enormous popularity across the world. So, it only makes sense for your business to utilize it.

How to Set Up Apple Pay for Your Business

Expanding your payment options to include Apple Pay is easy to do. As long as you have the right equipment, you can set this up very quickly.

Here are the basic steps you’ll need to follow.

Get an NFC-Enabled Payment Terminal

The first thing your business needs to accept Apple Pay is an NFC-enabled payment terminal. Without this, you won’t be able to accept any kind of contactless payments.

Luckily, there are many different payment terminal options that exist. This includes plenty of affordable payment terminals that are easy to set up. Before purchasing a payment terminal, ask the provider if it can accept contactless NFC payments.

You also need to make sure the hardware you choose works with your business’s POS and payment software. Some POS systems have dedicated hardware solutions, while other payment terminals can work with multiple POS systems.

Set Up the NFC Card Reader

Set up the NFC card reader so that it works with your POS software. The card reader provider should have clear instructions available on how to set this up. Make sure that Apple Pay and contactless payments are enabled. Test to see if it works, then place the card reader somewhere that’s easily accessible.

Train Your Staff

Make sure that your staff is properly trained to accept and manage Apple Pay payments. In many cases, POS systems and card readers are set up for Apple Pay, but the staff isn’t aware that this is an option. Most POS systems are very intuitive, but it’s still a good idea to run everyone through how Apple Pay works to make sure everyone knows how to use the system.

Advertise Apple Pay

Once your business is all set up with Apple Pay, it’s a good idea to promote that you accept this payment method. You could do this with a small sticker or sign placed near your card terminal.

Using Apple Pay On Different Systems

The steps above are all it takes to accept Apple Pay in your business. However, different payment terminals and payment processing software options work in their own unique ways.

It’s always a good idea to contact your payment terminal and POS vendors to ask about any specifics in setting up Apple Pay for your business.

Using Apple Pay for E-commerce

You can also set up Apple Pay on your online store. To do this, make sure that your eCommerce and payment processing providers accept Apple Pay. They should provide clear instructions on how to enable it.

Should Your Business Accept Apple Pay?

Accepting Apple Pay is an excellent idea for any business. As you can see, it takes very little time and effort to set up accepting these payments. Chances are, your payment terminal is also already able to accept Apple Pay too.

Accepting Apple Pay can make payments more convenient for your customers, which improves the customer experience. A frictionless payment process can also result in more repeat business. Apple Pay is also a secure payment method, which makes it preferred by many consumers.

So, if your business wants to keep customers happy and stay ahead of consumer trends, then accepting Apple Pay is definitely something you should do.

Accepting Apple Pay can be a great way to improve your customers’ experiences. It’s simple to set up, and once you have it implemented, you can offer a wider range of payment options to help you generate more sales. Whether you’re an in-person or online business, this is always a good idea.

Load-shedding can be a killer for small businesses. All kinds of businesses need power to operate, so it’s important to know what kind of solutions exist to keep the power on. Follow this guide for some of the best energy savings tips, tools, and solutions for small businesses to use when the power goes out.  

The right tech tools could prevent your business from closing during load-shedding hours, keeping you productive and earning revenue throughout the day.  

Tools Small Businesses Can Use During Loadshedding 

From keeping the lights on to accepting credit card payments, there are many electrical tools small businesses need during load-shedding. Here are some of the best energy savings tips and tools to use.  

Lighting 

The first thing you want to do when the power goes out is keep your lights on. Luckily, there are many affordable solutions to this.  

One of the easiest options is to use light bulbs with built-in batteries. These bulbs recharge using your building’s electricity connection. When loadshedding hits, the bulb will automatically switch to battery power, and switch back to the grid when the electricity comes back.  

This battery-powered LED light bulb can last for up to 3 hours, while this one lasts for up to 5 hours. Pay attention to the brightness of the bulb, what type of socket it is, and what its charging time is. 

Solar-powered LED lights are also a convenient choice for use outdoors. These lights can provide a lot of brightness without ever needing electricity. Simply leave them outside to charge in the sun, and turn them on when the power goes off.  

Here are some good options:   

• LED wall lamp 
• Night sensor LED wall lights 
• LED motion sensor security light 

Power Supplies 

Having a backup power system is essential during load-shedding. Small businesses need these systems to power wifi routers and screens, charge laptops and phones and use any kind of electrical tools.  

One of the easiest and most convenient options is to use a power bank. These can be very affordable and can be used to charge small devices, like your phone or card machine. Here is a powerful and affordable option.  

An Uninterrupted Power Supply (UPS) is another great choice. These are plugged directly into your electrical devices and work similarly to a power bank. When the power goes out, the UPS will kick in and independently charge the unit. When the power goes back on, the device will switch back to grid power and the UPS will charge. These come in a wide range of sizes depending on the electrical requirements of your device. You can use a UPS for larger devices, like computers, wifi routers, TVs, or POS systems. Here is a powerful UPS option. 

Power inverters, like this one, are also available. These need to be attached to an external power supply (like a car battery) and can be used to plug and charge various electrical devices. They supply power for a long time and can handle large amounts of electricity.  

Finally, using a generator is another option for creating a source of power. Generators are the best choice when you need a higher power volume, as they can create enough electricity to power your entire small business, not just single devices.  

Generators are more expensive, they are noisy, and they require diesel fuel. They are also quite large, so you will need enough space to store them. 

