The Open Letter

01/04/2025

🚨 BREAKING NEWS : MXit is back. For real.

The OG of South African social apps has returned—with chatrooms, pixel hearts, questionable design choices, and maybe even a bit of loadshedding info.

We got the exclusive on the relaunch, including a quotes from the team.

Read the statement here : https://www.theopenletter.io/p/mxit-is-back

31/03/2025

Building a startup in SA is tough.

That's why we are making it easier for South Africans.

1. Sign up to our newsletter for deep insights into SA startups and what makes them work and get the latest opportunities and building tips.

2. Join our community of 100+ founders that build and learn together.

3. Attend one of our live in-person events (next one happening 22 May in Cape Town!)

Links in the comments below

25/03/2025

Leveling the Playing Field for Small Builders 👷

In South Africa, small contractors and independent hardware stores struggle to compete with the bulk buying power of larger corporations. With limited budgets and no access to discounts, they face slimmer margins and the constant challenge of sourcing supplies from far-flung areas.🧱

Sellers Plug, a local startup, is changing that. By consolidating orders from multiple small buyers and securing bulk discounts from suppliers, Sellers Plug is giving smaller players access to better pricing and helping them boost their margins. They’re also working with emerging manufacturers to expand their product offerings and building an AI system to optimize inventory and sales.

Want to see how this startup is helping the little guys win?
👉 Read the full story in The Open Letter right here: https://www.theopenletter.io/p/affordable-building-supplies

20/03/2025

Joburg get ready, we are coming to town! Come join our first in-person event in Jhb 27 March in Sandton. Tickets on Quicket

19/03/2025

Slinging Properties on WhatsApp?
⏳ 5 minutes. That’s all it takes to 8x your chances of closing a deal. Thanks to Sudonum, the SA startup is turning WhatsApp into a high-speed real estate lead machine.

✅ Mobile-first lead management — agents close deals faster.
✅ Automated follow-ups — no lead gets lost.
✅ Live performance tracking — agency owners get full visibility.

💭 Want to see how Sudonum is redefining real estate lead generation? We break it down in today’s Open Letter.

📩 Read it here → https://www.theopenletter.io/p/sa-startup-act-movement

Plus:
🇿🇦 4 More new startups you should know
💬 SA’s tech poachers, tax breaks & electronic voting.
💸 A masterclass in taking your SA business global.
🎯 Unmissable SA tech and startup events & programmes.
💡 What’s new at SA’s only dedicated tech founder community.

Featuring venture legal support from Dommisse Attorneys Inc, R5 million’s business funding facilities with Lula, and next-level authority and trust building with Stream + 10 more vital tech tools.

18/03/2025

💰 61% of small businesses struggle with cash flow.

And it’s not just a headache — it’s a killer. Late invoices = late salaries, unpaid suppliers, and stalled growth.

But now there’s someone to handle the invoice nagging for us: Nagging Panda — the local startup automating invoice follow-ups so your business gets paid faster.

✅ Automates invoice, statement & quote follow-ups.
✅ Integrates with Sage, QuickBooks & Xero.
✅ Less admin, less hassle — just more cash flow.

💭 How does it work, and is it the cash flow lifeline your business needs? We break it down in today’s Open Letter.
📩 Read it here → https://www.theopenletter.io/p/sa-startup-act-movement

Plus:
🇿🇦 4 More new startups you should know
💬 SA’s tech poachers, tax breaks & electronic voting.
💸 A masterclass in taking your SA business global.
🎯 Unmissable SA tech and startup events & programmes.
💡 What’s new at SA’s only dedicated tech founder community.

Featuring venture legal support from Dommisse Attorneys Inc, R5 million’s business funding facilities with Lula, and next-level authority and trust building with Stream + 10 more vital tech tools.

Plus: Slinging properties on WhatsApp ✅, getting SMEs paid on time & SA’s most controversial little desks.

18/03/2025

📈 What if every time you shopped, you also invested?

Over the years, investment gurus have told us: “If you’d bought stock in Company ABC for the same amount you spent on their products, you’d be wealthy by now…”

That’s exactly what Grifin: Buy Stock Where You Shop™ is doing. This US-based investing platform automatically buys $1 of stock from the places you shop, turning everyday spending into investing.

✅ Syncs with your bank card to track purchases.
✅ Invests your spending into shares of the companies you support.
✅ Automated + customisable — you set the rules.

