Frequently Asked Questions

Most raises take between 3 and 9 months from the point where materials are investor-ready. The timeline depends on the size and complexity of the raise, the readiness of your financials, and how active the investor market is for your sector. We typically spend 4 to 6 weeks on preparation before any outreach begins.

We help management get properly prepared for serious capital conversations. Practically, that means building the financial model, structuring the raise, preparing the data room, refining the investor narrative, and supporting question-and-answer and diligence workstreams as they become more demanding. We focus on strategy, preparation, and analytical support so you can keep running the business.

Representative starting points are public. RaiseReady is free for the diagnostic, with the Raise Advisory Pack at R1,999 where a founder qualifies. Projects start from R45,000, investor-ready packs from R95,000, and diligence and transaction work from R150,000. Retainers start from R35,000 per month, and embedded strategic advisory starts from R60,000 per month. More intensive capital preparation mandates are typically R50,000-R250,000 per month, depending on stakeholder load and process complexity. Specialist support is available from R1,000 per hour for scoped diagnostics or unusual support. Final quotes depend on complexity, turnaround, stakeholder count, and data readiness.

Ideally you have at least R1 million in annual revenue, some trading history, and a clear use of funds for the capital you want to raise. Most full mandates involve a capital raise somewhere between R1 million and R50 million, but that raise size is separate from your current revenue. That is where most full capital-raising mandates make the most sense. Many South African applicants are micro-enterprises (under R1 million turnover); those routes often lean toward grants, accelerators, smaller development finance institution ticket sizes, or angel networks rather than a large growth-equity process. We can still help at that stage when the fit is right, for example grant or accelerator applications, pitch and financial preparation, and funder mapping, with scope and fees matched to what is realistic. If a different path is clearly better for you, we will say so.

At minimum: audited or reviewed financials for the last 2 to 3 years, management accounts, a cap table, your company registration documents (Companies and Intellectual Property Commission, CIPC), and a draft business plan or strategy deck. We help you build or refine everything else as part of our engagement: financial model, investor memo, data room.

It depends on your cash flow profile, growth trajectory, existing leverage, and how much control you want to retain. We model multiple scenarios during our strategy phase so you can see the trade-offs clearly. Many of our clients end up with a blended structure, for example a mix of development finance debt and equity from a strategic partner.

This varies widely based on your valuation, the amount being raised, and the type of investor. Typical growth-stage equity rounds in South Africa see founders diluting between 15% and 35%. Our job is to help you negotiate terms that are fair and reflect the true value of your business.

No. No advisor can guarantee funding, and you should be sceptical of anyone who does. What we can guarantee is institutional-quality preparation, targeted outreach to relevant investors, and honest feedback throughout the process. We are deliberate about keeping our public claims grounded in real work, and every raise carries risk.

Yes. We have experience preparing applications and managing processes with South African development finance institutions including the Industrial Development Corporation (IDC), Small Enterprise Finance Agency (SEFA), National Empowerment Fund (NEF), and various Sector Education and Training Authority (SETA) and provincial funding bodies. Development finance institution processes are often slower and more documentation-heavy, which is where preparation makes the biggest difference.

The missing middle refers to businesses that are too large for microfinance and too small for institutional investment banking-style deals. In South Africa, this typically means companies with roughly R1 million to R100 million in annual turnover seeking capital raises of R1 million to R50 million. This is often the hardest segment for funders to serve. That band is a core focus for us. If your turnover is below R1 million, you may still be a fit where you need help with grant or accelerator positioning, development finance institution entry documentation, or early-stage readiness. We support that work too.

It follows three phases. First, a discovery call where we assess fit and understand your needs. Second, a preparation phase (4 to 8 weeks) where we build your model, refine your story, and prepare your data room. Third, selected live-process support where we help management prepare for stakeholder meetings, handle question-and-answer sessions, and stay organised through diligence and related decision points.

We focus exclusively on growth-stage small and medium-sized enterprises in South Africa: not listed companies, not mega-deals. We combine rigorous financial modelling with a founder-first approach. We are hands-on through the entire process, not just at the pitch stage. And we are transparent about fees, timelines, and what we can realistically achieve.

Most of our mandates sit in five clusters where South African institutional investors and development finance institutions typically deploy growth and blended capital. Technology and software (including business-to-business software as a service, platforms, and digital services): recurring revenue, unit economics, and product-led growth narratives. Agribusiness and food systems (production, processing, and packaged goods): seasonality, working capital, and expansion capital expenditure. Manufacturing and industrial services: capacity, capital expenditure plans, and often private equity or debt alongside equity. Renewable energy, energy efficiency, and climate-oriented businesses: concessionary or impact-aligned instruments and longer-dated structures. Professional and financial services and broader business services: quality of earnings, contracts, and key-person risk. We are sector-agnostic in principle and take selective mandates outside these clusters (for example logistics, impact models, or health services) when mandate, ticket size, and documentation fit. We add the most value where there is operating history, a clear use of funds, and a credible story for funders.

Often, yes. Failed raises usually come down to one of three things: the materials were not investor-grade, the wrong investors were approached, or the terms were misaligned with the market. We start with a diagnostic to understand what went wrong, then reset the process with a sharper strategy. Sometimes the answer is that the business is not ready yet. We will tell you that directly.

Broad-Based Black Economic Empowerment (B-BBEE) status can significantly influence which investors and funders are interested in your business. Many development finance institutions and impact funds prioritise B-BBEE compliant or black-owned enterprises. A strong B-BBEE profile can open doors to funding that would otherwise be inaccessible. We help you position your B-BBEE credentials as part of your investor narrative.