Stimulating South Africa’s most exciting entrepreneurs with the MultiChoice Innovation Fund
Nothing matches the excitement of turning an innovative idea into a business venture, but high levels of unemployment, lack of capital, and the uncertainty of today’s economic climate make such moments hard to experience.
The most recent Global Entrepreneurship Monitor (GEM) reported that South Africa’s entrepreneurial early-stage activity (TEA) declined to below pre-pandemic levels in 2024.
Since launching in 2012, the MultiChoice Innovation Fund (MIF) was established to equip black-owned, women-led and black-managed start-ups, specifically those in the technology, information, media and creative industries.
This fund has injected over R407 million in loans, to South African entrepreneurs with the mission of making a sustainable impact.
This is through investing in innovative entrepreneurs and giving access to both funding and the support structures needed to scale businesses like ITThynk, a company passionate about making gaming accessible, Gradesmatch which is an enterprise at the forefront of shaping African learners; and EMGuidance, a government endorsed healthcare platform designed to improve clinical decision-making and behaviour across Africa.
ITThynk
ITThynk, a South African technology firm, is at the forefront of localising gaming.
This MIF backed enterprise empowers young Africans with the skills and platforms needed to transform the gaming industry and economy.
ITThynk is focused on making the value chain of gaming, that is estimated to be valued at R7 billion, stay within South as nearly all the values of the country’s gaming market leaves South Africa.
Through ITTHYNK Gaming, founders, Raymond Ledwaba, Robin Bleekers and Neo Rethebe are building Africa’s next generation of studios, game developers, creating IP and scaling up Africa’s existence in the global creative economy.
Raymond Ledwaba, founder at ITTHynk.
MultiChoice Innovation Fund
“With R12.9 million from the National Treasury’s Jobs Fund, matched by private partners to reach R25.8 million, the initiative is incubating six SMMEs, training developers, and creating tech roles over two years,” said MultiChoice.
MIF targets early-stage growth businesses that demonstrate a clear addressable market for their services and products, with strong prospects for job creation and sustainable expansion.
Each candidate undergoes a thorough selection process, such as screening, pitching sessions and due diligence assessments to ensure alignment with the MultiChoice Enterprise Development Trust’s mandate.
Every success story of the fund serves as a reminder of why investing in innovative ideas matters.
“Seeing entrepreneurs transform ideas into thriving businesses is deeply rewarding. It reinforces the belief that with the right support, South African entrepreneurs can build world-class companies that create jobs, inspire communities, and shape the future of our economy. As the team often says, ‘When one business succeeds, entire communities rise'”, says Bonisiwe Dlamini MultiChoice’s CSI & Transformation Senior Manager.
Gradesmatch
Gradesmatch, another MIF supported enterprise, is an EdTech organisation that helps learners with their career plannings to reach their fullest potential. In the past year, it achieved a growth of double-digits.
They have assisted more than 450 000 students, represented more than 5000 schools and processed more than 98 000 applications.
“Gradesmatch was initially created to serve the most vulnerable,” MultiChoice said in a statement.
Thousands of students drop out on a yearly basis before reaching matric and learners don’t meet tertiary requirements. “The urgency is clear: South Africa’s official unemployment rate rose to 33.2% in Q2 2025, up from 32.9% in Q1 2025”, Gradesmatch adds.
This Johannesburg-based organisation makes use of four merged solutions to support students, families, and schools across the education-to-employment trajectory.
EMGuidance
Lastly, EMGuidance connects to the broader healthcare ecosystem. It bridges industry partners, clinicians, medical schemes, and government stakeholders to improve access to reliable clinical information.
For the past 11 years, EMGuidance has built a platform that reaches almost every hospital, clinic, and town. Their model has been endorsed by the National Department of Health and gazetted as a core reference source.
“Our systems are also being integrated into third-party hospitals and practice software across the country. It’s a sign that EMGuidance has become part of the daily workflow of healthcare delivery”, Dr. Yaseem Khan, co-founder of EMGuidance.
Additionally, they serve a verified community of over 120 000 healthcare professionals. A growth that has been driven by trust and usefulness.
From inception, MIF has achieved several milestones, including supporting over 79 black-owned SMEs across various sectors, facilitating the creation of more than 1 700 jobs nationwide, expanding its portfolio to include both loan and grant beneficiaries and developing a strong alumni network of entrepreneurs who have gone on to achieve independent growth and investment success.
These milestones demonstrate the initiative’s continued commitment to driving inclusive economic participation, transformation and innovation in South Africa.
Click here to learn more about the MultiChoice Innovation Fund.
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