How Access to Funding Drove 10× Business Growth

This episode is for entrepreneurs who are winning work but losing sleep – because cash flow can’t keep up. Learn how the right funding partner can turn “we can’t take this project” into confident, controlled growth.

Watch the full episode below.

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Episode overview

In this episode of The Great Enabler Podcast | Powered by Sourcefin, Jedd sits down with Phil from Pythagoras Infrastructure Group to unpack a story many entrepreneurs will recognise: the work is there, the capability is there, but the cash flow gap makes growth feel dangerous.

Phil explains how Pythagoras operates across ICT/telecoms, smart city solutions, and hard infrastructure – sectors where projects are time-sensitive, costs land upfront, and payment often comes later. He shares what it felt like trying to scale while being repeatedly rejected by traditional banks for lacking collateral or being perceived as “too risky,” even with real purchase orders and appointment letters in hand.

The conversation moves from funding frustration to funding as fuel: how fast turnaround times (24–48 hours), relationship-driven underwriting, and a tailored approach to risk enabled Pythagoras to take on more projects, deliver reliably, and grow from 7 employees in 2022 to 73 employees within 2.5 years. It’s also a powerful reminder that conviction – backing yourself and your story – is a growth asset most people underestimate.

Key insights

1) Growth breaks cash flow before it breaks capability
When a business starts winning more work, the first pressure point is rarely skill or demand – it’s working capital. Phil describes having enough balance sheet for two projects while trying to run four at once, even with purchase orders secured. That gap forces painful trade-offs: turn down opportunities or scramble for money. The lesson is clear – more sales alone don’t guarantee growth. Cash flow must scale too.

2) Speed is a competitive advantage in time-sensitive industries
In infrastructure and ICT, delays can mean penalties, missed milestones, and reputational damage. Receiving funding within 24–48 hours changes how a business plans and executes. It improves mobilisation, strengthens supplier relationships, and allows faster deployment. In project-based businesses, time is often more valuable than the interest rate.

3) The problem isn’t always risk – it’s rigidity
Traditional banks often apply long, inflexible checklists designed for large corporates. Many SMMEs fail one or two boxes and are declined outright. A more practical approach starts by understanding the business model and the specific project. Context matters. Fit matters. The right structure can unlock value that rigid processes overlook.

4) Funding should reduce risk, not increase stress
Reliable access to capital allowed the business to “sleep at night.” That confidence translates into better long-term planning, stronger hiring decisions, and healthier leadership. When funding constantly feels uncertain, strategy becomes reactive. When funding is stable, growth becomes intentional.

5) Relationships still matter in a digital world
Automation and AI can support decision-making, but they cannot replace trust. Being able to call someone, explain a challenge, and work through it builds resilience. In high-growth environments, human relationships remain a strategic advantage.

6) Conviction is a growth asset
Phil’s final lesson was conviction. Believe in your capability, your story, and the value you bring. Rejection is part of the entrepreneurial journey. Conviction keeps you moving long enough for the right opportunity – and the right partner – to align.

Key quotes

“What happens is I’m trying to do four projects at one time… I have enough balance sheet for two projects.”
“The efficiency of the 24–48 hours… helps you plan better and be strategic.”
“You understand the business first… then you say, ‘Okay, fine. Let’s make the glove to fit.’”
“We can basically sleep at night… knowing that we will get the funding as long as we get the opportunity.”
“In 2022 we had seven employees… right now… we’re sitting on 73 staff today. 10× the growth.”
“You need to have conviction… Believe in your story… your capability and capacity.”

Practical takeaways for entrepreneurs

Map your cash gap per project – Know what needs to be paid upfront (labour, materials, suppliers) versus when you actually get paid.
Treat speed-to-funding as part of delivery – If your industry is time-sensitive, long finance timelines can be a hidden operational risk.
Build a “funding-ready” folder before you need it – Don’t wait for urgency; keep key documents and compliance items updated and accessible.
Choose partners who understand your model – The right funder should understand your value chain, milestones, and payment cycles.
Plan growth in layers, not leaps – Funding is a tool to scale responsibly, not a reason to overextend without controls.
Protect your conviction – Rejection is common; conviction keeps you moving long enough for the right opportunity (and partner) to meet you.