Wifi 

Dongles and routers are available to keep your wifi up and running while electricity is out. These devices rely on cellular networks, so you will need to understand the data costs involved with each network. The devices themselves are affordable.  

Payments 

Yoco card machines are an excellent choice for accepting payments during load-shedding. These devices need to be charged in advance, and they need to connect to the internet (possible through hotspots and cellular data). They are a convenient way to accept card payments when the power is out.  

Many of these solutions are very affordable for small businesses, and they can make an enormous difference to the way a business operates. Investing in the right tech tools can prevent load-shedding from affecting you. These solutions are convenient, easy to apply, and can ultimately save your business when the power goes out. 

As a small business, it’s important that you know how to beat load-shedding. Try the tools above, and all your electrical needs should be covered during power outages.  

South Africa’s eCommerce market is estimated at just under R200 billion per annum. It’s also a rapidly growing market, which means there are many opportunities for entrepreneurs to start online businesses.  

Starting an online business in South Africa has many advantages. The startup costs are generally a lot lower than opening a brick-and-mortar store, and online businesses give you the freedom to access a far wider market. As long as you know how to use technology to run your business, and you have a strong business plan, starting an online business presents many excellent opportunities.  

This quick guide will cover some of the most important things to know about starting an online business in South Africa.  

Do I Need to Register an Online Business in South Africa? 

Whether your business is online or not, business registration processes remain the same in South Africa. If you run a small sole proprietor business and your profits fall within a certain tax bracket, then you don’t need to register your business with the CIPC or SARS. However, if you want to run a larger-scale operation then you should register your online business.  

Registering a business can have various advantages. It separates your personal finances and assets from the business, which can help to protect you against personal liability. It can also come with tax benefits.  

How Do I Start a Successful Online Shop in South Africa? 

Starting a successful online shop starts with having a great idea. First, you need to find the right products to sell.  

There should be a demand for your products, ideally with minimal competition. Once you have established what to sell, make sure that you understand the market and who your target customers are. Conducting thorough market research is essential for putting together a strong business plan.  

You will need to establish what your business model will look like. For online businesses, you could get into drop shipping, which means you won’t have to manage inventory or fulfilment. If you want to make your own products or sell inventory that you manage, then you will need to figure out fulfilment and shipping methods. You will also need to have a plan for product packaging and inventory storage.  

Any online business will require a good website. This acts as your storefront, it’s what customers experience before they make a purchase, and it’s what represents your brand. Various eCommerce platforms, like WooCommerce or Shopify, exist to help you put this together. Make sure your website offers a great experience for customers.  

Then you will need to have a marketing strategy to help you attract customers. The great thing about starting an online business is that there are many effective digital marketing solutions available. This includes strategies like email marketing, social media, SEO, running giveaways, referral campaigns, and more.  

To get things operating smoothly, you will have to implement technology in your online business. Understand what kinds of tech requirements you will need to cover processes like inventory management, shipping management, accepting online payments, marketing, customer communication, and more. Investing in the right tech tools is an important part of running an online business.  

Do You Need a Business License to Sell Online? 

All businesses in South Africa should have a valid trading license before they start selling. This applies to online and offline businesses. Having a business license is an important step toward making sure your business operates legally and legitimately. 

Do I Pay Taxes if I Sell Online? 

Online businesses in South Africa will still need to pay taxes. Be sure to add any relevant sales taxes to your products. You will also need to submit an annual income tax return to SARS for your personal income from the online business.   

It’s best to discuss this with an experienced tax accountant, as tax implications can change based on different business structures, your revenue, and how your business operates.  

Selling online is one of the best ways to start a business. You can test out your products and step into your market without needing to invest in a physical store. You can also use your online store to expand your reach and sell across the country. 

As the world becomes more focused on online activities, eCommerce continues to grow in popularity. With the right business idea, you can start an online store in practically any sector, and target customers across various markets and locations. Once you get it right, scaling up an online store is also much easier to do than a physical business.  

More Info: Starting a Business in South Africa

As the world continues to advance, technology use among small businesses in South Arica is only growing. All kinds of businesses and industries rely heavily on technology to perform their daily functions. This is something that is only becoming more important over time.  

As a small business owner, it’s essential to know how to efficiently introduce technology into your business. If you do it right, it could make a massive difference to the way your business functions.  

This quick guide will cover how small businesses can add and use technology and what processes they should take to introduce new tech solutions.  

How Do You Add Technology to a Business? 

Technology plays a major role in all kinds of business operations. These days, with technology advancing at such a rapid pace, there are tech solutions for just about any area of business.  

Adding new technology to your business can seem daunting, especially if you are already comfortable with your existing processes. However, once you find the right tech solution, it can be a total game-changer for your business’s operation.  

When adding technology to your business, start by identifying areas of inefficiency. Are there time-consuming manual processes that you want to cut out? Is there a task you hate doing? Is there a task in your business that you struggle to perform accurately? Chances are, there will be a technology solution that can assist.  

If you aren’t sure about using new technology in your business, start by taking advantage of free trials. Most software solutions offer a free trial where you can test out the platform. This lets you implement new technology without worrying about making a major commitment straight away.  

Take a look at this tech buyers guide for some of the best technology solutions for South African small businesses. 

What are the Four Steps Of Implementing Technology? 

Any business wanting to implement new technology can follow a four-step process to make things run a lot more smoothly. These four important steps are: 

• Plan: Start with a plan. Know what you want to achieve from the new technology and how you will roll it out. 

