A new business should identify its transaction stage before applying to Fund The People. Searching for a tender, holding an awarded order and waiting for payment on an accepted invoice are different positions. Our own in-house Funding Solutions connect to qualifying awarded transactions and eligible unpaid invoices.
Fund The People’s funding model is transaction-specific. We fund qualifying transactions directly through our own in-house Purchase Order Funding Solutions, Tender Funding Solutions and Invoice Discounting Solutions. Our application is for an awarded order, awarded tender or eligible unpaid invoice; it is not an application for traditional general-purpose business funding or unrestricted startup capital.
An idea or forecast is an earlier business stage
A new product, a business plan or a forecast of future sales can describe a commercial ambition. It does not establish an awarded order or an accepted invoice. Keep idea development, general operating capital and future expansion in your wider business plan.
Our application should describe the transaction you actually hold. Use the original buyer-issued records and explain the current stage accurately. Calling an expected award a purchase order changes the meaning of the enquiry and leaves the supplier-payment requirement unclear.
Tender discovery comes before an award
Use our Tender Portal to explore opportunities and read the buyer’s requirements. A published tender invites participation; it does not mean your company has been appointed. A submitted bid or RFQ response is also earlier than a confirmed award.
Prepare quotations and delivery plans at the bidding stage, but label them as preparation. The transaction-specific funding discussion begins with the relevant confirmed award and supporting records. The portal is an additional opportunity-discovery service, separate from funding approval.
An awarded order creates a supplier requirement
Our Purchase Order Funding Solutions are relevant before delivery when the qualifying awarded order requires supplier inputs. The current published route starts with a CSD-registered South African company holding a valid government or municipal purchase order with a deal value of at least R250,000.
Connect the order to current quotations, required inputs and delivery dates. Read our Purchase Order Funding Solutions guide and the startup eligibility guide to prepare that enquiry.
Our Tender Funding Solutions also relate to qualifying awarded tender work. Explain the award, scope and delivery milestones to our team. An unawarded tender or possible appointment should not be presented as a confirmed contract.
Delivery moves the transaction towards invoicing
Keep the documents showing what was supplied, when it was delivered and how the buyer accepted it. Match references and amounts to the awarded order. If work is phased, identify the part delivered and the work still outstanding rather than treating the whole order as complete.
Supplier funding before delivery and releasing cash from an eligible unpaid invoice after delivery address different events. A quotation or draft invoice does not establish an accepted outstanding receivable. Explain partial payments, amendments or disputes when describing the balance.
An eligible unpaid invoice creates a different enquiry
Our Invoice Discounting Solutions address eligible unpaid invoices after the relevant work has been delivered and accepted. Present the invoice, supporting delivery and acceptance records, payment terms and current outstanding balance.
Our team assesses the invoice transaction and confirms the proposed amount, charges and settlement arrangement. Do not assume that approval for one awarded order automatically approves every invoice or future order held by the business. Keep each transaction identifiable.
Use a short stage summary before applying
State the legal company, government buyer, order or invoice reference, awarded value, work completed, remaining supplier requirement and payment position. Record the relevant dates using the current documents. This gives our team a clear description of the event the proposed funding would support.
If you are preparing costs for an awarded order, use our first-order cost guide. Use the document checklist and our application page for the purchase-order route.
Fund The People funds qualifying transactions directly through its own in-house solutions. Our team handles assessment and the proposed terms; the enquiry is not matched to a network of external funders. State the transaction stage so the service and supporting records fit the actual need.
Why Did 3000+ SMMEs Choose Fund The People?
We have supported 3,000+ South African SMMEs since January 2025. Our deal range is R250,000–R8 million and above, with funding approval within 48 hours for complete qualifying applications. Approval and the agreed supplier-payment schedule are separate steps.
Frequently asked questions
Does Fund The People fund a business idea before an award?
Our funding model is transaction-specific. Our own in-house Purchase Order Funding Solutions and Tender Funding Solutions support qualifying awarded work, while our Invoice Discounting Solutions address eligible unpaid invoices. A business idea or sales forecast does not replace an awarded transaction or eligible invoice.
Does finding a tender on the portal mean I can receive funding?
The Tender Portal helps you discover opportunities. A tender notice or submitted bid is earlier than an award and does not establish funding approval. Keep discovery, bidding, confirmed award and funding assessment as separate stages.
Which route applies before delivery?
For a qualifying awarded government or municipal purchase order that needs supplier inputs before delivery, review our Purchase Order Funding Solutions. For awarded tender work, explain the contract scope and milestones to our team when discussing our Tender Funding Solutions.
Which route applies after delivery?
Our Invoice Discounting Solutions address eligible unpaid invoices after the relevant goods or services have been delivered and accepted. Present the invoice, delivery and acceptance evidence, payment terms and any partial receipts so the team can assess the actual outstanding balance.
Does Fund The People offer traditional general-purpose business funding?
Our funding model focuses on qualifying awarded transactions and eligible unpaid invoices through our own in-house Purchase Order Funding Solutions, Tender Funding Solutions and Invoice Discounting Solutions. This application is not for traditional general-purpose business funding or unrestricted startup capital.