Capitec understands the challenges faced by entrepreneurs. Throughout this season of The Finance Ghost Plugged in with Capitec, we’ve explored how affordable transactional banking and access to finance can help business owners grow.

But how does it all come together? And how did Capitec make such a strong impact on the business banking scene so quickly?

In episode 8, we reflect on the acquisition of Mercantile Bank just before COVID hit – and how Capitec's innovative approach helped shape the products, systems and client experience that followed.

This is The Finance Ghost in conversation with Karl Kumbier (Executive for Business Bank), Amrei Botha (Executive of Client Experience Delivery) and Sicelo Mkhize (Head of Distribution).

Episode 8 covers:

• Why understanding SME challenges is the starting point for better products and solutions – including Capitec's simple, transparent pricing structure

• The systems architecture of Capitec Business and why it was built to stand alongside the rest of our business

• How the pandemic shaped Capitec's blend of digital innovation and personal support in the business centres

• The rapid growth from 30 000 to 85 000 clients in just one year – and why individual clients still matter

• (00:00:00) - Finance Ghost
• (00:01:24) - Capitec's'simply the bank'
• (00:02:07) - The Future of Capitec in SA
• (00:04:47) - Buy Rather Than Build: Capitec's Business Banking
• (00:07:22) - How Capitec Went From Afresh to SMEs
• (00:08:54) - Capitec's Sixto Susello's story
• (00:10:23) - An Evolving Capitec
• (00:12:38) - A New Business Bank at Capitec
• (00:14:53) - The 4 fundamentals of Capitex Business Banking
• (00:17:04) - What Made Capitec Bank So Interesting
• (00:20:01) - Capitex Bank: No Silos
• (00:21:41) - Onboarding the Capitec Bank
• (00:25:28) - How Business Banking has simplified for our clients
• (00:28:32) - The Credit Card Innovation at Capitec
• (00:30:40) - How Citigroup's Relationship Suite has empowered its bankers
• (00:33:33) - Citi Business Center and the Relationship Suite
• (00:41:10) - Capitec Business Banking: Pricing
• (00:45:05) - Capitec Business Banking: Growing, Profits
• (00:47:30) - Clients' stories
• (00:49:59) - Multiple stories from the townships
• (00:50:57) - MR: Future of Business Banking
• (00:52:37) - Podcast

Priscilla Msimanga made the leap that so many dream of, yet few are willing to make: leaving a big corporate role and shifting into the grinding world of entrepreneurship. To add to the intrigue, she bought a Shell forecourt and stepped into specialist retail.

From managing staff to complying with petroleum regulations, the learning curve was steep. Drawing on her corporate experience, her love of sales and her passion for service, Priscilla rolled up her sleeves and did everything – from pumping fuel to serving food.

And yes, that means there’s a food truck to go with this great story!

On episode 7 of The Finance Ghost Plugged in with Capitec, Priscilla tells us more about her leap from corporate life to entrepreneurship.

Episode 7 covers:

• Her corporate background and why she wanted to do something of her own

• How she prepared before leaving corporate

• Finding the right forecourt to buy

• The retail strategy of a forecourt and adapting to local consumer tastes

• Why hands-on involvement matters for success

• An honest look at the short-term financial impact of leaving corporate and starting a business

• (00:00:00) - How to start a business in South Africa
• (00:01:28) - Going From Corporate to Entrepreneur
• (00:05:06) - Making the decision to leave corporate life
• (00:07:54) - How to start a petrol station from scratch in South Africa
• (00:13:22) - What was the biggest challenge in running a petrol station?
• (00:19:38) - How to start a business in Nigeria
• (00:22:51) - Inside the Food Truck
• (00:24:49) - How does a fuel shop make money?
• (00:29:16) - Startup Money: How do you balance your finances?
• (00:33:37) - Dancing Off The Corporate Runway
• (00:36:03) - The Alchemist

Lu-ise Hattingh and Ruan Botha are a great example of the power and value of travel. After spending time in Japan, they fell in love with the culture and food. As all great entrepreneurs do, they also took the opportunity to learn about the Japanese approach to consumer brands. That curiosity eventually sparked a business idea they brought back home.

Today, Lu-ise and Ruan are rolling out Market Kokoro franchise stores in South Africa and especially the Western Cape, tapping into the existing Market Kokoro infrastructure in South Africa and adding their particular flavour of experiential retail. If you love the thought of cooking your off-the-shelf noodles in the store, then Market Kokoro is for you.

In bringing miso to Mzansi, one of the biggest insights is about the importance of meeting customers where they are, both in terms of tastes and locations.

On episode 6 of The Finance Ghost Plugged in with Capitec, Lu-ise and Ruan share the journey behind building a cross-cultural brand.

Episode 6 covers:

• How travelling sparked the idea for Market Kokoro – and how this married couple turned a dream to bring this culture and food back home into a working business
• Why their unique mix of skills (Ruan as an attorney and Lu-ise with a background in film and hospitality) lead to success
• The background to Market Kokoro in South Africa and their involvement with the business
• What makes the retail landscape in Cape Town different from Johannesburg – and how they adapt to each
• Why additional sources of income are crucial while getting a business off the ground
• The benefit of tapping into governmental organisations to help launch in a specific city
• The consumer licensing opportunity in South Africa and how Japan’s model inspired their approach

• (00:00:00) - Businesses in South Africa
• (00:00:32) - Market Kokoro
• (00:01:28) - A Taste of Japan
• (00:05:04) - Jetro
• (00:05:41) - This Chinese Couple Captured Her To Japan The First Time
• (00:06:40) - How to get out of your legal rut
• (00:08:30) - Mixing Acting and Retail
• (00:12:38) - How to Win Your Love Life
• (00:13:17) - 7 Pro Tips for Being in Business Together With Your Wife
• (00:16:59) - When You Set Up Your Love Shop
• (00:17:36) - A Taste of Market Kokoro in South Africa
• (00:18:48) - Market Kokoro South Africa
• (00:24:29) - On Working Full-Time
• (00:26:15) - Starting a Business: The Secret to Success
• (00:27:36) - How to start a business in South Africa
• (00:29:34) - Cape Town vs Joburg: The retail environment
• (00:33:38) - Interview
• (00:34:26) - West Grow: Our support for business in Cape Town and Joburg
• (00:37:43) - North Africa's consumer product licensing culture
• (00:38:57) - Economist
• (00:41:03) - Anime and Pop Culture in South Africa
• (00:44:45) - Podcaster: Can Capitec Help My Business?
• (00:47:03) - Interview