Founder Fridays: LevUP

Funding remains one of the biggest challenges facing South African entrepreneurs. Through years of working with startups and later navigating the funding process himself, Khobone Ntsoaole noticed that many founders were spending more time searching for funding than understanding what funders were actually looking for. That realisation led to the creation of LevUp, a platform that helps entrepreneurs identify funding opportunities that suit their businesses while highlighting what they need to address before approaching investors.

Finding the Gap

Khobone did not set out to build a funding platform. His career began in multimedia before expanding into digital marketing, governance communications, business development and technology. Working with established organisations and later with startups gave him a front-row seat to the challenges many small businesses face.

As a digital marketing manager, much of Khobone’s work centred on data and helping organisations understand their audiences. Later, as he worked more closely with startup founders, the conversations shifted from marketing to one recurring challenge finding the funding needed to keep businesses moving. Many believed funding was the missing piece. Khobone started asking a different question: were they ready for it?

When he launched his own business, he found himself facing the same uncertainty. He looked at grants, venture capital and other funding options but quickly realised he did not fully understand which ones suited his business or whether he met the requirements.

“I wasn’t too sure what to go for,” he recalls. As he spent more time researching different funding instruments, he realised many entrepreneurs were asking exactly the same questions.

Khobone believes South Africa does not necessarily have a shortage of funding programmes. The bigger challenge, he says, is helping businesses qualify for them. Too many entrepreneurs submit applications without fully understanding what funders require. Some only discover later that they need audited financial statements, tax compliance or a stronger trading history before they can even be considered.

That gap is exactly what LevUp was built to address. The platform starts by helping entrepreneurs understand where their businesses stand before pointing them towards funding opportunities that match their level of readiness. It also highlights the requirements they still need to meet before submitting an application. For Khobone, securing the right funding starts with understanding the business first.

Getting the Basics Right

For Khobone, one of the biggest misconceptions among small business owners is that compliance only matters once funding becomes available.

He recalls that many entrepreneurs see tax clearance, financial statements and other legal requirements as complicated processes better suited to larger companies. In reality, he says, these are some of the first things investors and lenders look for.

“If somebody is going to give you money, they’re going to do their due diligence,” he explains. “You need to make sure you’ve done yours as well.” For Khobone, compliance shows that a business is ready to manage investment responsibly.

Keeping Technology Practical

Technology has been part of Khobone’s career from the beginning, so incorporating it into LevUp came naturally. He believes digital tools and artificial intelligence can make it easier for entrepreneurs to understand the funding process. Instead of spending weeks searching different websites and trying to interpret eligibility requirements, founders can narrow their options more quickly and focus on preparing their businesses.

Technology, however, should also be used responsibly. While AI adoption continues to grow, Khobone believes many businesses still need practical guidance on governance, privacy and compliance before fully embracing these tools.

He also believes many businesses operating in townships and informal markets are overlooked despite generating steady income. The challenge, he says, is that many remain outside the formal funding system because they lack financial records or recognised business structures. Recording income consistently, keeping proper business records and meeting basic compliance requirements can make a significant difference when applying for funding.

For Khobone, helping these businesses become investment ready is about more than improving access to finance. It is about creating opportunities for businesses that already contribute to local economies but still struggle to enter the formal funding system.

Advice for Entrepreneurs

Asked what advice he would give entrepreneurs preparing to seek funding, Khobone does not begin with investors or application forms. He starts with the business itself.

He encourages founders to understand exactly where their businesses stand, what type of funding they need and why they need it. Good financial records, compliance and a clear business plan should already be in place before approaching any funder.

He also believes entrepreneurs need to become more comfortable talking about money. Too many founders focus on getting funding without thinking about how they will use it or how it will grow the business. Investors want to know where the money will go, what it will achieve and whether the business is ready to manage it.

His advice is straightforward: know your business before asking someone else to invest in it. Entrepreneurs who understand their numbers, recognise where they need to improve and prepare before applying give themselves a far better chance of securing the funding they need.

Read About other founders HERE