New AI platform aims to connect South Africa’s fragmented SMME support system

A new AI-powered platform has been launched to bridge the gap between the billions invested in SMME development and the continuing struggle of small businesses.

Rinku, meaning “link” or “connect,” is designed to bridge the gaps within the entrepreneurship ecosystem. The platform assesses the health of a business, identifies the challenges limiting its progress and connects the entrepreneur with the right mentors, development programmes, funding, and opportunities.

South Africa has around three million small businesses and an extensive network of organisations supporting entrepreneurs. However, the country’s entrepreneurial ecosystem remains one of the weakest in the world.

The 2026 Global Entrepreneurship Monitor National Expert Survey special report ranks the country as the seventh weakest among 56 economies assessed. The country’s enabling environment for entrepreneurship scored just 3.9 out of 10.

Research indicates that between 70% and 80% of South African SMMEs fail within their first five years. This is despite the extensive network of programmes and funding intended to support them.

The challenge does not only revolve around access to funding. It is also the fragmented system in which entrepreneurs and funders operate.

“Too many entrepreneurs move from one programme to another without anyone developing a complete picture of the business journey,” says Gift Lubele, Director of Rinku.

Identifying what the business actually needs

When an entrepreneur joins Rinku, the platform assesses areas such as finance, compliance, operations, market presence, and risk.

Its AI engine analyses the information, identifies gaps, and recommends practical next steps. The entrepreneur can then be matched with mentors, programmes and opportunities suited to the business’s sector, stage, and specific needs.

“A struggling business does not necessarily need another generic entrepreneurship programme,” says Lubele. “It needs the right intervention, delivered at the right time, based on a clear diagnosis of what is holding it back.” 

The AI supports the decision-making process but does not replace human intervention. Implementation and programme partners determine which interventions to provide; investors make funding decisions and entrepreneurs remain responsible for the direction of their businesses, while organisations have a single view of their spend across multiple programmes.

Creating a continuous record

Entrepreneurs often participate in several development programmes. However, the growth of their business extends far beyond the duration of the programme or investment. Their assessments, milestones and intervention usually stay within corporate or implementation partner records, and when they enter another programme, they may have to begin the process again.

Rinku creates a continuous record of an entrepreneur’s journey, tracking where the business started, the support it received, the progress it has made and the interventions it may still need.

This allows future mentors, programme operators, and funders to make better-informed decisions while ensuring that the business is responsible for updating their information throughout their journey.

It can also help identify when a business is beginning to struggle, allowing support to be provided before the situation becomes critical.

Moving from programme activity to measurable impact

Rinku was developed with the support of YIEDI, an organisation specialising in entrepreneurship and supplier development.

YIEDI’s CEO Jayshree Naidoo says Rinku is a game changer for the industry.

“This platform can significantly accelerate the impact of funded programmes on the journey of entrepreneurs,” says Naidoo.

“SMME programmes often measure participation rather than progress over the long term. Entrepreneurs need support that aligns to their growth objective as well as the gaps they are experiencing.”

As more businesses and organisations use the platform, Rinku aims to build a clearer picture of the challenges facing South African entrepreneurs, the interventions that produce results and the areas where further support is required.

“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,” says Lubele.