30/06/2026
According to the World Bank, SMEs represent about 90% of businesses and account for more than 50% of employment globally. Across Africa, these enterprises are the backbone of our economies, driving innovation, creating jobs, and sustaining livelihoods.
Yet however, many SMEs remain locked out of the very capital they need to grow, innovate, and scale. Entrepreneurs are asked for collateral before they are asked about their vision, impact, or potential. This raises an important question: perhaps the challenge is not that SMEs are failing to access finance, but rather whether our financial systems have evolved sufficiently to respond to the realities of African entrepreneurship. Where is the patient financing flowing to?