• Design: This stage narrows down the specifics of the technology use and covers the details of how it will work in your business. 

• Implementation: Now, it’s time to put the plan into action and start using the new technology solution. 

• Support: Introducing new technology is hardly ever a seamless process. Your business will probably need to provide ongoing support and training to help everyone adjust to the new technology and understand how to use it.  

How Technology is Implemented in a Small Business? 

Technology can be implemented into a small business to help manage all kinds of daily tasks. The general idea is that technology can be used to streamline processes and make business operations easier. For small businesses with limited staff, the right technology can be a lifesaver.  

Some common areas to add technology to a business include manual, back-office tasks like accounting, payroll management, inventory management, and other manual administration processes. Technology is also necessary for running online marketing campaigns and developing a strong online presence for your business. Then, depending on what kind of business it is, there are probably industry-specific tech solutions that can make your life easier.  

What Ways Do Implementing Technology Strategies Help Companies? 

Businesses rely heavily on technology. So, if a business fails to implement technology strategically, it could completely shake up the way the business operates.  

Carefully planned technology strategies help businesses identify which areas will benefit the most from tech solutions, which tech solutions are most appropriate, and what the best way to introduce these solutions is.   

The main goal behind any technology strategy is to implement new technology efficiently and smoothly without disrupting the way the business functions. By implementing the right tech solutions, any kind of business can save time, operate more efficiently, and gain a competitive advantage over the competition.  

Adopting new technology solutions should not be a daunting task. Instead, it should empower small businesses and help them achieve more with less. Technology is vital in today’s business world, and if your business doesn’t stay up to date with the latest tech, it may soon fall behind the competition.  

By implementing technology carefully and strategically, your business can completely transform the way it operates. Ultimately, this means greater business growth and more efficient operations.  

Technology is designed to make businesses run more efficiently and achieve better results. However, technology doesn’t come without its challenges. It can be confusing to navigate the ever-changing and developing world of technology.  

As technology use among small businesses increases in South Africa, it’s important that business owners understand what tech solutions exist and how they can use them to grow their business.  

In this guide, we’ll explore technological factors affecting business, and why using technology is so important for small businesses these days. 

How Does Technological Change Affect Business? 

Technological growth can bring about many positive changes and advantages for businesses. As technology develops, more opportunities are created to help businesses and improve the way that they operate.   

New technology can help businesses create new products and services – essentially developing entire new markets. Technology can also automate time-consuming business tasks, increase productivity, reduce business expenses, and make it easier for smaller businesses to achieve more.  

At the same time, technological change can also be a challenge for businesses. Businesses need to constantly adapt to the latest technology trends to keep up with the competition. If a business relies on outdated legacy systems, switching to a new tech solution can completely disrupt the way a business operates.  

It can also be expensive to invest in new technology and incorporate this into a businesses existing operations.  

How Do Technology Factors Affect Business Operations? 

Many businesses these days rely heavily on technology to manage their daily operations. This can include everyday back-office tasks, like accounting and inventory management, through to more advanced use cases – like product development.  

Technology has completely changed the way businesses collect, record, and use data. This means the right tech solutions can help businesses to understand their customers and market better and respond to customer demand more efficiently. Technology can also be used to evaluate industry trends and help business owners make more informed decisions.  

Technology can be particularly helpful for small businesses, as there are many tech solutions that vastly decrease the number of human work hours required to perform certain tasks. This means businesses with small teams can achieve more and save money on operating costs.  

The more technology develops, the more opportunities arise for technology to improve and help with business operations.  

Current Technological Factors Affecting Small Businesses? 

Current technologies are able to help businesses in many different areas – such as manufacturing, communications, sales and advertising, purchasing, and more. With the advancement of AI and machine learning, many new technologies exist that can automate business processes and help businesses make more informed decisions.  

However, small businesses need to keep up with this technology. Businesses need to have the right computer systems, good internet connectivity, and access to the right tech support.  

Steps Small Businesses Can Take to Become Technologically Adept 

Small businesses should start by rethinking the way that they operate and looking for solutions to streamline and improve this. If there are areas of business operations that take up a lot of time or result in many inaccuracies, this could signal areas that require technological advancement.  

Small businesses that want to become more tech-savvy should do their research. Watch videos and pay attention to what the competition is doing. The more you can learn about tech trends, the easier it will be to adopt new technologies. Signing up for a newsletter about technology and joining groups and social media pages can help to improve this knowledge.  

Small businesses should also make use of free trials and software demos. By looking into different software solutions and trying out how it could work for your business, you’ll gain a far better understanding of what kinds of technologies could help you grow.  

Businesses today should reconsider any manual processes that exist. If you spend hours inputting data into spreadsheets, this could be a sign of a new technology requirement. If your business still uses paper processes, then this should absolutely be digitized.   

Here is a helpful tech buyers guide for South African small business owners. It’s a great resource to understand what kind of tech solutions exist.  

Technology is always changing and growing. There are many technological factors affecting business. At the same time, there are many excellent opportunities for small businesses to use technology. 

Technology should be something that businesses warmly embrace to make their lives easier. It’s important to understand where your business may have inefficiencies and what kind of solutions are available to fix this. By keeping up with the latest tech trends, running a small business should become a lot easier.  

There are many different ways that a business with a new website can complete its domain name registration, including through the Companies and Intellectual Properties Commission (CIPC).