Sourcefin perspective

Entrepreneurs don’t fail because they lack ambition – they often fail because the system rewards collateral over capability, and paperwork over potential. The Great Enabler exists to close that gap with insight, truth, and practical help. Sourcefin’s role in this ecosystem is simple: stand with serious SMME builders as they move from “survival mode” into sustainable scale – not by promising miracles, but by helping unlock real opportunities when the work is there and the business is ready.

Learn more about Sourcefin’s purchase order funding.

Full episode transcript

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Note that the transcript has been edited for ease of use

INTRO – THE GROWTH HOOK (0:00–0:18)
How many employees did you have? Seven in 2022 – now 73. A 10× jump in just 2.5 years.

THE REAL PROBLEM – ACCESS TO CAPITAL (0:19–1:09)
Small businesses drive economies, but the biggest blocker is funding. Retail banks rejected the business for being “too risky” or not having enough collateral – even when there were real purchase orders and appointment letters.

THE BREAKING POINT – TOO MANY PROJECTS, NOT ENOUGH BALANCE SHEET (1:10–1:59)
The business could fund two projects, but demand required four. Turning work away wasn’t an option – yet the traditional bank route still didn’t work.

WHY ALTERNATIVE FUNDING MATTERS – SPEED AND CERTAINTY (2:00–3:08)
Getting funding within 24–48 hours changes how you plan and execute, especially in time-sensitive industries like infrastructure and ICT. Speed enables better strategy and faster deployment.

RELATIONSHIP AND FIT – “MAKE THE GLOVE FIT” (3:09–4:30)
Instead of a rigid checklist approach, the funding relationship started with understanding the business first. From there, the model was customised to suit the real operating environment.

WHO PYTHAGORAS IS – BUSINESS AND MISSION (4:31–6:00)
Pythagoras Infrastructure Group operates across ICT/telecoms, smart city solutions, and hard infrastructure. The mission is to deliver African-led, world-class telecom and infrastructure solutions.

ACCESS IS THE THREAD – OPPORTUNITY AND GROWTH (6:01–7:30)
Telecoms and infrastructure solve access problems. Funding solves access to opportunity. The common theme is enabling growth where demand already exists.

FUNDING AS FUEL – THE TURNING POINT (7:31–10:30)
Growth exposed a working capital gap. As projects increased, so did upfront costs. Fast funding allowed the business to deploy confidently and scale delivery.

FUTURE-FORWARD VS BACKWARD-LOOKING FUNDING (10:31–12:30)
Traditional lenders focus heavily on past performance and collateral. A more future-focused model considers the opportunity, project value, and ability to deliver.

THE CONFIDENCE SHIFT – SLEEPING AT NIGHT (12:31–15:00)
Reliable funding reduced the fear of growth. It allowed leadership to plan long-term, hire strategically, and operate without constant financial panic.

FROM 7 TO 73 – THE SCALE STORY (15:01–18:00)
The first deal came with skepticism after repeated rejections elsewhere. Within 2.5 years, the business grew from 7 employees to 73.

HOW TO BE MORE FUNDABLE (18:01–23:40)
Preparation matters. Have your compliance, documentation, and internal diligence ready before applying. Don’t arrive disorganised. Make it easy for a funder to back you.

WHY SMMES ARE THE BACKBONE (23:41–26:33)
One business growing from 7 to 73 employees demonstrates the employment ripple effect. More entrepreneurs mean more jobs and stronger economic growth.

FINAL LESSON – CONVICTION (26:34–28:20)
Conviction is the hidden growth asset. Believe in your skills, your story, and your value. Back yourself – the limits are often self-manufactured.