Praneshan Naidoo A Remarkable Business Leader And Entrepreneur Dedicated To Empower Others

Entrepreneur | Visionary | Champion for Township Economies

Praneshan Naidoo is a visionary entrepreneur, financial strategist, and award-winning leader whose deep commitment to South Africa’s economy and its young people has defined his career.

Nearly two decades in alternative funding and SMME finance have shaped his mission: breaking down the barriers that keep small businesses from growing.

Where many see risk, Praneshan sees possibility.

Where traditional finance says “no,” he creates practical solutions that say “yes.” His journey began in sales, where he worked directly with township entrepreneurs and SMMEs. It was here, face-to-face with hustlers, start-ups, and street-level innovators, that he understood the real challenges: not ideas, not talent, but access. Access to funding. Access to markets. Access to opportunity.

In 2023, a chance encounter changed everything.

Driving through Johannesburg, he met two young men running a coffee cart. Inspired by their grit, Praneshan secured them sponsorships, media coverage, and eventually tenders that helped them scale. That moment became a spark: if he could do it for two, why not for many?

From that conviction, GoFundYourself (GFY) was born in 2024 – a bold play on words reclaiming what township entrepreneurs had been told for too long: “Go fend for yourself.” Instead, GFY said:

“Go Fund Yourself.”

Through CFY, Praneshan registered over 400 businesses, opened hundreds of bank accounts, and created pathways for township

entrepreneurs to participate in the mainstream economy. By keeping business local – “buying from your own” – he nurtured sustainable township economies where success multiplies and creates jols.

But one gap remained: funding. Too many entrepreneurs were winning tenders only to lose them because they couldn’t afford upfront supplier costs. In 2025, Praneshan launched Fund The People, a financing house designed to solve exactly that problem. Through fast, flexible funding, Fund The People helps SMMEs say yes to opportunities and deliver with confidence.