💭 Sounds nifty, right? But it’s also a big data play, raising an even bigger question: Where’s SA’s version of this?

We explore this and more in the latest Open Letter.
📩 Read it here → https://www.theopenletter.io/p/sa-startup-act-movement

Plus:
🇿🇦 4 More new startups you should know
💬 SA’s tech poachers, tax breaks & electronic voting.
💸 A masterclass in taking your SA business global.
🎯 Unmissable SA tech and startup events & programmes.
💡 What’s new at SA’s only dedicated tech founder community.

Featuring venture legal support from Dommisse Attorneys Inc, R5 million’s business funding facilities with Lula, and next-level authority and trust building with Stream + 10 more vital tech tools.

17/03/2025

🚀 A school bag that’s also a desk? Now that’s innovation.

In many underdeveloped areas, kids don’t just struggle with textbooks — they struggle to find a place to learn. No desks at school. Nowhere to do homework at home.

That’s where MiDesk comes in. A lightweight, wheeled schoolbag that transforms into a sturdy desk and chair, built to give learners a dedicated space to study — wherever they are.

✅ Only 2kg – easy to carry.
✅ Recyclable materials + solar light & USB charging.
✅ Designed for real-world conditions – rugged wheels for long commutes.

💭 But not everyone’s convinced… there’s some controversy around the idea – discover what’s got some all bothered and hot in the latest edition of The Open Letter.

📩 Read it here →https://www.theopenletter.io/p/sa-startup-act-movement

Plus:
🇿🇦 4 More new startups you should know
💬 SA’s tech poachers, tax breaks & electronic voting.
💸 A masterclass in taking your SA business global.
🎯 Unmissable SA tech and startup events & programmes.
💡 What’s new at SA’s only dedicated tech founder community.

Featuring venture legal support from Dommisse Attorneys, R5 million’s business funding facilities with Lula and next-level authority and trust building with Stream + 10 more vital tech tools.

17/03/2025

🚀 SA needs pro-startup legislation — badly.

For local startups to flourish and attract global investment, the country needs policies that make it easier to scale and operate internationally.

That’s where the SA StartUp Act Movement comes in. This collective of investors, incubators, accelerators, and founders is pushing for policies that will unlock startup growth at scale.

Their approach? Tackling three critical areas:
✅ Exchange control liberalisation — so offshore holding companies can own SA operations & IP.
✅ Tax incentives for investment — to fuel startup expansion.
✅ Attracting talent — to build a stronger innovation ecosystem.

💭 Our friends at Dommisse Attorneys are leading the charge. Catch them + a unique offshoring case study opportunity in the latest Open Letter.

📩 Read it here → https://www.theopenletter.io/p/sa-startup-act-movement

Plus:
🇿🇦 4 More new startups you should know
💬 SA’s tech poachers, tax breaks & electronic voting.
💸 A masterclass in taking your SA business global.
🎯 Unmissable SA tech and startup events & programmes.
💡 What’s new at SA’s only dedicated tech founder community.

Featuring venture legal support from Dommisse Attorneys, R5 million’s business funding facilities with Lula, and next-level authority and trust building with Stream + 10 more vital tech tools.

Plus: Slinging properties on WhatsApp ✅, getting SMEs paid on time & SA’s most controversial little desks.

11/03/2025

The Legal Costs That Could Sink an SME 📉

Running a small business in SA isn’t cheap—especially when it comes to legal compliance. With legal fees starting at R5K just for a consultation, many SMEs are forced to take risks they can’t afford.

Enter Lawyered Up LLC Powered by Vega, a homegrown LegalTech startup using AI to automate contracts, compliance, and document management—in multiple African languages. The goal? Make legal services accessible, affordable, and scalable for SMEs.

With operations in SA, Kenya, Botswana, and Nigeria, and a 70% female-led team, Lawyered Up is tackling one of the biggest barriers to SME success.

Could AI be the answer to cutting legal costs?

👉 Read the full story in today's Open Letter - https://www.theopenletter.io/p/lower-legal-costs-for-smes

11/03/2025

Did you get your latest dose of the startups making moves in SA earlier today?

If not, sign up for SA's greatest startup newsletter now. Link on our profile

Source: trust me, bro

10/03/2025

Happy Monday Founders!