About Genfin

Commercially Minded

GENFIN is a proudly South African entrepreneurial business that enables, and supports, SMEs and mid-corporates with flexible business funding so they can unlock their growth for sustainable success. 

Flexible business funding and
working capital solutions

At Genfin, we understand the needs of businesses and that access to affordable finance is critical for the growth, sustainability, and operation of any business. As part of the GENFIN group, GENFIN (formerly “Business Fuel”), established in 2016, has been assisting businesses with funding for up to R3million.

We provide you with certainty in both swiftness in the response to your application and the amount of financing your business can afford. With our proprietary process, the credit decision is accelerated ensuring you’ll get an answer within 24 hours.

Our Partners

We are backed by the Genfin SA group, an investment company specializing in SME and consumer lending in South Africa. Other strategic funding partners include RMBSanlam Investments, Ashburton Investments and STANLIB.

The History of Genfin

June 2016

Established date

Nov 2016

First employees started

Feb 2017

1st loan disbursed

Oct 2018

Rebrand to Business Fuel

Aug 2021

Subsidiary of GENFIN Holdings (100% shareholder)

Nov 2021

5-year anniversary

Dec 2021

1st billion disbursed (41,500 applications)

Mar 2022

Moved to new premises at Vineyard Office Estate, Cape Town

Nov 2022

Rebrand to Genfin

Aug 2024

RMB acquires 20% shareholding in Genfin

Apr 2024

R2 billion disbursed (70,800 applications)

May 2025

R2.5 billion disbursed (81,275 applications)

Jan 2026

6,000 loans disbursed

June 2016
Established date

Nov 2016
First employees started

Feb 2017
1st loan disbursed

Oct 2018
Rebrand to Business Fuel

Aug 2021
Subsidiary of GENFIN Holdings (100% shareholder)

Nov 2021
5-year anniversary

Dec 2021
1st billion disbursed (41,500 applications)

Mar 2022
Moved to new premises at Vineyard Office Estate, Cape Town

Nov 2022
Rebrand to Genfin

Aug 2024
RMB acquires 20% shareholding in Genfin

Apr 2024
R2 billion disbursed (70,800 applications)

May 2025
R2.5 billion disbursed (81,275 applications)

Jan 2026
6,000 loans disbursed

Leadership Team

Merwe Scholtz

Founder and Non Executive Director

Merwe completed his studies at the University of Stellenbosch in 1998 after which he commenced his career at Capitec Bank. He founded a number of lending businesses during the period 2005 to 2017.

B Comm (Law)

Doreth Duvenhage

Managing Director

Doreth brings a strong foundation in financial services, underpinned by a degree in Actuarial Science and an MBA completed cum laude. Her experience spans the full credit lifecycle. She has a proven track record of driving sustainable growth while maintaining disciplined risk management, with a particular focus on operational execution and performance optimisation. Known for her hands-on leadership style and clear focus on accountability, she leads the business with a balance of analytical rigour and practical decision-making, positioning it for continued growth in a competitive market.

MBA | BSc Actuarial Science

John Haveman

Finance Director

John qualified as a chartered accountant in 2000, after completing his articles at PwC. He has extensive experience in financial services, private equity, logistics, manufacturing, and chemicals sectors, including eleven years as CFO of a JSE-listed group, KAP Industrial.

CA(SA) | B.Comm (Hons) Accounting

Adéle Hanekom

Executive: Operations

Adéle started her career in Finance, qualifying as a Chartered Certified Account in the UK 15 years ago. She gained extensive financial experience working for Trinity Mirror plc and Thomson Reuters. Since returning from the UK, she has directed her focus towards operational roles in the financial sector.

FCCA | CIA | BTech: Financial Information Systems

Andrea van Greunen

Executive: Origination

Andrea has over a decade of corporate managerial experience with leading local and international brands. She has actively been involved within various corporate, start up and scale up environments and is driven by an unwavering commitment to get things done. She has founded an operational consulting business and brings an entrepreneurial approach to the table.

BA Integrated Marketing Communications

Nijinka Boshoff

Executive: Human Resources

Nijinka has built her career within the financial services sector, working across a broad range of human resources disciplines. She is a registered Independent Psychometrist and an Integral Life Coach, known for blending analytical insight with a people-centered approach. She focuses on aligning people, performance, and culture to support sustainable organisational success, combining strategic perspective with practical execution.

BA Personnel Management | Psychology (Hons) | Psychometrist

Debra Venter

Head of Legal & Collections

Debra was admitted as an attorney in 2013 and thereafter gained experience in practice for 6 years, with the right of appearance in the High Court, before leaving practice and embarking on leading Genfin’s Legal Department. She has a vast knowledge of debt collection, general civil litigation, and commercial law.

LL.B | LL.M Import & Export Law | Admitted Attorney

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Our Values

Embracing change

We grow by embracing change and seeing things in a positive light.

Care about people

We make time to communicate effectively, value each other, treat others fairly, work as a team and express our gratitude.

Responsibility & accountability

We are reliable, meet our commitments and take responsibility and accountability for our actions, good and bad.

Excellence

We are efficient, innovative, professional and better than the rest! We get it done.

Open, honest & respectful

We are open, honest and respectful towards ourselves and others without fear of repercussion.

Learning & developing

We grow by creating and embracing opportunities to learn and develop and we share our knowledge and insights.