A business website is an important marketing and sales tool for all businesses. Some of the benefits you can expect from your website are exposure to a global market, being able to communicate with your market, and direct sales through your e-commerce website.

What is a domain name?

A domain name and web hosting services go hand to hand in successfully going live with your website. Your domain is the ‘name’ of your website and functions as the address where your website can be found; while your web hosting works as a place where your web files are stored.

Beyond pointing to the location of your website, your domain is an important part of your online brand identity. As such, it’s important to secure your domain name early on to avoid a competitor acquiring your preferred name.

You have the option of an international domain (.com) or a local domain (.co.za). A local .co.za domain is beneficial for South African businesses as it ensures your business is locally relevant and protected through the Alternative Dispute Regulation (ADR).

You also have the option to choose from three .za domain name categories:

• Basic: (this is a registered domain name with no website. The domain name owner registers the name, parks it while conceptualising the web creative or look and feel. The domain name holder will then have to pay an annual fee for their domain name to avoid deletion of the name on the .ZA zone.)
• Average: (basic website)
• Advanced: (e-commerce site)

How do I get a domain name for my business?

You have the following options for securing a domain for your website.

• Buy directly from an accredited .ZA Domain Name Registrar (e.g Domains.co.za; Afrihost.com; Xneelo.co.za, etc.).
• Secure a domain with any hosting package.
• Register via the CIPC.

Domain name registration with the CIPC

Since 2018 businesses have been able to register for a .co.za domain name when they register a new company. This is as a result of a collaboration between the CIPC, the ZA Domain Name Authority (ZADNA) and the ZA Central Registry NPC (ZACR).

How do I register my domain with the CIPC?

Before you can register your domain you must first have a registered company. New businesses can do this on the CIPC website.

To get started, register on a CIPC eServices portal to get access to the full suite of services, including domain registration. The entire process happens online, including payment.

You will need the following to register:

• Your enterprise number
• Director/s ID number/s
• Proposed domain name, e.g www.example.co.za
• Alternative domain names

All domains registered through the CIPC will have to be transferred to an accredited registrar within a year to avoid deregistration.

How much is CIPC domain registration?

The co.za domain name registration costs R63.25.

See also: Best Practices for Domain Names with ZADNA

The following content is paid for by Nedbank.

Small-business owners, content creators, traders and side hustlers often struggle to find convenient ways to generate and keep track of invoices, and receive payments from their customers.

But with Nedbank Money Message, those days are over. Whatever your business, you can now create and send invoices to your customers and receive payments into any bank account of your choice via WhatsApp. You don’t even need to be a Nedbank client to use Nedbank Money Message. This useful, secure payment solution is quick and easy to set up – and best of all, there are no set-up costs or payment-processing devices to buy.

If you have a business and need a flexible, easy way to generate professional invoices and get paid by your customers, then Nedbank Money Message is your better money choice.

All you need is a smartphone that runs the latest version of WhatsApp and an internet connection. Simply register with Nedbank Money Message by sending a WhatsApp to 087 240 6272. There is no set-up needed from your customer’s side. You will send them an invoice via WhatsApp and all they need to do is upload their card details safely and securely to make payment. It’s all on WhatsApp – and it takes only a few minutes.

How does it work?

Money Message is ideal if you sell products or services where the customer isn’t necessarily present or able to give you a bank card to swipe. This makes it perfect for online stores, work-from-home businesses or people on the move. It allows you to create and send an invoice and receive payment from your customers – all without complicated payment gateways or excessive transaction fees.

There’s no daily limit on the number of transactions you can process, although bills are currently restricted to a maximum value of R4 000 each and a total monthly limit of R50 000.

Will I qualify for Nedbank Money Message?

Although formal businesses can also use Nedbank Money Message, it’s perfect for small or informal businesses, because you don’t need any official company registration to use the service. You do, however, need to have proof of identification – like a South African identity card or document – and a South African bank account. Foreign traders would need a valid passport and South African bank account.

How do I register?

To register for Nedbank Money Message, make sure you have the latest version of WhatsApp on your smartphone.

Save the number 087 240 6272 to your contacts, then send the word ‘Hi‘ to that number and start a chat with Nedbank Money Message .

The bot will take you through the registration steps, which involve confirming your identity and your business name. You will have to load your banking details for the payment of invoices from your customers. Since your banking details are not stored on WhatsApp, it’s safe to add them.

During the registration process, you can also create your invoice template, including your business logo and business details. You can later update this invoice with your customer’s details and purchase information before you send them the invoice.

It should not take more than a few minutes to complete and requires no paperwork or waiting period.

How to use Nedbank Money Message?

Once you’ve set up your profile, you can start doing business immediately.

The interface is simply a chat window, with the Nedbank Money Message bot prompting you to give it commands. These commands (with short codes in brackets) are typically the following:

• Get paid (Gp).
• Make a payment (Mp).
• View your transaction history (H).
• Edit your profile (Pp).
• Edit your business details (Bz).
• Get help (i)

All these commands are entered as short codes. To send an invoice, enter the short code, your customer’s name and details, the amount due and what you’ve sold.

Your customer will then receive an SMS with a link to open the invoice and view it on WhatsApp. They must use the short code Pb for ‘Pay bill’ and enter their card details. They can pay with any South African credit, debit or cheque card.

Their payment is completely safe, as the system uses 3D Secure protocol to ensure secure and accurate payments for all online purchases. No card details are stored on WhatsApp, which makes security even tighter.

How much does it cost?

