Edge Growth

🟢 𝐍𝐞𝐰 𝐄𝐝𝐠𝐞𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐀𝐥𝐞𝐫𝐭 | 𝗠𝗲𝗲𝘁: Lungelo M. Investment Associate at Edge Growth 🙇🏽♀️ 𝐀𝐛𝐨𝐮𝐭 Lungelo I was born in Pietermaritzburg but grew up in Durban as an only child to a school teacher. I studied Finance, Information Systems & Technology at UKZN. I later worked for Standard Bank in the Energy & Infrastructure team, where I was involved in Project and Export Finance across Africa. I am deeply passionate about entrepreneurship and its ability to lift people out of poverty. 👇 𝐅𝐮𝐧 𝐟𝐚𝐜𝐭𝐬 I enjoy reading, listening to music, and connecting with people through deep and meaningful conversations. 💚 𝗪𝗵𝘆 𝗘𝗱𝗴𝗲? The prospect of working with high-impact SMEs that will help lift many South Africans out of poverty. In Lungelo’s words: "I want to help South Africans earn a dignified living through catalysing job creation". Welcome to the Edge Growth Family Lungelo🎉

Mining houses are investing millions in SME development, yet many local businesses remain stuck in cycles of dependency. 𝗜𝘀 𝗶𝘁 𝘁𝗶𝗺𝗲 𝘁𝗼 𝗿𝗲𝘁𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗸 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗠𝗶𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗦𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗼𝗿'𝘀 𝗮𝗽𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗮𝗰𝗵 𝘁𝗼 𝗘𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗽𝗿𝗶𝘀𝗲 & 𝗦𝘂𝗽𝗽𝗹𝗶𝗲𝗿 𝗗𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗹𝗼𝗽𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁? Fresh from our recent episode of The Cutting Edge Podcast, this piece tackles 5 critical ESD challenges facing mining companies today. It offers practical solutions based on real insights from Nyaniso Rapiya (Head of Inclusive Procurement at Seriti Resources). → Discover why funding without strong foundations fails and how strategic mentorship might be the missing piece to building truly sustainable local enterprises 👇

We believe that SMEs are vital to shaping the future and that collaboration is key to maximising impact and cultivating growth. Partnering with the Responsible Finance Initiative and the Centre for Business Ethics at GIBS Business School (Gordon Institute of Business Science), we evaluated the effectiveness of ESD in South Africa. While 90% of large corporates contribute to ESD development under BEE legislation, valued at R35 billion, the ESD ecosystem has not addressed long-term sustainability, despite SMEs contributing 34% to GDP and 60% to the labour force. The research, authored by GIBS's Professor Kerrin Myres, Anne Cabot-Alletzhauser, Amanda Khoza, and Professor Anastacia Mamabolo, culminating in the white paper "Enhancing Enterprise and Supplier Development Ecosystem Effectiveness in South Africa," highlights the need for better impact measurement metrics and benchmarks. Key findings include varying commitment levels, the benefits of business-like approaches, corruption within the ESD ecosystem, and mixed engagement from SMEs. Read the full article here: https://lnkd.in/dKP5eFEq #SMESupport #Research #ESD #EconomicDevelopment #WeAreEdgeGrowth

💥 SME Spotlight | GoMetro is expanding to Malaysia! 🚀 GoMetro, alumni of Edge Growth's former TENX Entrepreneur Programme, has formed a strategic partnership with Malaysia-based telematics service provider Active Telematics to assist commercial fleets in Malaysia and neighbouring markets as they transition to electric vehicles (EVs). 🌍⚡ By combining Active Telematics' local market expertise with GoMetro’s innovative technology solutions, this partnership aims to accelerate the adoption of EVs and drive sustainability in the region. 🌱 Congratulations to Justin Coetzee and the entire GoMetro team on this remarkable expansion! Here's to a future filled with success and continued positive change. 🌍 #scaleupsuccess #edgegrowthimpact #southafricanbusiness #scaleupbusiness

🟢 𝐍𝐞𝐰 𝐄𝐝𝐠𝐞𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐀𝐥𝐞𝐫𝐭 | 𝗠𝗲𝗲𝘁: Mpho Ntholeng, MPhil Chief Operations Officer: Ventures at Edge Growth 🙇🏽♀️ 𝐀𝐛𝐨𝐮𝐭 Mpho I come from a family that values perseverance and community, which has shaped my collaborative leadership style. With extensive experience in management consulting and development-focused roles, I have led a R180 million skills development program at Kommunity Foundation and designed transformation strategies at Siyakha Consulting. Holding an MPhil in Inclusive Innovation, my master’s thesis focused on career guidance and economic inclusion. I am passionate about driving impactful change through entrepreneurship, innovation, and collaboration, especially in scaling operations for social enterprises and creating sustainable ecosystems. 💚 𝗪𝗵𝘆 𝗘𝗱𝗴𝗲? Edge Growth’s mission to empower SMEs and build sustainable ecosystems strongly aligns with my values and professional journey. It is deeply fulfilling to be part of an organisation that prioritises economic inclusion and measures its success by the lives it positively impacts. What truly drew me to Edge is its innovative approach to addressing systemic challenges, its emphasis on measurable impact, and its dedication to driving entrepreneurial growth. Joining Edge feels like a seamless alignment with my skills, passions, and purpose. In Mpho’s words: "I am committed to helping Edge Growth Ventures drive strategic growth by building scalable operational frameworks that allow Edge to manage its portfolio efficiently while remaining adaptable to market dynamics". Welcome to the Edge Growth Family Mpho🎉

