The Tholoana Enterprise Programme Alumni Fund was launched in 2019 to address an issue that was identified in our annual surveys - that access to further funding was a challenge to the entrepreneurs in our ecosystem.

The fund allows selected alumni to access further support in the form of grants and interest-free loans, provided that they meet certain criteria. The aim of this growth fund is to further increase participants’ turnover and create as many new jobs as possible.

Funding terms are determined on a case-by-case basis according to the cash flow cycles of the business. Most commercial banks do not offer bridging finance or capital investment to small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) as it is considered too risky. Interest charged to SMEs by financing houses can be as high as 36%. This offering has been put in place to assist SMEs fulfil a new contract or invest in capital for a growing business.