For Investors · How It Works

Invest in thecommunity economy.

Old Union connects contributors with verified township and community businesses across South Africa through structured, legally compliant investment instruments. From R 500 to your first return distribution — here is exactly how the platform works.

Min. R 500 Revenue-linked returns SA law governed Max 50 contributors per campaign Full refund if minimum not met

Contributor Journey

Five steps to
your first return.

From registration through to your first payout distribution — every step is platform-guided, fully transparent, and takes minutes, not days.

Registration · KYC identity verification · Wallet creation

Register with your email address and create a secure password. Complete our KYC identity verification by uploading a valid South African ID document or passport. Once verified, your Old Union digital wallet is automatically created and ready to fund campaigns. The entire process takes under five minutes and is free.

Email + PasswordSA ID or PassportUnder 5 minutesFree to register

Fund Your Wallet

Card payment or bank EFT · Instant or 1–2 day clearing

Add funds to your Old Union wallet via debit or credit card — processed by YoCo (PCI DSS compliant), credited instantly — or via bank EFT to our nominated escrow account, credited within 1–2 business days. Wallet funds are always yours and fully withdrawable until you deploy them into a campaign.

Card: instantEFT: 1–2 business daysWithdrawable at any timePCI DSS compliant

Discover & Evaluate Campaigns

Browse listings · Review financials · Ask direct questions

Browse verified businesses across all nine provinces. Filter by industry, area type (urban, township, rural), instrument type, and raise status. Each listing displays the company pitch, financial disclosures (self-reported, accountant-verified, or audited), milestone history, and full deal terms. Post questions directly through the campaign Q&A — businesses are required to respond publicly.

340+ verified businessesFilter by province & industryAuditable financialsPublic Q&A per campaign

Contribute & Sign the Agreement

Select amount · Review full agreement · Confirm & pay

Select your contribution amount (at or above the campaign minimum). Review the complete investment agreement — including your pro-rata revenue share entitlement or cooperative membership units, the full deal terms, and risk disclosures. Digitally accept. Payment is debited from your wallet immediately (wallet) or your slot is secured pending EFT clearance.

Digital agreement signingPro-rata share calculatedMax 50 contributors per campaignOne contribution per campaign

Track Returns & Receive Distributions

Portfolio dashboard · Monthly updates · Wallet payouts

Monitor every active investment through your investor portfolio dashboard. Businesses post monthly financial updates, revenue reports, and milestone disclosures. Returns are calculated and distributed to your Old Union wallet on schedule — each payout appears as an individual ledger entry, fully auditable. Wallet balances can be withdrawn to your bank account at any time.

Monthly business reportsPayout ledger per investmentWithdraw to bank accountFull escrow refund if failed

Investment Instruments

Three ways to
earn a return.

All instruments are legally structured under South African law, platform-administered, and limited to 50 contributors per campaign. Choose the one that matches your risk appetite and investment horizon.

Revenue Share Agreement

Contributors receive a percentage of the company's monthly reported revenue, proportional to their investment, for a fixed number of months. Returns move with business performance.

Monthly distribution cycle

Revenue-linked, variable returns

Typical term: 12–60 months

No equity transfer

Pro-rata share of campaign pool

Cooperative Membership

Contributors purchase membership units in a registered cooperative. Each unit represents an equal share of membership and entitlement to distributable surplus. Governed by the co-op's constitution.

Unit-based membership structure

Surplus-linked distributions

Democratic participation rights

Ideal for township cooperatives

Fixed Return Loan

A structured loan offering contributors a predetermined annual return rate over a fixed term. Capital and returns are repaid according to a formalised schedule — predictable and revenue-independent.

Fixed annual return rate

Predetermined repayment schedule

Term: 6–36 months

Not revenue-linked

Compare

Instruments
at a glance.

Side-by-side view of the three instruments available on Old Union. All legally structured, platform-administered, and governed under South African law.

Feature	Revenue Share	Co-op Membership	Fixed Return Loan
Return Type	% of monthly revenue	Cooperative surplus	Fixed rate p.a.
Return Timing	Monthly, as reported	Per surplus cycle	Per repayment schedule
Typical Term	12–60 months	Indefinite (membership)	6–36 months
Revenue-Linked	Yes	Yes	No
Equity Transfer	No	No	No
Predictability	Variable	Variable	Fixed & scheduled
Min. Contribution	From R 500	From unit price	From R 500
Best For	Revenue-generating SMEs	Township cooperatives	Stable cash-flow businesses

Legal Framework

Built on
solid ground.

Old Union operates within a carefully defined legal and regulatory framework. Every campaign is structured to comply with South African company law, private placement regulations, and FICA obligations. Your investments are protected by enforceable agreements.

Private Placement Exemption

All campaigns capped at 50 investors — qualifying under the Companies Act private placement exemption. No prospectus required.

KYC & FICA Compliance

All users and businesses undergo identity verification. Documentation retained in line with FICA obligations.

Legally Binding Agreements

Each investment generates a legal agreement between contributor and business — governed by South African law, enforceable in SA courts.

Escrow & Refund Protection

Campaign funds held in escrow until minimum raise confirmed. Failed campaigns trigger automatic full refunds.

Frequently Asked Questions

What happens if a campaign doesn't reach its minimum raise?

If a campaign closes without reaching its declared minimum raise, it is automatically cancelled. Every contributor receives a full refund to their Old Union wallet — including those who paid via EFT. No fees are deducted on failed campaigns.

Is Old Union a licensed financial services provider?

Old Union is a technology platform — not an FSP. We provide infrastructure for parties to enter bilateral investment agreements. We do not give financial advice. All investment decisions remain the sole responsibility of the contributor. We strongly recommend seeking independent financial counsel before investing.

How are revenue share returns calculated?

Each contributor's share is proportional to their contribution relative to the total raised. If a campaign raises R 200 000 and you contributed R 10 000 (5%), and the campaign's revenue share is 8% per month, your monthly entitlement is 0.4% (5% × 8%) of reported monthly revenue. Distributions are calculated and paid after the business posts its monthly revenue report.

Can I contribute to more than one campaign?

Yes — there is no limit to the number of campaigns you can participate in across the platform. Each campaign limits total contributors to 50, so popular campaigns can fill quickly. You may only contribute once per individual campaign.

What recourse do I have if a business defaults?

Your investment agreement is a legally binding document under South African law. If a business fails to meet its obligations, you have legal recourse through the agreement. Old Union will flag non-compliant businesses on the platform and escalate to legal partners where necessary.

When exactly are return distributions paid?

For revenue share campaigns, distributions are triggered after the business posts its monthly revenue report — typically within 5 business days of month-end. The platform calculates each contributor's entitlement and credits the amounts to respective contributor wallets. All payout records are visible in your portfolio dashboard.

Ready to start?

Invest in yourcommunity.

South Africa's township economy generates billions in activity every year — yet remains largely excluded from formal capital markets. Old Union exists to change that. Start with R 500. Build a portfolio of community-backed businesses. Earn returns that mean something.

This platform does not constitute financial advice. All investments carry risk including possible loss of capital. Old Union operates under the Companies Act private placement exemption. Maximum 50 contributors per campaign. Please read all investment agreements carefully before contributing.

Create Investor Account Browse Open Campaigns Have a business to list? →

Invest in thecommunity economy.

Five steps toyour first return.

Three ways toearn a return.

Instrumentsat a glance.

Built onsolid ground.

Invest in yourcommunity.

Five steps to
your first return.

Three ways to
earn a return.

Instruments
at a glance.

Built on
solid ground.