Old Union gives verified township and community businesses access to structured, patient capital — without surrendering equity, control, or dignity. List your business, configure a campaign, and raise from up to 50 contributors under South African private placement law.
Most township businesses don't fail for lack of ambition or work ethic. They fail because formal capital markets were never designed for them — too much paperwork, too little trust, and terms that hand away the very business you built. Old Union was designed to change that equation. Raise from people who know your community, on terms you control, without giving up a single share.
Each stage is platform-guided with clear instructions, document templates, and our team available to assist. Most businesses complete the process in under two weeks.
Register your business on the platform using our guided onboarding wizard. You'll complete your company details, industry classification, stage, location, and write your business description. Upload your pitch deck and any supporting materials. Everything can be saved and revisited — no need to complete in one session.
Upload your verification documents through the secure document portal in your company dashboard. The Old Union compliance team reviews each submission manually — this is how your listing earns the "Verified" badge that contributors rely on. You will receive feedback via email within 1–3 business days.
Once verified, you unlock the campaign creation wizard. Choose your instrument type, set your financial targets, define contributor limits, and configure your deal terms. Old Union's campaign wizard walks you through every field with contextual guidance — no financial or legal expertise required.
After Old Union approves your campaign, it goes live on the platform on your configured opening date. Contributors discover your listing, review your pitch and financials, and submit contributions. You can post updates, answer Q&A questions, and monitor contributor count and funds raised in real time through your company dashboard.
Once your campaign closes and the minimum raise is confirmed, funds are released from escrow to your nominated business bank account within 2–4 business days. Your investment agreements activate simultaneously. Contributors begin tracking your progress. You begin your reporting and distribution obligations.
The right instrument depends on your business model, cash flow pattern, and what your contributor community values. Our campaign wizard guides you through every field — but here is an overview of each option.
Contributors receive a fixed percentage of your monthly reported revenue, proportional to their investment, for a set number of months. Best for businesses with consistent, trackable monthly revenue.
Contributors purchase membership units in your cooperative at a fixed unit price. Designed for worker cooperatives, community cooperatives, and community-owned township businesses.
A structured loan with a fixed annual return rate and predetermined repayment schedule. Best for established businesses with stable cash flow who can commit to fixed payment obligations.
After you submit your campaign, the Old Union team conducts a 2–4 business day review to confirm the deal terms are appropriate, legally sound, and clearly presented. We may request clarifications or adjustments before approval. This process protects both businesses and contributors.
Raising capital is the beginning of the relationship, not the end of it. Old Union's platform is designed to make ongoing obligations manageable — the dashboard handles most of the administration. Here is what is expected of listed businesses.
Consistent reporting and on-time distributions build a track record on the platform. Contributors can see your history — this makes your next raise significantly easier. High-performing businesses earn a "Track Record" trust badge and may qualify for expedited campaign review.
Non-compliant businesses are flagged on the platform. Repeated failures to report or distribute can result in suspension of the company profile and, where warranted, escalation to Old Union's legal partners. Contributor agreements are enforceable under South African law.
Ready to raise from your community?
It is free to apply. It takes 20 minutes to create your profile. The verification process is thorough — and that thoroughness is what gives your listing credibility with contributors. Start today.
Old Union operates under the Companies Act private placement exemption. Maximum 50 contributors per campaign. All campaigns reviewed and approved by Old Union before going live. A platform success fee applies on successful raises only. This platform does not constitute financial advice.