Exciting news! 🚀 Everlectric, an innovative startup based in Pretoria, has secured venture debt funding from FNB South Africa’s Vumela Fund – managed by Edge Growth - to boost growth and drive EV adoption in South Africa. With a pioneering approach, Everlectric offers full maintenance leases of commercial BEV panel vans to South African businesses, especially in logistics. This funding will catalyse their mission to provide sustainable and cost-effective transportation solutions, addressing key concerns around EV adoption. Kudos to the Everlectric team Ndia Magadagela CA(SA), Wesley van der Walt and Paul Plummer CA(SA) for leading the charge toward a greener future! 🌍⚡ #EV #Sustainability #Innovation #GreenTech #WeAreEdgeGrowth

Every time I host a new episode of The Cutting Edge, I’m reminded just how important these conversations are — not just for the insights we uncover, but for the real, unfiltered stories my guests bring to the table.  It’s about hearing the real life experiences — the challenges, the bold ideas, and the unexpected lessons that come from people doing the hard work, every day, to shift industries and create real impact. This latest episode with Nyaniso Rapiya at Seriti Resources, was no different. We dug into the tough realities facing mining sector SMEs — particularly how so many struggle to survive beyond their first major contract — and how some mining houses are starting to crack the code to truly sustainable supplier development. What always surprises me when I do these episodes is just how much passion, innovation, and grit sits behind the work my guests are doing. Whether I’m speaking to experts in impact investing, tech startups, or procurement & supply chain, there’s one common thread: the desire to move beyond tick-box solutions and build something that lasts. That ultimately changes lives. A huge thank you to Nyaniso for his phenomenal insights — and to all my past guests for sharing their expertise so openly and generously - Colleen Ebbitt Trevor Naidoo Kelly Hoffman Amina Patterson Anne Cabot-Alletzhauser If you care about building resilient SMEs, driving real transformation, and unlocking long-term impact, this episode is for you. Catch it here: http://bit.ly/3TtbZrh #SupplierDevelopment #ESD #SMEGrowth #MiningSector #Procurement #ImpactInvesting #TechStartups #SupplyChain #TheCuttingEdge

Your procurement team wants one thing, production demands another, and your SMEs end up caught in the crossfire. In this powerful clip, Nyaniso Rapiya (ESD & Preferential Procurement Manager at Seriti Resources) exposes the internal alignment crisis crippling enterprise development in mining. Your payment terms say “we support SMEs” but your production targets scream “we can't wait.” These competing interests can be the silent killer of SME success. So what does it REALLY take to build a support ecosystem that works? And how do we stop letting internal battles kill your supplier development dreams? 👀 Watch the latest episode of the Cutting Edge to learn how leading mining houses are getting their house in order http://bit.ly/3TtbZrh #esdinmining #miningtransformation #smegrowth #procurementstrategy #localsupplierdevelopment #miningwithpurpose #thecuttingedgepodcast

From our TENX programme to JSE Powerhouse 💫 | 𝐋𝐨𝐜𝐚𝐥 𝐅𝐢𝐧𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐢𝐚𝐥 𝐒𝐞𝐫𝐯𝐢𝐜𝐞𝐬 𝐏𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐞𝐞𝐫 𝐏𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐜𝐢𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐒𝐭𝐫𝐢𝐤𝐞𝐬 𝐀𝐠𝐚𝐢𝐧! We’re super inspired to see Prescient (who were part of the very first cohort of Edge Growth's TENX Entrepreneur Programme) launch their second ETF on the JSE - proving that growth, scale, and innovation in the South African investment landscape never sleeps. This is a testament to what happens when ambitious SMEs meet strategic support 🤝 Congratulations to team Prescient for consistently pushing the boundaries of what's possible in our financial markets. We're so proud to watch your success story unfold as you shape the future of investing in South Africa 🇿🇦 Learn more about Prescient here 👉 https://bit.ly/4aKqJJZ #scaleupsuccess #edgegrowthimpact #southafricanbusiness #scaleupbusiness

The mining sector's approach to Enterprise Development needs a reset❗ For too long, we've focused on quick wins and compliance metrics. But what happens when the mine closes? How do we ensure our SMEs survive economic cycles? How do we measure genuine impact beyond job numbers? In the latest episode of the Cutting Edge podcast, Nyaniso Rapiya (Seriti Resources) tackles these tough questions head-on. He shares how Seriti Resources is: ✔️Evolving from basic mentorship to integrated SME support ✔️ Building resilience in local suppliers through strategic capability building ✔️ Creating sustainable growth through cross-sector collaboration ✔️ Integrating ESG principles into supplier development ✔️ Measuring impact that matters "We need to differentiate interventions based on SME maturity. Some will remain small and that's okay. Others have scaling potential. Our role is to identify this early and support accordingly." - Nyaniso Rapiya 💡 Want to transform your approach to SME Development? Watch the full discussion (hosted by our Business Development Head, Nabeela Vally) here <http://bit.ly/3TtbZrh> #miningtransformation #smedevelopment #southafricanmining #supplierdevelopment #miningESG #localprocurement