JSE and TIA Launch 16-Week Pilot for 10 South African Tech SMEs

The Johannesburg Stock Exchange (JSE) and the Technology Innovation Agency (TIA) have launched a 16-week pilot designed to help 10 South African technology small and medium-sized enterprises become investment-ready and connect with markets and potential sources of capital.

The initiative, launched on September 30, is being delivered through JSE Rise, the exchange’s SME investment-readiness and growth support programme. It will support businesses operating in health, agriculture and fintech.

Support for selected technology businesses

The participating companies were selected based on their existing products or services, operating maturity and commercial potential, according to information from the JSE and TIA. The names of the 10 businesses have not been disclosed.

During the pilot, the SMEs will receive guidance on investment readiness and pitch development. They will also gain access to JSE networks through a market access day and engagements focused on specific sectors.

The programme is expected to produce funding-ready pitch packs, market linkages and a pipeline of potential capital discussions. Some participants may also become eligible for screening for AltX, the JSE’s alternative market for smaller and growing companies.

However, participation does not guarantee that a company will receive funding or be listed on the exchange.

Bringing capital-market preparation earlier

The partnership is testing whether capital-market preparation can begin earlier in the funding journey of high-growth technology companies, rather than only after they have developed products, found customers, generated revenue and established the governance and financial systems expected by investors.

Patrick Krappie, TIA’s executive for innovation enabling, said moving locally developed technologies into commercial markets remains a major challenge.

“One of the key challenges in the innovation value chain is ensuring that new technologies and innovations are commercialised and access the markets,” Krappie said.

He described TIA as a “connector and facilitator” in efforts to commercialise locally developed innovations.

Vuyo Lee, the JSE’s chief marketing and corporate affairs officer, said the initiative would extend the exchange’s SME support offering to technology sectors viewed as important to economic growth.

“We are pleased to expand our suite of SME Rise development solutions to support sectors that are critical to driving economic growth,” Lee said.

Lee said the partnership is intended to give South African technology SMEs the capabilities and opportunities to compete in regional and global markets.

Recent technology-sector market milestones

The pilot comes as technology businesses continue to feature in the JSE’s markets. Optasia, a global fintech platform providing mobile financial services, listed on the JSE Main Board in November 2025 at an implied market capitalisation of R23.5 billion, or $1.4 billion.

Technology group 4Sight moved from AltX to the JSE Main Board in January 2025.

Deputy Finance Minister Ashor Sarupen said SMEs account for 91% of formal businesses, provide 60% of jobs and contribute up to 34% of gross domestic product. The JSE and TIA say the pilot is intended to strengthen the ability of technology SMEs to reach formal capital markets, while leaving any eventual funding or listing decisions subject to further processes.