Meet the Absa Small Business Friday featured Small Business of the week – Zevoli Growth Partners.
Zevoli Growth Partners is your dedicated partner in driving impactful change. With a focus on bridging gaps between corporates and SMEs, they are committed to supplier diversity, socio-economic development, and fostering resilient communities.
Mpopi Khupe, CEO and co-founder, shares that Zevoli was founded with a visionary mission to empower and inspire South African micro, small and medium-sized businesses (MSMEs) to turn their innovative ideas into reality. Not only do they offer entrepreneurs access to knowledge and skill-building for their businesses but they have established strong partnerships with both public and private sector organisations, working collaboratively to create a supportive ecosystem for entrepreneurship.
Through a range of programmes, including funding initiatives, mentorship, and access to markets, it has empowered MSMEs to realise their full potential. They have also developed a series of funding handbooks targeted at South African SMEs.
These handbooks are:
- Volume 1: South Africa’s Development Finance Institutions,
- Volume 2: International Development Finance Institutions in South Africa,
- Volume 3: South Africa’s Provincial Development Agencies and Economic Development Departments,
- Volume 4: South Africa’s Corporate SME, and
- Supplier Funds Bonus: Ghana MSME Funding Handbook.
If you are interested in a copy of these handbooks, you can get them on Zevoli’s website.
To ensure that they are making an impact and are effective, they use data and feedback to refine and improve their programmes and other offerings.
Zevoli Growth Partners’ journey has been marked by a steadfast commitment to its mission, a deep understanding of the challenges and opportunities faced by entrepreneurs, and a passion for fostering economic growth and innovation across South Africa. Its work has not only supported individual businesses but has also contributed to broader economic and social progress in rural and peri-urban communities.
They also offer specialised support for mining and construction artisans and other underserved markets such as their Stokvel Development Programme with Sanlam as well as their Township Landlord Development Programme with Khula Sizwe. With these initiatives, they envision a future as social entrepreneurs.
In the future, they plan to extend their reach to even more nations, becoming a leading name in entrepreneurship support across the continent. Furthermore, they are exploring innovative funding models to provide entrepreneurs with more accessible and affordable capital. This involves forging partnerships with financial institutions, impact investors, and public and private partnerships to unlock additional resources and support networks for entrepreneurs.
Zevoli Growth Partners was chosen to receive a Top 10 Award and a National Business Excellence Award at the South African Small Business Awards 2023.