Using Nedbank Money Message is free. There is no sign-up or subscription fee.

All you need to pay is 2,75% of the value of every transaction and a flat fee of R2 per generated invoice.

For more information visit www.nedbank.co.za/moneymessage.

UPDATE: This article was originally published in December 2020 as ‘South African Tech Startups that Disrupted 2020’, but due to its popularity it was updated with brand new information on 13 December 2021.

In 2020 we saw South African tech startups continue to innovate and launch solutions in response to a myriad of challenges, including COVID-19.

An example of this is tech startup Sweep South which expanded its services beyond domestic cleaning. They now provide outdoor cleaning, caregiving, heavy lifting and maintenance services.

In response to COVID-19, Sweep South also partnered with Airbnb, the global home rental platform, to ensure that Airbnb hosts meet COVID-19 requirements and standards of cleaning protocol for hosts in South Africa.

[UPDATE]

In 2021, we saw many South African startups collaborate with big brands and retailers to expand their reach of clientele – Pargo Pickup Points is one of these companies to do so. We also saw startups that are innovatively making a difference and creating impact in various communities, being recognised.

Here is a list of South African tech startups that successfully secured investment, received international and local recognition or expanded globally in 2021:

Ambani Africa

Ambani Africa app was the winner of multiple awards at the MTN 2021 Business App of the Year Awards. The ed-tech company, Ambani, won in the categories for Best Gaming Solution, Best Educational, and Best South African Solution, as well as the overall award for Best App of the Year. Ambani works in Augmented Reality (AR), users can learn up to six African languages, and features games, series and songs for learning African languages. You can also book a tutoring class to learn isiZulu, isiXhosa, Setswana, Sepedi, Tshivenda, or English.

According to IOL News, Mukundi Lambani, founder of Ambani Africa, said she noticed that Ambani Africa had become the “go-to” app for many South Africans living abroad. “As the app and games were created with foundation-level learners in mind, we are finding that first-time language learners at universities are also using the app. Older and even retired people who have relocated and now want to interact with their new community members are regular users.”

• Women and Funding Case Studies – Learn how four women entrepreneurs got funding + their advice. Download the Women and Funding Case Studies

Pargo – Pargo Pickup Points

Pargo, a smart logistics company, has a partnership with online and omni-channel businesses in SA. This year, the company expanded its network from 2,500 to over 3 000 click-and-collect pickup points in South Africa, offering online shoppers the ability to easily collect their orders, reported IT Web.

The new pickup points include several franchises, including Clicks Pharmacy, FreshStop at Caltex and Lewis stores, and other independent retailers.

In December, Bank Zero revealed it has teamed up with Pargo to assist with its bank card deliveries, according to Business Report Online. Another accolade in the bag that Pargo Pickup Points received this year is third place in the 2021 BCX Digital Innovation Awards for the SME category.

FoondaMate

Tao Boyle, co-founder and COO of ed-tech startup FoondaMate, was honoured with the Young Entrepreneur Award by the 2021 AWIEF Awards earlier this month. Boyle and her business partner, Dacod Magagula, launched FoondaMate in August 2020 to help students who have limited internet access to study by using WhatsApp and Facebook Messenger. According to Disrupt Africa, FoondaMate is growing at a rate of 600 new users per day on average. Over 200,000 students in more than 30 countries have been helped by the FoondaMate chatbot in over 10+ languages. FoondaMate allows you to download past exam papers, solve math equations, search the internet, and more.

Puno

Faith Mokgalaka, owner of Puno and also a computer science student at WITS University, recently received the National Rising Star Award at the 2021 South African Small Business Awards, hosted by NSBC.Africa. Puno, an online crowd investing platform, aims to connect farmers with investors, encouraging farmers to sell shares or a portion of their next harvests for funding. In September, Mokgalaka also won first prize at the Brand Development Challenge hosted by the 4IR Aquatech Accelerator and its cohorts.

Mobiz

The South African industry-leading SaaS mobile marketing platform has raised a $4 million pre-series A round. According to Tech in Africa, the investment was led by HAVAÍC and Futuregrowth Asset Management and drew participation from Allan Gray E-Squared Ventures, Launch Africa, CapaciTech, and Endeavor’s Harvest Fund. Mobiz wants to use the funding to deliver its self-service product to the United States.

Earlier this year, Baobab Insights recognised Mobiz as one of the top marketing startups to watch. Mobiz, a company that specialises in SMS Marketing has served 100+ leading brands and 3000+ campaigns per month.

Yoco

Yoco, the fintech company that sells card machines and online payments services, announced in July that it raised $83 million in Series C funding backed by Dragoneer Investment Group. The investment was reported as the largest single investment raised by a small business-focused payments platform in the Middle East and Africa and the largest ever raised by a payments company in South Africa.

According to TechCrunch, Yoco serves 150,000 businesses and adds over 500 merchants per day. “The company claims to be processing more than $1 billion in card payments per year, and in its six years of existence, it has processed over $2 billion in card payments,” it was reported.

Yoco also offers many online marketing campaigns where they promote merchants who are using Yoco, and hosts networking meetups and online masterclasses for small business owners, it is called YocoMeets.

JobJack

JobJack won the National Technology Award at the 2021 South African Small Business Awards hosted by the NSBC.Africa. JobJack is an online platform that connects entry-level job seekers with employers by using an automated recruitment process. The company that launched in 2018, has facilitated over 350,000 job seekers in creating their online profiles and exposing them to opportunities. According to NSBC.Africa, The JobJack team has increased the monthly amount of successfully placing job seekers into opportunities by 600%.

