A new AI-powered platform is helping South African small businesses access more targeted support by connecting entrepreneurs with mentors, development programmes, funding and business opportunities based on their specific needs.
Called Rinku, meaning “link” or “connect”, the platform aims to address gaps in the country’s entrepreneurship ecosystem. It assesses the health of a business, identifies challenges that may be limiting its growth and recommends practical interventions.
South Africa has around three million small businesses. It also has an extensive network of organisations that provide funding and development support to entrepreneurs. Despite this, the country continues to face major challenges in creating an environment where small businesses can survive and grow.
The 2026 Global Entrepreneurship Monitor National Expert Survey special report ranks South Africa as the seventh weakest of 56 economies assessed for its entrepreneurial environment. The country scored 3.9 out of 10 for its enabling environment for entrepreneurship.
Research also indicates that between 70% and 80% of South African SMMEs fail within their first five years. This comes despite billions being invested in programmes and funding aimed at supporting small businesses.
Identifying the right support for each business
Rinku seeks to address the problem by looking beyond funding alone. The platform considers the wider challenges that affect a business and the fragmented system in which entrepreneurs, funders and support organisations operate.
“Too many entrepreneurs move from one programme to another without anyone developing a complete picture of the business journey,” said Gift Lubele, Director of Rinku.
When an entrepreneur joins the platform, Rinku assesses areas including finance, compliance, operations, market presence and risk. Its AI engine then analyses the information and identifies gaps that may require attention.
The entrepreneur can be matched with mentors, development programmes and opportunities suited to the business’s sector, stage and specific needs.
“A struggling business does not necessarily need another generic entrepreneurship programme,” said Lubele.
“It needs the right intervention, delivered at the right time, based on a clear diagnosis of what is holding it back.”
The platform does not replace human decision-making. Instead, its AI supports the process by providing information that can help guide decisions.
Implementation and programme partners determine which interventions to provide. Investors remain responsible for funding decisions, while entrepreneurs retain responsibility for the direction of their businesses.
For organisations, Rinku can also provide a single view of their spending across multiple programmes.
Building a continuous record of business growth
Another challenge facing entrepreneurs is the lack of continuity between different support programmes.
Many business owners take part in several programmes during their development journey. However, their assessments, milestones and previous interventions often remain within the records of individual organisations.
When they enter a new programme, entrepreneurs may therefore have to repeat the same processes and provide information that has already been collected elsewhere.
Rinku aims to create a continuous record of an entrepreneur’s journey. The platform tracks where the business started, the support it received, the progress it has made and the interventions it may still require.
This information can help future mentors, programme operators and funders make more informed decisions. Entrepreneurs remain responsible for keeping their information updated throughout their journey.
The platform can also help identify signs that a business is beginning to struggle. This could allow support to be provided before challenges become more serious.
Rinku was developed with support from YIEDI, an organisation specialising in entrepreneurship and supplier development.
YIEDI CEO Jayshree Naidoo described the platform as a potential game changer for the industry.
“This platform can significantly accelerate the impact of funded programmes on the journey of entrepreneurs,” said Naidoo.
She said SMME programmes often focus on participation rather than measuring progress over a longer period.
“Entrepreneurs need support that aligns to their growth objective as well as the gaps they are experiencing,” she said.
As more businesses and organisations use Rinku, the platform aims to build a clearer picture of the challenges facing South African entrepreneurs. It will also track which interventions produce results and where further support is needed.
“The bigger goal is to create an ecosystem where information, funding and support is readily available, which means businesses are less likely to fall through the cracks,” said Lubele.
