Praneshan Naidoo - Founder of Fund The People
Praneshan Naidoo is the founder of Fund The People, a South African entrepreneur and funding specialist whose experience spans financial services, enterprise development and public-sector procurement.
His public story connects a long career in business with a practical mission: helping capable SMMEs understand the working-capital gap between winning commercial opportunity and delivering it.
More than 3,000 South African SMMEs supported since January 2025
Suitable opportunities considered nationally, individually and confidentially
Fund The People helps businesses explore appropriate Purchase Order Funding Solutions
Who Is Praneshan Naidoo?
Praneshan Naidoo is the founder of Fund The People and an entrepreneur and funding specialist with more than 20 years of experience across financial services, enterprise development and public-sector procurement. He founded Fund The People in January 2025; the company's Tender Portal launched in December 2025.
Building Fund The People Around SMME Opportunity
A Practical Founder Mission
Praneshan's mission centres on capable entrepreneurs who can win meaningful work yet still face a cash-flow barrier before suppliers can be paid or delivery completed.
Human Engagement Matters
Praneshan’s approach starts with a conversation about the business, the work it has won and the support it needs to move forward.
Fund The People Began in January 2025
Fund The People began operating in January 2025. Its Tender Portal followed in December 2025, helping businesses discover opportunities alongside the company’s funding services.
Experience Across Finance, Enterprise and Procurement
More Than 20 Years of Experience
Praneshan brings more than 20 years of experience in financial services, enterprise development and public-sector procurement to his work with South African SMMEs.
A Career That Began at Thomson Reuters
He began his career at Thomson Reuters in 2005 and progressed to Global Head of Marketing.
Enterprise and Supplier Development Work
His experience includes driving enterprise and supplier development programmes across Eskom, Transnet and PRASA.
Founder Leadership at Fund The People
At Fund The People, he applies this experience to helping businesses access Purchase Order Funding Solutions through funding providers.
Public Conversations and Recognition
The Penuel Show Interview
Hear Praneshan discuss his background, entrepreneurship and work with South African businesses in his interview on The Penuel Show.
Procurement Conversation With Lerato Sebata
A separate public conversation focuses on tenders, procurement and the commercial realities facing SMMEs.
Founder Recognition in 2026
Praneshan was nominated for the 2026 SABCA Readers’ Choice Award.
Leadership, Policy and Public Engagements
Praneshan Naidoo’s work places Fund The People within broader conversations about small-business policy, local economic development, entrepreneurship and practical access to growth opportunities.
With Thulisile Manzini and David Tlale
Thulisile Manzini is the Director-General of South Africa’s Department of Small Business Development, serving under Minister Stella Tembisa Ndabeni-Abrahams. She has also served in an acting capacity as CEO of Brand South Africa, where her work has focused on public relations. As a public-sector leader in the small-business space, she plays a key role in shaping national policy and support structures for South Africa’s entrepreneurs and SMMEs.
David Tlale is one of South Africa’s most celebrated fashion designers. Born in Vosloorus, east of Johannesburg, he launched his eponymous label in 2003 and was named Fashion Designer of the Year at the 2009 Africa Fashion Awards. Tlale became the first South African designer to present a stand-alone show at Mercedes-Benz New York Fashion Week and has showcased at Paris Fashion Week and Cape Town Fashion Week. Through The Intern by David Tlale, he also mentors emerging African design talent.
2025 · Nominee
South African Construction Awards: CEO of the Year
Praneshan Naidoo was nominated for CEO of the Year at the 2025 South African Construction Awards (SACA), recognising his leadership as founder of Fund The People.
Engaging President Cyril Ramaphosa
Engaging President Cyril Ramaphosa
At the 2026 National Local Economic Development Summit in Ekurhuleni, convened by the Department of Small Business Development alongside SALGA and CoGTA under the theme “Re-engineering Local Economies”, Fund The People founder Praneshan Naidoo engaged President Cyril Ramaphosa on the sidelines. He shared how the platform is helping close the funding gap for South African SMMEs through purchase order funding and invoice discounting.
