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Bridging the funding gap: the role of entrepreneurial action in securing capital for start-ups and SMEs.
Mini Dissertation (MBA)--University of Pretoria, 2025.
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| Format: | Thesis |
| Language: | English |
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University of Pretoria
2026
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| _version_ | 1867613659385036800 |
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| access_status_str | Open Access |
| author2 | Jacobs, Jordaan |
| author_browse | Jacobs, Jordaan |
| author_facet | Jacobs, Jordaan |
| collection | Thesis |
| dc_rights_str_mv | © 2025 University of Pretoria. All rights reserved. The copyright in this work vests in the University of Pretoria. No part of this work may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, without the prior written permission of the University of Pretoria. |
| description | Mini Dissertation (MBA)--University of Pretoria, 2025. |
| format | Thesis |
| id | oai:repository.up.ac.za:2263/109127 |
| institution | University of Pretoria (South Africa) |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2026-06-10T12:39:39.821Z |
| license_str | Other — see source repository |
| provenance_str_mv | Harvested via OAI-PMH from UPSpace — University of Pretoria Institutional Repository |
| publishDate | 2026 |
| publishDateRange | 2026 |
| publishDateSort | 2026 |
| publisher | University of Pretoria |
| publisherStr | University of Pretoria |
| record_format | dspace |
| source_str | UPSpace — University of Pretoria Institutional Repository |
| spelling | oai:repository.up.ac.za:2263/109127 Bridging the funding gap: the role of entrepreneurial action in securing capital for start-ups and SMEs. Jacobs, Jordaan ichelp@gibs.co.za Mathebula, Musa Desmond UCTD Audience-Fit coachability Dyadic methodology Entrepreneurial action Fundability Investment readiness Signalling theory SME financing Mini Dissertation (MBA)--University of Pretoria, 2025. This study addresses the persistent ""readiness-governance misalignment"" that prevents viable South African SMEs from securing funding. The research aimed to identify which entrepreneurial actions, when translated into credible, audience-fit signals, increase perceived fundability at the “Existence” and “Survival” stages. The study employed a qualitative, dyadic research design, conducting 22 in-depth interviews with 11 matched pairs of early-stage entrepreneurs and the specific funders (from banks, DFIs, and VCs) who assessed them. The principal finding is that the ""misalignment"" is fundamentally a ""three-signal portfolio"" mismatch. Fundability was found to rest on three signal categories: (1) ‘Paper’ signals (e.g., ""spotless books""), which funders interpret as a non-negotiable proxy for founder discipline; (2) ‘Audience’ signals, where a mismatch between the venture's pitch (e.g., ""IP"") and the funder's mandate (e.g., ""jobs"") is a primary rejection driver; and (3) ‘Human’ signals, where ""coachability"" was identified by funders as a ""non-negotiable"", actively tested signal of reduced execution risk. The study contributes the actionable ""Three-Signal Portfolio"" framework for entrepreneurs. Recommendations are provided for entrepreneurs to build documentation discipline, for funders to make their mandates explicit, and for incubators to teach ""audience fit"" as a core skill. The study's qualitative findings are context-bound. Future quantitative research is needed to test the predictive power of the ""Three-Signal Portfolio"" framework. Gordon Institute of Business Science (GIBS) MBA Unrestricted Gordon Institute of Business Science (GIBS) SDG-09: Industry, innovation and infrastructure 2026-03-23T09:08:24Z 2026-03-23T09:08:24Z 2026-05-05 2025 Mini Dissertation * A2025 http://hdl.handle.net/2263/109127 en © 2025 University of Pretoria. All rights reserved. The copyright in this work vests in the University of Pretoria. No part of this work may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, without the prior written permission of the University of Pretoria. application/pdf University of Pretoria |
| spellingShingle | UCTD Audience-Fit coachability Dyadic methodology Entrepreneurial action Fundability Investment readiness Signalling theory SME financing Bridging the funding gap: the role of entrepreneurial action in securing capital for start-ups and SMEs. |
| title | Bridging the funding gap: the role of entrepreneurial action in securing capital for start-ups and SMEs. |
| title_full | Bridging the funding gap: the role of entrepreneurial action in securing capital for start-ups and SMEs. |
| title_fullStr | Bridging the funding gap: the role of entrepreneurial action in securing capital for start-ups and SMEs. |
| title_full_unstemmed | Bridging the funding gap: the role of entrepreneurial action in securing capital for start-ups and SMEs. |
| title_short | Bridging the funding gap: the role of entrepreneurial action in securing capital for start-ups and SMEs. |
| title_sort | bridging the funding gap the role of entrepreneurial action in securing capital for start ups and smes |
| topic | UCTD Audience-Fit coachability Dyadic methodology Entrepreneurial action Fundability Investment readiness Signalling theory SME financing |
| url | http://hdl.handle.net/2263/109127 |