ND
Nomsa Dlamini
Nomsa's Spaza · Soweto, GP
Adding a cold-chain fridge to sell dairy and cold drinks.
R 18 500of R 25 000
74% funded
Partners
Lend. Change a Life. Watch It Grow.
When you lend through I-RED, you're not simply providing a loan—you're unlocking opportunity. Your capital empowers ambitious entrepreneurs who have been excluded from traditional bank finance, enabling them to start, grow, or expand sustainable businesses. Every loan helps create jobs, strengthen local communities, and build a more inclusive economy.
Every borrower has successfully completed our retail entrepreneurship development programme, has been carefully vetted, and is ready to use your loan to establish or expand their business.
You choose the entrepreneur you want to support, follow their journey, and see the impact your loan creates. As repayments are made, you can relend your funds to another entrepreneur, creating a continuous cycle of opportunity, economic growth, and job creation.
This is lending with a face, a name, and a future.
100% of every loan goes directly to funding a trained retail entrepreneur.
Lenders have the option to make an additional voluntary contribution towards I-RED's operational costs. These contributions help us recruit, train, mentor, verify, monitor, and support entrepreneurs while ensuring the long-term sustainability of our lending programme. Operational contributions are entirely optional and are separate from loan funds.
Legal & Registration
IRED PROGRAM NPC
Registration No. 2026/560804/08
Non-Profit Company (NPC), registered under the Companies Act, South Africa.
Registered and compliant, enabling transparent partnership with funders and stakeholders.
Marketplace
Verified entrepreneurs seeking capital
SK
Sipho Khumalo
Sipho Fresh Cuts · KwaMashu, KZN
Upgrading equipment to serve local restaurants.
R 12 000of R 45 000
27% funded
TM
Thandi Mokoena
Thandi's Salon · Mamelodi, GP
Fully funded — expanding to a second chair.
R 15 000of R 15 000
100% funded
BM
Bongani Mahlangu
Bongi Tuck Shop · Tembisa, GP
Bulk-buying stock for the school-holiday season.
R 3 200of R 8 000
40% funded
LN
Lerato Ndlovu
Lerato Bakery · Rustenburg, NW
New oven to double daily bread output.
R 9 600of R 30 000
32% funded
ZC
Zanele Cele
Zee Fashion · Umlazi, KZN
Fabric stock for school-uniform season.
R 5 400of R 12 000
45% funded
Become a partner
Invest or lend capital.
Whether you're an impact investor, a corporate partner or an individual lender, you can back verified entrepreneurs from as little as R250. We handle verification, disbursement and repayment reporting.
- • Choose between grant, loan or equity partnership.
- • Receive quarterly impact and repayment reports.
- • Meet the entrepreneurs you back, in person or virtually.