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The Johannesburg Stock Exchange last week inducted 12 companies into the fifth cohort of its SME Rise Enterprise Accelerator Programme at an event in Sandton.
The latest intake is made up predominantly of ICT and technology firms.
The programme offers participating businesses support in areas including funding readiness, market expansion, and operational excellence.
Dr Danny Tong, founder of construction firm BoTong Civils and one of the most successful businesses from the previous cohort, addressed the incoming group.
JSE spokesperson Paballo Makhetha said BoTong Civils was part of the 2025 cohort, and Tong presented at the event, where he outlined the company’s growth after participating in the programme the previous year.
Tong praised the JSE for its support of the SME sector, pointing to measurable results his company achieved after completing the programme.
“Our journey through the JSE SME Rise Enterprise Accelerator Programme reinforced that growth is not just about winning work, but about being ready to absorb it,” Tong said.
“The programme enabled us to put proper board structures in place, strengthen our balance sheet, improve operational efficiency, adopt technology, and build the systems and operational discipline required to scale.”
He said the programme had also changed how the market viewed his business.
“That credibility shifted the conversation in the market, helping stakeholders take us seriously, opening doors to partnerships, and positioning our business to raise capital responsibly and compete for larger opportunities,” he said.
BoTong Civils recorded a 418% increase in revenue compared to the prior financial year following its participation.
The company has since secured over R70m in funding, raised more than R200m in guarantees, and built an order book exceeding R3bn.
It is now targeting a listing on the JSE’s AltX within two years, with a longer-term goal of growing its order book to more than R100bn.
SME Rise is the JSE Group’s flagship enterprise development initiative, which connects small and medium-sized private companies to capital markets, funding mechanisms, and international expansion pathways.
The programme has to date trained and mentored founders in over 50 companies across sectors including manufacturing, healthcare, services, technology, mining, and retail.
The 2026 SME Rise Accelerator Programme cohort includes:
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