2020

1. Kudoti

Gift Lubele, an innovator, co-founder and COO of Kudoti, recently won this year’s BRICS Young Innovator Prize competition. He walked away with $25 000 (R 378 203,75) in prize money.

The BRICS Young Innovator Prize forms part of the BRICS Young Scientists Forum. The forum recognises and rewards quality research and innovation, including the use of artificial intelligence, in environmental protection and materials science, according to IT Web.

Lubele’s Kudoti – which is Zulu for ‘in the trash’ – helps waste management and recycling companies optimise their operations through the use of data collection tools.

Fast Company South Africa named Kudoti one of the 25 Most Innovative Companies in the country.

2. Stokfella

Stokfella was named Best Financial Solution at the 2020 MTN Business App of the Year Awards.

The fintech enables stokvels to manage, consolidate, communicate, visualise and analyse their stokvel activity financials and any other related stokvel matters.

This year StokFella launched an initiative to help ensure the survival of small businesses through bulk buying opportunities. Dark City Meat & Chicken, a small butchery in Alexandra township, was one of the small businesses that received assistance.

“The butchery has opened a stokvel for the people of Alex. Groups, like families, can pool money together and stretch the value of their rands further through bulk buying,” CEO and founder Tshepo Moloi told Destiny Connect.

3. 3DIMO

This local tech startup partnered with the University of Cape Town to create new technological ways to detect disease in livestock as early as possible.

3DIMO developed the Thola infrared imaging tool which helps small and medium scale farmers, who are at the most risk of losing their income, according to an article by Ventureburn.

According to their website, 3DIMO’s vision is to empower farmers globally with data insights that will help to monitor livestock health and welfare.

3DIMO does this through the provision of globally traceable animal biometric identity and the use of infra-red precision livestock imagery to provide actionable insights and convenient livestock management tools.

4. Dataprophet

Machine learning specialists, Dataprophet, won the 2020 European Prescriptive for Autonomous Manufacturing Technology Innovation Leadership Award by Frost & Sullivan, an international research firm.

According to Ventureburn, the award recognises companies that are leaders in the development and successful introduction of high-tech solutions for customers. They received additional international recognition from CBInsights which announced them as one of the 100 Most Innovative Artificial Intelligence Startups in 2020.

Dataprophet also raised a $6-million Series-A funding round. The investment comes from investors Knife Capital, the Industrial Development Corporation of South Africa (IDC) and Norican Group, a leading foundry engineering and equipment company.

SEE ALSO: 10 Innovative COVID-19 Business Solutions We Loved

5. Skynamo

Early this year the South African tech startup secured R431 million in funding from a US-based venture capital firm.

According to Business Insider, positive online reviews on third-party software websites attracted interest from Five Elms, which invests in B2B software companies.

Skynamo is a field sales platform used by manufacturers, distributors and wholesalers. Core services include tracking sales activity. Through the platform sales reps can also gain remote access to product and pricing information via their mobile phones.

6. Examsta

Examsta won the Best Women in STEM award at the 2020 MTN Business App of the Year Awards.

The online learning platform enables learners to master all content for the SA National and IEB exams. They currently offer Life Sciences for Grade 10 to 12.

The app founder is former science and mathematics educator, Marie de Wet. Today she is now a freelance instructional designer and ed-tech consultant.

According to Heavy Chef, De Wet ran an online trial with over 500 learners between April and May this year. She collected feedback on its utility, user experience and content quality. De Wet self-funded the entire project.

7. Elenjical Solutions

The National Fintech Award Winner of the South African Small Business Awards for this year is Elenjical Solutions

The tech startup, founded by Tinu Elenjical, delivers technology and software to the African investment banking, asset management and insurance markets.

According to IT-Online, the company has seen revenue double year-on-year for the past four years and are forecasting a record turnover. This is despite the impact of COVID-19 and the strict lockdowns.

8. FinChatBot

FinChatBot, creator of conversational AI solutions for the financial services industry, has attracted a $1.6 million investment. The investors include Saviu Ventures, a French investment holding company which focuses on African startups and Mauritius-based, Compass Venture Capital. South African venture capital firm, Kalon Venture Partners, are also investors.

Both Compass Venture Capital and Kalon Venture Partners are solidifying their positions, having previously invested in 2018.

The investment will be used to grow the team and expand into West Africa and Europe, they state in a press release.

The AI fintech company services over 20 top-tier financial service providers including banks and insurers. Clients include MTN Financial Services, Sanlam, Santam, Hollard, MiWay and Bidvest Insurance.

9. swiftVEE

swiftVEE, the South African agri-tech startup, successfully raised a US$1.5 million in funding. Their plans are to expand into Namibia, Botswana and Zimbabwe and to expand its platform. The startup hopes to expand its use of AI.

The investment comes from Subtropico, an unlisted private company in the food industry.

According to Disrupt Africa, swiftVEE uses artificial intelligence (AI) to match buyers and sellers of livestock globally. They help buyers acquire livestock at the most optimal times. The startup has 125,000 farmers in its network.

On its website visitors can view live online auctions and buy and sell livestock.

10. Lulalend and Paycode

Paycode and Lulalend were announced winners in the 2020 Inclusive Fintech Awards.

