ASISA Enterprise Development Fund

The ASISA Enterprise Development Fund is a South African fund managed by Edge Growth, focusing on supporting small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). Established to fast-track job creation, the fund aims to unlock the growth potential of high-impact black-owned SMEs, particularly those with the capacity to create positive and sustainable social and environmental impacts. The fund's approach combines tailored business support, access to markets, and financial assistance, structured according to the specific needs of each SME.

The fund primarily invests in growth-stage companies across various sectors, including financial services, healthcare, technology, consumer goods, agriculture, manufacturing, energy, education, transport, construction, telecommunications, media, retail, real estate, and tourism. Investment sizes range from R1 million to R20 million, with a preference for equity investments up to 49%. The geographical focus is on South Africa, targeting SMEs that are either part of the supply chain of ASISA member companies or align with the fund's social and industry mandates.

The ASISA Enterprise Development Fund is part of the ASISA Enterprise and Supplier Development (ESD) Fund, launched in March 2013. The ESD Fund is a non-profit industry initiative that delivers effective and objective financial literacy and micro-enterprise development programs to South Africa's most vulnerable groups. The fund is guided and overseen by a Board of Trustees consisting of individuals from stakeholders, including organized labor, organized community, National Treasury, and the Financial Sector Charter Council. The fund is fully compliant with the Financial Sector Code (FSC).