The moment reflects the summit’s core focus: unlocking practical, on-the-ground solutions for small-enterprise growth—an agenda Fund The People has been actively building toward through its partnerships with SALGA and other funding stakeholders.
Connecting with Minister Stella Ndabeni-Abrahams
Fund The People founder Praneshan Naidoo connected with Minister of Small Business Development Stella Ndabeni-Abrahams during the 2026 National Local Economic Development Summit, co-convened by her department alongside SALGA and CoGTA.
The handshake reflects a natural point of alignment: the Minister’s department has spent 2026 advancing MSME funding and reducing red tape for small-business owners, while Fund The People has been building practical infrastructure—purchase order funding, invoice discounting and tender access—to help SMMEs act on that support.
Featured Articles and Media Coverage
Explore published articles and profiles featuring Praneshan’s perspective, leadership and contribution to South Africa’s entrepreneurial ecosystem.
Meet the Businesses Behind the Story
Ruth Gamede | Nomady Group
Ruth Gamede of Nomady Group describes her experience with the process and Purchase Order Funding Solutions.
Thavonga Rufetu | Khanozama Trading
Thavonga Rufetu of Khanozama Trading shares his experience of working with Fund The People in his own words.
Supporting South African SMMEs
Fund The People has supported more than 3,000 South African SMMEs since January 2025.
Meet the businesses behind the story. Watch our client stories and read their reviews to hear how clients describe working with Fund The People.
Continue Through the Fund The People Journey
Watch Media and Interviews
Hear Praneshan discuss entrepreneurship, procurement and the challenges facing SMMEs.
Review Fund The People Impact
Explore the company’s work with South African businesses and the milestones behind its story.
Explore Purchase Order Funding Solutions
Have a government or municipal purchase order? Find out how our Purchase Order Funding Solutions can help you take the next step.
Frequently Asked Questions About Praneshan Naidoo
1. Who is Praneshan Naidoo?
Praneshan Naidoo is the founder of Fund The People, a South African entrepreneur and funding specialist with more than 20 years of experience across financial services, enterprise development and public-sector procurement.
2. When did Praneshan Naidoo found Fund The People?
He founded Fund The People in January 2025. The company’s Tender Portal launched in December 2025.
3. What is Praneshan Naidoo’s professional background?
Praneshan began at Thomson Reuters in 2005 and progressed to Global Head of Marketing. His later work included enterprise and supplier development programmes across Eskom, Transnet and PRASA.
4. Why did Praneshan Naidoo build Fund The People?
He built Fund The People to address a practical challenge: capable businesses can win valuable work and still face a cash-flow gap before they can pay suppliers or complete delivery.
5. What is Praneshan Naidoo's approach to SMME opportunity?
His approach centres on practical, human engagement: understanding the business, its awarded work and the pressure it faces in getting the job done.
6. Where can I watch Praneshan Naidoo's interviews?
Visit our Media and Interviews page for The Penuel Show interview and his procurement-focused conversation with Lerato Sebata.
7. Has Praneshan Naidoo received public recognition?
Praneshan was nominated for the 2026 SABCA Readers’ Choice Award. This founder nomination is separate from Fund The People’s SACA 2025 company award.
8. What impact is connected to Fund The People under his leadership?
Fund The People has supported more than 3,000 South African SMMEs since January 2025. Explore the company’s impact and results for more context.
9. Can I hear from businesses Fund The People has helped?
Yes. On our Client Stories and Reviews page, Ruth Gamede of Nomady Group and Thavonga Rufetu of Khanozama Trading share their experiences in their own words. You can also read Google review excerpts from other clients.
10. How can I speak to Fund The People?
Use the four-step application below to tell us about your opportunity, or contact Fund The People with a question. If you have a government or municipal purchase order, our Purchase Order Funding Solutions page explains the starting requirements.
Let’s Talk About Your Next Opportunity
Have an opportunity you want to move forward with? Tell our team about your business and the work you’ve won.
A focused application that captures the information the team needs to understand your enquiry clearly.