Lulalend is an online provider of business funding to SMEs and Paycode provides biometric digital identity and low-cost access to basic financial services in rural areas,

According to Ventureburn, the awards recognises the top 50 inclusive fintech startups across the globe that are making a concerted effort to provide financial services to underserved communities across the world.

SEE ALSO: South African Tech Startups that Disrupted 2019

LifeQ, Biometrics and Health Information Pioneer, Secures $47 Million Investment Funding

LifeQ, a provider of biometrics and health information derived from wearable devices and used in world-leading health management solutions, announced it has secured $47 million from top investors around the world. LifeQ co-founders Laurence Olivier, CEO, and Dr. Franco du Preez, Chief Scientist, made the announcement.

“LifeQ is proud to partner with the world’s most distinguished investment groups to positively impact the future of health for all people,” stated Mr. Olivier. “We are in the midst of a global health crisis caused by sedentary lifestyle, increased work demands, and unhealthy foods resulting in rapid increase in chronic illnesses worldwide, many of which are preventable. The COVID-19 situation has brought this problem into stark focus. LifeQ has already been integrated into some of the world’s most innovative new wearable products by leading OEMs to bring consumers the healthcare of the future.”

LifeQ has two key value propositions: enabling wearable devices to provide business-grade and near clinical-grade health information streams; and using this data to generate health and wellness solutions for consumer, business and clinical applications. LifeQ is rapidly becoming the preferred health enabler and benchmark for the world’s top consumer electronics companies, powering the next wave of digitally enabled insurance and health management, and has already had significant, life-changing and even life-saving impact on real users’ lives.

“High accuracy, personalized, non-invasive digital health monitoring by wearable devices is the future of well-being and good health,” stated Dr. du Preez.

LifeQ has assembled a valuable shareholder base to assist with business expansion that spans an impressive list of institutions and strategic investors, including Invenfin, 4Di Capital, Allectus Capital, Mogul Capital, Tenhong Holdings, Analog Devices, Hannover Re, Convergence Partners, Stellar Capital Partners, Nedbank Corporate and Investment Bank, Delos, OneBio Seed Investment Fund, Virgin Group, Lireas, Allen & Co, and Acequia Capital. LifeQ has also drawn the backing of experienced entrepreneurs and family offices such as Rachel Diamond, Halls Investments, Bremer Investments, Errol Damelin, Dietco, among others.

Tiger Brands Launches VC Fund for the Food and Beverages Sector

Tiger Brands has established a venture capital fund as part of its effort to drive growth. The venture capital fund will be launched in June 2021 and aims to give Food and Beverage startups the much-needed access to capital and capability required to grow their businesses. The fund will assist entrepreneurs in securing capital while also helping Tiger explore new opportunities locally and across the African continent.

As a priority, the fund will invest in consumer brands and Intellectual Property within the Food and Beverage sector. There will be a secondary focus on capability and technology opportunities within across the value chain which can benefit the broader Tiger business. Relevant opportunities will include emerging and existing consumer trends such as Health and Nutrition, Plant Based foods, Convenience and Snackification.

Becky Opdyke, Chief Marketing Officer at Tiger Brands says “Our strategy and vision is not only to continue being Africa’s largest food manufacturer, but also to ensure that we stay ahead of the curve in terms of trends to better cater to the evolving needs of our consumers.”.

This initiative will provide Tiger with early access to opportunities, which in turn provides a pipeline of growth initiatives to fuel future growth.

Through this venture, Tiger Brands will expand its participation in new product categories, as well as enhance its access to capabilities to continue serving its consumer base.

Any fund-related queries may be sent to Venture.Capital@Tigerbrands.com.

SEE ALSO: Playbook For Raising Venture Capital Funding In South Africa

Payflex Grows SA Online Shoppers 4000% in One Year

Fintech startup and buy now pay later (BNPL) provider Payflex says that the part-payment platform grew from a shopper base of 2 000 to 85 000 in 12 months and its customer base soared from 70 merchants in 2019 to over 750 active stores this year.

In addition, online merchants in SA which offer a buy now pay later (BNPL) payment option are achieving up to 30% higher average order values from their customers, larger purchases and significant revenue increases through more sales conversions.

Payflex has seen over 12% month on month rises in new merchants on its platform this year. “The growth in our business, during a pandemic, mirrors e-commerce adoption and expansion,” says Jarred Deacon, head of growth at Payflex.

“With a BNPL payment option, customers tend to convert quicker and since they only pay for a quarter of their purchase right away, they tend to buy more and load their shopping cart. Merchants are settled in full for all purchases next business day, which increases cash flow and lowers fraud and chargeback risks. It’s a no-brainer,” Deacon explains.

Payflex’s BNPL model allows customers to shop at over 700 well-known online stores. Payments are split over four interest-free instalments. The process is simple and quick for customers – the assessment is done in seconds and customers only pay a fee if they miss a scheduled instalment. Payflex accepts any Visa, Mastercard or American Express cards (debit, credit or cheque).

There are an estimated two million online shoppers in South Africa and Payflex has over 80,000 signed up on its platform. BNPL payment options don’t affect the disposable income of customers, and free up cash flow over a six week period.

Costs and benefits

Merchants that offer the Payflex BNPL option pay no set-up fees. Low transaction fees on successful orders are tailored per business after a consultation with the Payflex onboarding team.

