THE Zimbabwe Entrepreneurship Exchange (ZEEX) is targeting a broad group of entrepreneurs, businesses and investors, bringing together companies seeking growth capital and investors willing to take on higher risk in pursuit of higher returns.
At its centre are early- and growth-stage businesses seeking structured capital to expand operations, enter new markets or launch new products. ZEEX also specifically targets businesses that considered traditional stock exchanges but found the requirements too costly, complex or restrictive for their current stage.
Entrepreneurs and SMEs
The first target group is entrepreneurs and SMEs at various stages of growth businesses that already have operations and customers but need capital to reach the next stage, whether that means expanding production, entering a new market, or developing a new product. The common thread: businesses looking for structured capital to scale.
Rather than relying solely on traditional financing, ZEEX gives these businesses access to a capital-market environment where they can present growth opportunities to investors — particularly useful for companies that could accelerate significantly with more capital but don't yet fit the traditional exchange model.
ZEEX offers several ways to raise capital depending on a business’ needs and stage:
- Debt lets an SME raise money while retaining ownership and repaying over an agreed period.
- Equity brings in investors in exchange for an ownership stake.
- In Full: eighteenth post-cabinet press briefing June 28, 2022
- Letters to the editor: PVOs Bill must be shot down
- EIA frequently asked questions
- Marume’s last minute try gives Goshawks second Currie Cup win
Keep Reading
- Invoice discounting lets businesses with unpaid invoices unlock working capital before customers pay.
- REITs offer eligible property businesses another capital-raising structure.
Companies that find traditional exchanges too restrictive
The second group ZEEX targets are businesses for whom a conventional stock exchange listing comes too early. The cost, complexity and requirements of listing can make public markets hard to access for companies still building their operations that doesn’t mean they lack potential, just that they’re at a different stage.
ZEEX offers these companies an alternative route to structured capital without necessarily meeting the same requirements as a traditional exchange, effectively bridging the gap between a growing private business and a larger capital-markets participant, under more flexible terms.
Investors willing to take on more risk
The other side of the ZEEX ecosystem is the investor. The platform isn’t positioned around conservative investments it targets investors with a higher risk appetite, seeking early — and growth-stage opportunities and prepared to weigh the appropriate risk-reward profile.
Investing in a growing business differs fundamentally from investing in an established company with decades of history: there’s greater uncertainty, but also greater growth potential. An investor who backs a business early could benefit significantly if it expands revenue, enters new markets, launches successful products, or grows in value. The decision comes down to whether the investor believes the potential return justifies the risk and it’s up to the issuer to make that case.
Summary
- Investors: invest now access the Deal Room and deploy capital into vetted high-growth opportunities.
- Businesses: list your business access a network of investors and choose among opportunities to fund growth.
- Sponsors: partner with ZEEX to support the growth of Zimbabwe's entrepreneurial ecosystem.
A market built around growth
The common thread linking all participants is growth: businesses seeking capital to grow, investors seeking attractive returns, and sponsors supporting businesses as they enter the investment ecosystem. That makes ZEEX especially relevant to businesses with ambitions beyond simply maintaining current operations an entrepreneur developing a new product, a manufacturer increasing capacity, or a company entering regional markets may all find it relevant if they need structured capital to get there.
At the same time, investors must recognise that early and growth-stage opportunities carry corresponding risks. ZEEX’s target investor isn’t just anyone looking for an investment it’s someone prepared to evaluate opportunities where potential reward is matched by appropriate risk.
So, Is ZEEX for you?
Ask yourself:
- Are you an entrepreneur or SME looking for structured capital to scale?
- Has your business been deterred from traditional exchanges by their cost, complexity or requirements?
- Are you an investor seeking early- or growth-stage opportunities, prepared to take on appropriate risk?
If you answered yes to any of these, ZEEX has built a route into an ecosystem made for you.
