The Open Letter

Investors love SA startups… but some things still make them nervous. Renier asks Andea from Dommisse Attorneys what typically gives investors hesitation — and her answer is a must-hear if you’re planning to raise. Watch the breakdown in the clip 👇 #RapidFireWithRenier

This is what it looks like when people believe in the same mission. Great work doesn’t happen in isolation — it happens in conversation. Tag someone in your circle who makes you think bigger. #CommunityBuilders #StartupEcosystem #InnovationCulture #TheOpenLetter

Real Feedback From Real Readers Join the thousands who start their day with smart, sharp SA business, tech & innovation insights. Stay informed. Stay inspired. Stay ahead. Subscribe → theopenletter.io/subscribe?u… #TheOpenLetter #MorningRoutine #SAStartups #TechInSA

Meet Merelda Wu, Co-Founder & CEO of Melio AI — the MLOps consultancy helping companies move from AI experiments to real, deployed, commercial value. Keep building, Merelda — your mission to make AI practical, deployable & business-ready is exactly what the ecosystem needs.

Turns out The Open Letter didn’t start in a boardroom… It started in a choir. Yes — before startups and newsletters, there were harmonies and rugby tryouts. If this whole media thing fails, at least we’ve got an acappella group ready to go 😅 #BehindTheInbox #TheOpenLetter

Still Relevant: 🏉 ⚽ 🏏 SA’s local sports clubs are in trouble — but also sitting on a massive opportunity. 👉 Read more: theopenletter.io/p/local-spo…

What’s one quick win a small business can implement to get financially healthier? Cirsten from Finvoke keeps it simple: 👉 Get the people who owe you… to actually pay. #RapidFireWithRenier #Finvoke #SmallBusinessFinance #CashFlowMatters #TheOpenLetter

Sometimes it’s the smallest conversations that spark the biggest ideas. Pay attention to the in-between moments — they’re often where the magic happens. Share a moment that changed your trajectory. #FounderJourney #LifeChangingMoments #CreativeCollisions #StartupCommunity

Why Readers Keep Coming Back. If you want one email that actually adds value to your day — this is it. Get the stories, insights & trends shaping SA’s startup ecosystem, delivered in minutes. Join 23,000+ readers → theopenletter.io/subscribe?u… #TheOpenLetter #InboxMustRead

Working from home at The Open Letter comes with strong opinions. A little fuel, a lot of passion — that’s Behind The Inbox at The Open Letter. #BehindTheInbox #TheOpenLetter #WorkFromHomeLife #StartupTeam #SAtech #NewsletterLife

Sometimes one insight changes everything: Momentum beats perfection. Show up → ship → learn → repeat. If you needed a sign to just start… this is it. What’s the one lesson you’re carrying into your next build? #StartupLife #SAStartups #FounderMindset #TheOpenLetter

Still Hits: 🍽️ What if your next favourite night out… is in someone’s home? 👉 Read more: buff.ly/I9clqQH

Biggest mistake parents make with money? Not talking about it. Elijah, co-founder of Fintr, explains why silence kills financial confidence — and how small, early conversations can unlock money superpowers. Watch the clip 👇 #RapidFireWithRenier #Fintr #FinMaster #KidsAndMoney

One shift we’re seeing: more founders solving local problems with local context — and winning. African solutions hit differently. What trend do you think will define 2026? #StartupTrends #AfricaTech #InnovationInsights #FutureOfWorkZA #TheOpenLetter

Meet Bubu, CEO of Jobox — the early-talent ecosystem connecting students, employers, and universities to improve graduate employability across South Africa. 🎓⚡ Keep building, Bubu — your mission to unlock real opportunity for South Africa’s youth is game-changing. 🔥

Small Notes That Make Our Day. The kind of business, tech & founder content that’s equal parts smart and fun — that’s the whole point. If you want reads that make you better and make your day, join us. Sign up → theopenletter.io/subscribe?u… #TheOpenLetter #SmartReads

Worth a Rerun: 💊 SA’s pharmacy queues are legendary — and not in a good way. This startup wants to cut waiting times from hours to seconds with automated prescription-dispensing kiosks. 👉 Read more: theopenletter.io/p/a-r137bn-…

If a small business is feeling financially overwhelmed, what’s the first step to get back on track? Cirsten from Finvoke keeps it simple: 👉 Set up proper accounting software. You can’t fix what you can’t see — and the right tools give you clarity fast. #RapidFireWithRenier

"Marketing is one big experiment — some ideas hit, many don’t, and that’s the game. But the community you build along the way is the real cheat code." Renier Kriel, Co-Founder & CEO of The Open Letter #MarketingForStartups #BuildInPublic #GrowthMarketing #TheOpenLetter

Lots of South African founders rush to set up overseas companies. But when does it actually make sense? Renier asks Andea du Toit from Dommisse Attorneys to break it down in our final Rapid-Fire question for Andea Her answer is in the video 👇 #RapidFireWithRenier