The AI revolution is here. Scaling a business in this time is more challenging than ever. Entrepreneurs need a new type of support system to enable their businesses to thrive within this new reality.

FNB and Art of Scale announced the launch of Founders at Work, a first of its kind ecosystem designed to help South Africa’s scale-up entrepreneurs navigate one of the most disruptive moments in modern business – scaling in the age of AI.

The initiative comes off the back of over a decade of collective experience in supporting high-growth businesses in their scale-up journey. Founders at Work kicks off with the Scale AI Summit on 16 October in Johannesburg. The event will also mark the launch of the Founders at Work masterclass, podcast series and community.

Scale-up entrepreneurs will be supported, over the course of a year, with a combination of masterclasses, coaching, ongoing digital content, smart AI tools and access to pioneering founders who have and are ushering in this new age within their businesses.

Heather Lowe, SME Development Head at FNB, says “We’ve been helping SMEs scale for 15 years. Over that time, and through collaboration with some of the world’s leading SME-development talents, we have learnt what works and what doesn’t at every stage of business growth. The inflection point between a successful startup and a sustainably scalable business is a make-or-break point for too many entrepreneurs. Navigating this transition requires expert advice and support, which can be prohibitively expensive. Through the Founders at Work platform, FNB, alongside Art of Scale, aims to make this expert support accessible to more South African SMEs with world-class potential.”

Jason Goldberg, Edge Growth co-founder and author of The Art of Scale, agrees: “When successful startups reach a headcount of around 20 people, leadership structures – which typically rely on the founder playing an outsized role – begin to show their weaknesses. Taking these businesses to the next level requires the institution of formal systems, more distributed management, and an evolution of cost structures. These are complex changes, and the stakes are high. Too many businesses either plateau or fail at this point, and the guidance of experienced experts is critical in helping businesses level up. Through Founders at Work, this guidance is now available to founders and companies that would not previously been able to access it.”

“At FNB we are deeply committed to helping SMEs grow,” Lowe concludes,“both through the support our core business offers, but additionally, going beyond banking to help them reach their potential. Businesses that harness the power of progressive technology are the ones that will continue to grow exponentially. With exponential SME growth comes job creation. This is one of the most impactful ways in which we can contribute to South Africa.”