2026 SA BUSINESS ECOSYSTEM REPORT
Your experience is the data.
We are building the 2026 SA Business Ecosystem Report. It is only as strong as the voices behind it. If you are a founder, operator, or business leader in South Africa, your perspective belongs in this research.
5 minutes · Free report access for every contributor · Free branding opportunities within the report for interested businesses.
WHAT WE ARE RESEARCHING
The 2026 edition goes deeper and wider than any SA business research we have published before.
The funding landscape. Market entry realities. Competitive dynamics. Regulatory shifts. And the informal economy that no other South African research dataset captures.
Funding and capital access
Where are businesses actually getting capital from? What is working and what has closed off since 2025?
Market entry and expansion
What does it actually cost to enter a new market or province in South Africa, and what do other businesses wish they had known?
Competitive dynamics
Who is winning in your sector, why, and what competitive pressures are SMEs feeling that larger players are not?
Regulatory and compliance reality
B-BBEE, tax compliance, labour law, sector regulations. What is the real cost and how are businesses navigating it?
Participation FAQs
Who can participate?
Founders, investors, ecosystem builders, employers, recruiters, and business leaders operating in South Africa. If your work touches the South African business ecosystem in any way, your perspective adds value to the report.
How long does the survey take?
About 5-10 minutes. The survey covers your experience across key ecosystem themes: access to capital, regulatory environment, infrastructure, talent, and collaboration. You do not need to prepare anything in advance.
Will my responses be anonymous?
By default, yes. All responses are anonymised in the published report. If you would like to be featured by name or have your organisation acknowledged, you can opt in during the survey. We will never publish identifiable information without your explicit consent.
When will the 2026 report be published?
We are targeting publication in Q4 2026. Participants will receive early access before the public release. Sign up for BLEC Insider above to be notified as soon as the report is ready.
Can my organisation partner on the report?
Yes. We work with ecosystem partners who support distribution, participate in research, and co develop content around the report’s findings. Current partners include OurWork.Life, Tech Circle, and Vitoria Group. If your organisation would like to explore a partnership, reach out to us directly.
WHAT YOU GET
This is not a one-sided exchange.
Early report access
Every participant receives the full 2026 SA Business Ecosystem Report two weeks before public release. You will see your own sector’s findings before anyone else.
National dataset inclusion
Your business experience becomes part of a comprehensive dataset on South African business assembled by an independent research firm.
Entry Into Our Community
Get curated access to our research, insights and network. If you want to be a regular with us, sign up for our Activation based on this very report.
Free strategy session
For participants who provide detailed responses: a complimentary 30 minute strategy session with the BLEC team. Normally valued at R7,000. No strings attached.
WHO WE ARE LOOKING FOR
If you operate a business in South Africa, we want your perspective.
Business type
Founders and co-founders of startups at any stage. SME owners and operators. Corporate managers and strategy leads. Freelancers and independent business operators.
Sectors
All sectors welcome. Fintech, retail, FMCG, manufacturing, logistics, healthtech, renewable energy, professional services, informal trade, agriculture.
Provinces
All nine provinces. We particularly need more voices from KwaZulu-Natal, Limpopo, the Eastern Cape, and rural provinces to ensure the dataset is nationally representative.
Time commitment
Five minutes for the core survey. An additional ten to fifteen minutes if you choose to provide the detailed responses that qualify for the free strategy session.
PARTICIPATE
Add your voice to the 2026 report.
Fill in your details below and we will send you a link to the survey within one business day. Or click the direct survey button if you are ready to go now.
Prefer to go straight to the survey? Use the direct link below.
RESEARCH DISTRIBUTED THROUGH
OurWork.Life · Tech Circle · Workshop 17 · Fence Africa 24 · Human Edge · Vitoria Group
100+ founders and operators have contributed to our research in the past. Your business can be part of the 2026 dataset.