Payflex’s online digital mall allows customers to search different categories and shops that allow them to buy now and pay later. In Australia, BNPL providers are second only to Google as lead generators for their merchant partners. “A leading tech retailer in South Africa which offers Payflex confirmed that Payflex generates the highest number of referral leads, indicating that Payflex is following the global BNPL trends,” says Deacon.

BNPL also seems to be acquiring a greater portion of the transaction payments ecosystem, with a Payflex client – another leading local e-commerce business – indicating that its Payflex BNPL payment gateway is in the top three payment options for customers, up from ninth position a year ago.

Charlton Maseko, e-commerce director at KaryKase, says that with increased traffic attributed to the Payflex online store directory, the company has made Payflex its exclusive payment method for card payment processing.

Merchants are finding that BNPL significantly expands their customer base. The impact is especially powerful if the BNPL option is promoted while the customer is still browsing rather than just at checkout through the innovative product widget which drives shoppers to check out, for less upfront cost.

Healthtech Startup Expands to the US

South African healthtech startup, HearX, will have it’s Lexie hearing aids sold at Walgreens stores in the US from this month. HearX offers health tech solutions for hearing loss, detection, and diagnosis.

Launched in 2016, HearX Group is the world’s first smartphone-based hearing test, and has the potential to reach millions of people across the world who have undiagnosed and treatable hearing loss.

The hearing aids are programmed according to the user’s unique hearing profile. Users can customise their hearing profiles using a dedicated smartphone app.

Users can also make video or voice calls to hearing experts for support and remote care.

AlphaCode Awards R2M and Further Support to Fintech Startups at Latest Demo Day

SA’s best up and coming fintech startups sweated it out at a virtual demo day where they had just 5 minutes each to convince a panel of judges that they should be part of the second phase of the AlphaCode Incubate programme.

The ten startups, which have just completed a three-month programme, competed for one of four places in an extended 6-month programme valued at almost R1,5 million each. Their success, which was validated by their ability to get traction in a short time, unlocks further funding of R500 000 each and tailored business support.

Says Andile Maseko, head of ecosystem development at AlphaCode, “Despite a tumultuous year, a number of entrepreneurs saw how they could fill a gap in the market for financial services and related industries. Those selected in the top four earned the opportunity for further funding and mentorship. The first part of the intensive programme focused on entrepreneurship and refining business models. The second phase will focus on revenue generation.”

In addition, these startups will be able to apply for seed capital from AlphaCode’s fund that invests in early-stage startups.

The four promising businesses selected:

AgriCool is an e-marketplace that links smallholding farmers and buyers to a fair and reliable market. It offers farmers access to finance, reliable information on improving their production, and it works with both formal and informal markets. Street vendors, retailers, the hospitality industry can get fresh produce delivered, saving them transportation costs. Founder: Zamokuhle Thwala.

Bento is an out-of-the-box employee perks and benefits platform. It gives employers a simple and cost-effective solution to offer employee benefits without the cost and administrative burden. Employees are empowered to self-manage their benefits and perks which gives them freedom of choice over their remuneration structure and take-home pay. Co-founders: Claudia Snyman, Dennis Williams, Bryn Divey and Ross Horak.

Imfuyo Technologies is developing a smart farming solution that will give livestock farmers better oversight of their operations at viable cost points. The initial offering will consist of a smart tracker that will collect critical data about cattle location and behaviour. The data is analysed to enable farmers to optimise farming activities. The platform will also serve as a de facto cattle deeds office, providing better traceability across the beef production value chain. Through Imfuyo Technologies, livestock farmers also have better access to financial markets. Founder: Allasandro Da Gama.

MatchKit.co helps athletes better commercialise their careers. The platform helps athletes make money, regardless of the status of sporting events. It integrates into existing social media channels and stats to showcase the value of an athlete’s digital audience to potential sponsors. It also offers a plug-and-play e-commerce store where fans can purchase everything from bespoke, branded merchandise to personalised video and audio shout-outs. MatchKit.co plans to add insurtech and transactional / virtual card capabilities to their offering. Founders: Mike Sharman, Shaka Sisulu, Bryan Habana and Ben Karpinski.

The Quiver Lets Surfers Rent their Sticks in Airbnb-Like Service Across the Globe

The Quiver, a new platform that lets surfers rent out their boards to anyone in 20 countries and growing. The Airbnb-like service connects board owners to everyday surfers throughout the world, creating an online community and marketplace that monetizes board sharing in a unique peer-to-peer model. With a few clicks on the site, riders can browse through hundreds of boards to rent and reserve their perfect stick in a matter of minutes. The Quiver also allows anyone to list their own boards.

 Among the thousands of boards listed you’ll find well known board brands and local surfboard shapers alike. Some of the surfboard brands include Album, Campbell Brothers, Channel Islands, Lost, and Pyzel among others. The site also includes links to some of the most popular surfing destinations where boards are readily available.

The Quiver’s easy navigation and communal atmosphere is a virtual community for surfers, who can also meet fellow riders and share tips and recommendations. In a COVID world, surfing has gained new popularity for its singular experience, allowing people to enjoy the waves by themselves or with small groups of friends.

“In times of uncertainty and change, being out in the ocean is beneficial in so many ways,” says Wilson. “Surfing has always been a socially distant sport. In fact, when you find waves without anyone else in the water, it can be the most memorable and best sessions. The beauty of surfing is that all you need is a board.”

The inspiration behind The Quiver is an experience every surfer has faced: traveling with cumbersome boards that are often damaged in transport. Additionally, it has become increasingly expensive to fly with excessive airline baggage fees.