Research Project Launched To Uncover Trends And Insights On High-Growth Entrepreneurship In South Africa

ETTP and Allan Gray Orbis Foundation are partnering to implement a research project geared towards informing an understanding of fostering high-growth entrepreneurship 

Press Release

Immediate Release

Johannesburg, South Africa – A pioneering research initiative that is focused on fostering high-growth entrepreneurship in South Africa is being launched 16 July 2025 by Entrepreneurship To The Point (eTTP) and the Allan Gray Orbis Foundation (AGOF) through a continued partnership.

Following on the success of their inaugural 2024 study, ‘Active Citizenship: Youth Month, Youth Entrepreneurship, and Elections’, this next research phase aims to reframe the national entrepreneurship conversation. 

“We are moving beyond survivalist narratives to spotlight scalable, job-creating businesses that drive innovation, productivity, and inclusive economic growth” said Maphefo Sipula, eTTP’s Head of Research and Impact. Too often, our entrepreneurship discourse is focused on subsistence. But it’s high-growth entrepreneurs who disproportionately drive job creation and innovation,” said Sipula. “This research is about understanding and enabling that potential, wherever it resides.”

The study will investigate the characteristics, journeys, and constraints faced by high-growth entrepreneurs, those whose businesses have the potential to scale, create jobs, and reshape regional economies. With a strong focus on data-driven insights, it seeks to inform smarter policies, unlock inclusive funding pathways, and strengthen entrepreneurial ecosystems across the country.

“We believe that unlocking South Africa’s economic potential means backing entrepreneurs with the ambition and capacity to scale. This research is not just about gathering data – it’s about surfacing insights that shift systems, shape smarter support and ensure that high-growth potential is recognised and realised,” says Carl Herman, Head of Impact Assurance at the Allan Gray Orbis Foundation. 

While high-growth firms make up a small portion of the entrepreneurial landscape, they account for the lion’s share of economic dynamism. Yet, in South Africa, they remain largely misunderstood, under-supported, and unequally distributed. 

This research will:

• Fill a critical data gap in understanding high-growth firms across diverse regions and sectors
• Highlight structural barriers faced by growth-oriented entrepreneurs, including access to finance, infrastructure, and networks
• Produce actionable recommendations for policymakers, funders, incubators, and support organisations
• Amplify the voices of entrepreneurs scaling against the odds

The research project holds significance for a wide range of stakeholders. For entrepreneurs, it offers validation, visibility, and inspiration by spotlighting relatable success stories and surfacing the challenges they face in scaling their businesses. Policymakers and government agencies can use these insights to design more targeted and regionally responsive policies that support inclusive economic growth. Business support organisations, including incubators and accelerators, will benefit from refined signals for identifying high-potential entrepreneurs and developing tailored growth support beyond the startup phase. 

Furthermore, funders and investors, especially those looking to expand beyond urban centres, can draw on the findings to unlock untapped markets, de-risk investment decisions, and strengthen their pipeline of scalable ventures. Ecosystem builders and advocacy groups can  also use the data to reinforce their calls for reform and better resource allocation. Lastly, regional and international partners will gain context-rich, locally grounded insights that can inform broader strategies for enabling high-growth entrepreneurship in emerging markets.

Ecosystem actors, support organisations, policymakers, investors, are therefore urged to share the survey, contribute insights, and champion the importance of inclusive growth pathways.

This research marks a critical step toward reshaping how South Africa understands, supports, and invests in high-growth entrepreneurship. By centring the voices of entrepreneurs who are building scalable businesses, often against the odds, this initiative calls for a more inclusive, evidence-based approach to economic development. eTTP and the Allan Gray Orbis Foundation invite all ecosystem stakeholders to join in amplifying these insights, shaping smarter interventions, and unlocking the full potential of entrepreneurial talent across every region. The future of South Africa’s economy depends not only on who we support, but how, and this research aims to ensure no high-potential entrepreneur is left behind.

Entrepreneurs with growth ambitions are also invited to complete the survey and share their scaling journey for a chance to win R10 000 in a lucky draw and receive mentorship: AGOF/ETTP High Growth Entrepreneurs Survey