---
title: Equity
description: Funding info
---

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1. [Funding info](https://knowledge.fundsmart.co.za/?hsLang=en)
2. [Funding Glossary](https://knowledge.fundsmart.co.za/funding-glossary?hsLang=en)

# Equity

An equity investment refers to the buying of shares in a business. The investors provide finance to the business in return for being issued with shares in the company. Their aim is to be able to sell their shares for far more than they bought them. Generally equity investors will exit (sell their shares) within three to seven years of the initial purchase.

- [Understanding business funding](https://knowledge.fundsmart.co.za/understanding-business-funding?hsLang=en#main-content)

    - [Challenges to accessing finance](https://knowledge.fundsmart.co.za/understanding-business-funding?hsLang=en#challenges-to-accessing-finance)
    - [Different funding needs](https://knowledge.fundsmart.co.za/understanding-business-funding?hsLang=en#different-funding-needs)
    - [Different types of funders](https://knowledge.fundsmart.co.za/understanding-business-funding?hsLang=en#different-types-of-funders)
    - [Different types of funding products](https://knowledge.fundsmart.co.za/understanding-business-funding?hsLang=en#different-types-of-funding-products)
    - [Credit scores and reports](https://knowledge.fundsmart.co.za/understanding-business-funding?hsLang=en#credit-scores-and-reports)
    - [Learn more](https://knowledge.fundsmart.co.za/understanding-business-funding?hsLang=en#learn-more)
- [Funding options for startups](https://knowledge.fundsmart.co.za/funding-options-for-startups?hsLang=en#main-content)

    - [Angel investors](https://knowledge.fundsmart.co.za/funding-options-for-startups?hsLang=en#angel-investors)
    - [Credit cards](https://knowledge.fundsmart.co.za/funding-options-for-startups?hsLang=en#credit-cards)
    - [Crowdfunding](https://knowledge.fundsmart.co.za/funding-options-for-startups?hsLang=en#crowdfunding)
    - [Family and friends](https://knowledge.fundsmart.co.za/funding-options-for-startups?hsLang=en#family-and-friends)
    - [Government funding](https://knowledge.fundsmart.co.za/funding-options-for-startups?hsLang=en#government-funding)
    - [Home loan](https://knowledge.fundsmart.co.za/funding-options-for-startups?hsLang=en#home-loan)
    - [Incubators and enterprise development programmes](https://knowledge.fundsmart.co.za/funding-options-for-startups?hsLang=en#incubators-and-enterprise-development-programmes)
    - [Overdrafts](https://knowledge.fundsmart.co.za/funding-options-for-startups?hsLang=en#overdrafts)
    - [Social enterprise funding/impact investing](https://knowledge.fundsmart.co.za/funding-options-for-startups?hsLang=en#social-enterprise-funding-impact-investing)
    - [Venture capitalists](https://knowledge.fundsmart.co.za/funding-options-for-startups?hsLang=en#venture-capitalists)
- [Funding Glossary](https://knowledge.fundsmart.co.za/funding-glossary?hsLang=en)

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