Bridgement, the fintech platform reshaping how small and medium businesses access funding, has been named App of the Year at the Xero South Africa Awards for the third time, marking back-to-back wins in 2025 and 2026 after first winning in 2023. This accolade recognises their seamless integration with the Xero platform, which allows Bridgement to draw on live financial data to make faster, more accurate funding decisions – replacing outdated financial statements with a real-time view of a business’s position and removing the friction that has traditionally slowed down access to business finance in South Africa.
“This award is a reflection of everything our team has built toward: giving business owners the tools to grow without being held back by outdated banking processes,” said Daniel Goldberg, co-founder of Bridgement. “Being awarded App of the Year from Xero, a global business platform, is a huge honour, and it validates the work we’ve put into making funding simpler, faster and more accessible for SMEs across the country.”
The recognition comes as cash-flow pressure remains a major challenge for local businesses. Xero’s 2026 State of South African Small Business report found that 62% of South African SMEs had experienced cash-flow issues over the previous year, highlighting the growing need for faster, data-driven access to funding.
The win cements Bridgement’s position as a leading innovator in South Africa’s fintech and SME lending space, and comes at a pivotal moment for small businesses navigating an increasingly digital-first economy. As more SMEs turn to integrated software ecosystems to manage their finances, Bridgement’s recognition signals a broader industry shift toward embedded finance solutions that meet business owners where they already work – pointing to what’s likely to become the new standard for accessible business funding in the region.
The award follows Bridgement’s recent announcement of R330 million in funding from RMB and Standard Bank, which will be used to expand its direct lending capacity and extend access to finance for more South African SMEs. Bridgement has already deployed more than R2 billion to thousands of businesses through its online business loans, revolving credit facilities and invoice finance products.