Building Futures: The Inspiration Behind Squirrel Away

Building Futures: The Inspiration Behind Squirrel Away By Sibongile ‘Sibo’ Maputla, Founder and CEO

Every parent dreams of giving their children the best start in life—a foundation strong enough to support their dreams, no matter how big they may be. As someone deeply rooted in the financial industry, I’ve always been passionate about helping people unlock opportunities and build legacies. This passion is what inspired me to transition from managing assets to creating Squirrel Away, a platform that redefines what it means to invest in the future.

Why Squirrel Away?

The idea for Squirrel Away was born from a desire to make financial empowerment accessible to everyone, not just those with wealth or experience in the financial markets. Traditional investment platforms often intimidate people with jargon, high barriers to entry, or complex processes. I wanted to create a solution that simplifies financial planning and integrates it into a culturally relevant, everyday act—gifting.

Squirrel Away allows families and friends to turn every celebration into a meaningful step towards building generational wealth. Whether it’s a child’s birthday, a graduation, or simply a thoughtful gesture, every contribution to the app grows alongside the child, offering both immediate joy and long-term impact.

Addressing South Africa’s Financial Challenges

In my years in financial markets, I noticed several barriers to financial security in South Africa:

• Low Savings Culture: Many South Africans focus on short-term spending rather than long-term financial planning.

• Accessibility Issues: Financial tools often feel out of reach for individuals who lack prior exposure to investing.

• Intergenerational Wealth Gap: The wealth divide remains a pressing issue, particularly in communities historically excluded from economic opportunities.

• Cultural Relevance: Gifting is deeply ingrained in South African culture, but it often doesn’t create lasting value.

Squirrel Away bridges these gaps by turning gifting into an investment opportunity. It combines financial literacy, simplicity, and cultural relevance to help families save, invest, and grow wealth together.

The Journey to Innovation

Launching Squirrel Away has been a deeply personal and transformative journey. I’ve built businesses without capital, faced countless challenges, and learned to innovate under constraints. These experiences have shaped how I approach obstacles and focus on solutions:

• Resilience: The platform reflects my belief that financial empowerment should be attainable even for families starting with limited resources.

• Customer-Centricity: Every feature of Squirrel Away is designed to address real challenges families face when it comes to saving and investing.

• Empathy: Having witnessed the struggles of many South African families, I wanted to create a tool that not only supports individual growth but uplifts entire communities.

Creating Lasting Impact

Squirrel Away is more than just an app; it’s a movement to redefine how families think about money and milestones. Here’s how it makes a difference:

1. Fostering a Savings Culture: By integrating gifting with investments, the app turns celebrations into opportunities for long-term financial growth.

2. Breaking Financial Barriers: With no minimum deposit requirements and intuitive features, Squirrel Away makes investing accessible for everyone.

3. Supporting Communities: Investments contribute to local economic growth by funding SMMEs, empowering communities to thrive.

4. Building Generational Wealth: Every contribution to a child’s financial journey helps secure their education, homeownership, or entrepreneurial dreams.

Perseverance as a Core Value

At its heart, Squirrel Away is about resilience and breaking barriers. My personal journey has taught me the importance of turning challenges into opportunities, and this philosophy drives everything we do.

This isn’t just about building a business; it’s about building a future where families can thrive, celebrate, and invest with purpose. Every gift made through Squirrel Away tells a child, “Your dreams matter, and we’re investing in them.”

I invite you to join us on this journey. Together, let’s change how we think about gifting, saving, and investing. With Squirrel Away, you’re not just giving a gift—you’re planting the seeds for a brighter, more secure future.

Because when we invest in our children, we invest in a better tomorrow.

Join a brighter tomorrow, by gifting and investing with Squirrel Away