Squirrel Away introduces a fresh and innovative approach to gifting that combines thoughtful presents with long-term financial sustainability. By using the Squirrel Away app, families and friends can now make meaningful contributions directly towards a child’s financial future. The app is designed to simplify the gifting process, turning traditional presents into wealth-building opportunities with no minimum deposit requirements.
The app offers access to a curated selection of Exchange Traded Funds (ETFs) and Money Market unit trusts, making it easy for users to invest in a child’s financial future. Squirrel Away is designed to promote long-term financial security through simple, accessible investment options that grow alongside the child.
“With Squirrel Away, we wanted to make gifting as impactful as possible,” says Sibongile “Sibo” Maputla, Founder and CEO of Squirrel Away. “We’ve created a platform where families can invest in their loved ones, and help build a more financially secure future, one gift at a time.”
The app includes several thoughtful features that help make investing easy and personal. It’s built as a user-friendly platform that allows small investors to access a carefully selected range of ETFs and Money Market unit trusts, offering opportunities for everyone to contribute meaningfully to a child’s financial future. You can start investing from as little as R10, making it accessible for families and communities across the board. It also supports collective gifting—allowing parents, family members and friends to pool contributions together to help children build wealth as a unit. To keep the emotion and personal touch, Squirrel Away enables users to attach custom messages, images and videos to their financial gifts, turning contributions into heartfelt gestures.
The app is designed for parents, family members, and friends who want to secure generational wealth for children through sustainable financial gifting. Whether it’s a parent building a future for their child or an uncle giving a meaningful gift to a niece or nephew, Squirrel Away offers a way to make every gift count.
“As an aunt and having come from humble beginnings, I’ve come to understand just how important it is to build a secure financial future for the next generation,” adds Vuyelwa “Vee” Mpakanyiswa, Co-Founder and Marketing Lead of Squirrel Away. “With this app, we’re making it simple for anyone, parents, family members, or friends, to join in the journey of legacy building. Gifting doesn’t have to be temporary, it can be impactful and enduring.”
Sibongile Maputla is no stranger to innovation. With over 24 years of experience in finance across South Africa, the UK, and the USA, she has played leading roles in growing funds and shaping strategic portfolios. A BCom graduate with an MBA and various qualifications in financial regulation, she was one of the forces behind Benguela Global Fund Managers’ success in growing assets to R7 billion in just five years. Now, she’s turned her sights to the future of financial literacy and accessibility.
With Squirrel Away, Sibo is disrupting the traditional concept of gifting by transforming it into a sustainable investment tool. Her deep industry knowledge and commitment to accessibility are creating a new way for families to build generational wealth, without the usual barriers to entry. Squirrel Away merges financial empowerment with purposeful giving, making it a platform for long-term impact.
Co-Founder Vuyelwa Mpakanyiswa brings over a decade of global marketing and PR experience to the table. Known for building iconic brand campaigns, she has worked with high-profile figures like Thuso Mbedu and Zikhona Sodlaka, and led initiatives for international brands such as L’Oréal, Disney, Nivea, Amazon, Capitec, and Huawei. Vee’s marketing vision for Squirrel Away is deeply rooted in creating authentic, emotionally resonant narratives that connect with audiences.
Her expertise in positioning brands for visibility and impact is driving Squirrel Away’s mission to change gifting. In Vee’s hands, the platform connects the emotional value of giving with the practical need for financial security.
To use the app, users simply download it from the App Store or Google Play, sign up, and create a profile. Once a child’s profile is added, loved ones can be invited to contribute through a personalised gift link. These contributions are then allocated to ETFs or money market unit trusts, and over time, the investments grow, giving children a financial head start in life.
Squirrel Away is the first investment gifting app of its kind in South Africa and aims to promote responsible financial habits through community-based investing and long-term growth. By transforming gifts into meaningful contributions, the platform empowers everyday people to start building generational wealth today.
Squirrel Away is a registered Financial Services Provider (FSP no. 54219).
