Just Energy Transition (JET) Funding Platform Webinar Series

Webinar 4: Closing the Bankability Gap Practical insights for MSME ecosystem stakeholders building a stronger pipeline and entrepreneurs seeking finance

Build a stronger pipeline of bankable MSMEs 

A business can be trading, generating sales and even making a profit, yet still struggle to secure finance. One reason is the gap between commercial activity and the financial readiness funders need to assess a business with confidence. 

For organisations working to develop, support and finance micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs), understanding this gap is important. Helping businesses strengthen their financial readiness can improve the quality of funding pipelines and help more enterprises prepare to engage with funders. 

Join the fourth webinar in the JET Funding Platform Webinar Series to explore the findings of Fetola’s MSME Bankability Gap Report (September 2026), what they mean for MSME ecosystem stakeholders, and how practical readiness support can help businesses move towards bankability. 

The session will consider the perspectives of entrepreneurs and funders, including what funders look for when assessing businesses and where readiness gaps can prevent promising enterprises from progressing. 

Case studies will introduce a practical seven-step pathway that ecosystem stakeholders can use to guide MSMEs towards bankability. The discussion will also consider how organisations can build readiness support into their programmes and funding pipelines. 

What will the webinar cover?

  • Understanding the bankability gap: What the evidence tells us about the difference between commercial activity and financial readiness. 
  • Applying the evidence in practice: Case studies introducing a practical seven-step pathway to help guide MSMEs towards bankability. 
  • The funder perspective: What funders look for during screening and due diligence, and why some MSME applications do not progress. 
  • Building a stronger pipeline: How funders, enterprise development teams and business support organisations can help address readiness gaps upstream. 
  • Questions and discussion: An opportunity to hear different perspectives and raise questions during the live session. 

Who should attend?

This webinar is intended primarily for MSME ecosystem stakeholders involved in developing, supporting, assessing or financing small businesses. 

  • Funders & Investors 
    Development finance institutions, commercial banks, impact investors, blended finance providers and grant funders. 
  • Corporate & Social Impact Teams 
    Corporate enterprise and supplier development teams, Socio-Economic Development teams and Corporate Social Investment stakeholders. 
  • Enablers & Mentors 
    Business development service providers, incubators, accelerators and other enterprise support organisations. 
  • Policy & Strategic Partners 
    Government enterprise development agencies and international strategic partners, including the International Partners Group. 
  • Knowledge Partners 
    Research organisations working on MSMEs, enterprise development and access to finance.

The session may also be useful for cooperatives, community-based enterprises, businesses participating in enterprise and supplier development programmes, established growth-oriented MSMEs, and entrepreneurs preparing to approach funders. 

Entrepreneurs who are considering or applying through JET Funding Platform funding windows are welcome to attend. 

What will you take away?

For ecosystem stakeholders, the session will offer evidence and practical perspectives to inform readiness support, strengthen funding pipelines and improve alignment between enterprise development and funder requirements. 

For entrepreneurs, it will provide a clearer understanding of what contributes to bankability and what a business can strengthen before seeking finance. 

Webinar participants will receive access to useful resources, including Fetola’s MSME Bankability Gap Report and executive summary, its Investment Readiness Scorecard, a bankability self-assessment checklist, links to free and low-cost tools and support channels, and a one-page funder brief.  

  • Date: Tuesday, 3 November 2026
  • Time: 11:00 to 12:30 SAST
  • Format: Online via Microsoft Teams
  • Cost: Free

Register to attend Closing the Bankability Gap. 

Please note: This is an information and learning session, not a funding call. Attendance does not lead to funding and does not guarantee that a business will qualify for finance or a JET Funding Platform funding window. 

Fill in this form to register your place. Once you have registered, you will receive a confirmation email with the link to join the webinar. The session will be recorded, so if you cannot join live, register and we will send you the recording. Please make sure you check your spam folder should you not receive confirmation of registration.

Catch up on earlier webinars

If you missed our earlier sessions, we encourage you to take a look at the resources below. 

  • Webinar 2: Catalysing the Just Transition: How grant funding unlocks systemic change: Watch the recording. 
  • Webinar 3: Grant funding for agriculture and food systems projects, inclusive of waste-to-value projects in this sector, prioritising coal-affected communities. Watch the recording 

About the JET Funding Platform Webinar Series

The JET Funding Platform Webinar Series provides practical guidance to help businesses, organisations and projects working towards South Africa’s Just Energy Transition strengthen their readiness to engage with funders. 

The series is relevant whether you intend to approach a funder directly, use another funding mechanism or engage with the JET Funding Platform. Its purpose is to support better-informed preparation and engagement with funding opportunities.