How it works
A digital platform with one common goal: own where you shop
Stratum is simple by design. Members pool into real businesses, then send their everyday spending to those same businesses. The profit that used to leave the community comes back to the people who own it.
The member flow
Own first. Spend where you own. Build wealth.
Once you own a business, it makes sense to spend there. Your everyday purchases become revenue for the ventures you co-own, and the profits rotate back to you.
Register to participate
Signing up is simply clicking Register. You join the member network, get verified and receive your membership ID.
You own first
Your contribution buys ownership units across the member-owned ventures — grocery, meat, produce, property, transport and more.
Your salary lands
Get paid into your Stratum transactional account, held on partner bank rails and fully bank secured.
Allocate where you own
In the app, split your salary across the ventures you own — groceries, meat, fresh produce, insurance, home loan or rent.
Spend in-app or in-store
Shop in Stratum Marketplace or tap your membership ID at any member-owned store, rooftop bar, gym or dealership.
Profits come back
90% of the profit those businesses make is shared with members — paid out or reinvested to buy you more shares.
A real example
Meet Nosipho, 26. Young paralegal. Future owner.
Without ownership, Nosipho's R13,000 monthly spend helps build someone else's business. With Stratum, those same expenses connect to businesses inside her ownership ecosystem — instead of simply being a customer, she becomes a participant in the businesses she supports.
The Wealth Rotation System
- 1
She spends where she owns
Nosipho allocates her salary and buys groceries, airtime and essentials from the member-owned ventures — in the app or in-store with her membership ID.
- 2
The businesses generate profits
Her spending becomes revenue for the ventures she co-owns. After costs, taxes and professional fees, the net profit is pooled for members.
- 3
The profits rotate back to her
90% of that net profit rotates back to members like Nosipho as dividends, JSE shares and property equity — the money she spent comes back as wealth.
- 4
She accesses it through her Stratum Card
Her rotating profits are paid into her member account, secured on partner bank rails — ready to spend, save or reinvest with her Stratum Card.
| Rent | R5,500 |
| Groceries | R2,500 |
| Airtime & data | R1,000 |
| Fuel & transport | R3,000 |
| Stokvel contribution | R1,000 |
| Total monthly spend | R13,000 |
A lifetime of spending
R13,000 × 12 × 37 years = R5,772,000
Over her working life, nearly R5.8 million of Nosipho's spending will flow through businesses. The question is: who benefits — a stranger, or the ownership ecosystem she belongs to?
From profits to property
A permanent, digital engine that turns spending into property.
The example below is an illustration, not a guarantee. But most South African banks serve more than 1 million clients, so the pool of people who could participate is far larger — and because the system is fully digital, it runs continuously, month after month, without you lifting a finger.
Illustration
The Stratum Mini Complex
A mixed-use development that costs R25 million to build and serves 5,000 people in the surrounding community. It combines commercial shops on the ground floor with 12 high-end apartments above — all owned by SAMBO members through the partner bank structure.
Commercial rent
20% of R25M paid by trading businesses on the ground floor
R5M/year
Apartment rent
12 high-end apartments × R3,000/month, fitted with appliances
R432K/year
Local shopping profit
5,000 locals × R3,000/month × 3% net profit margin
R5.4M/year
Combined annual illustration income
~R10.8 million
After costs, taxes and professional fees, 90% of the net profit is shared with members based on actual performance.
The collective engine
20% member equity. 80% bank finance. More complexes. More wealth.
When SAMBO members bank with the partner bank, their monthly net profit share becomes the 20% equity deposit the bank needs. The bank provides the 80% debt finance — exactly how property is normally funded — and the Chartered Accountants structure the deal.
100,000 members × R1,000/month
= R100 million a month
That is enough member equity to fund up to 20 R25M Stratum Mini Complexes every month — alongside bank finance.
Each complex is run by independent professional teams. That means Nosipho and other members keep owning more properties, while the experts handle the day-to-day work.
Why it never stops
She does not have to save. She just shops where she owns.
Every month Nosipho and more than 100,000 SAMBO members buy the same groceries, meat, vegetables, airtime, data, fuel and other essentials they were already going to buy. Because they shop inside the Stratum ecosystem, the net profit is captured by member-owned businesses, audited by the Chartered Accountants, taxed and then reinvested into more Mini Complexes. The cycle repeats continuously — so members keep owning more property simply by living their lives.
Chartered Accountants
Structure the finance, handle tax returns, pay SARS and consolidate audited profits into your account.
Attorneys
Check compliance with by-laws, regulations and governance so every complex is legally sound.
Property Practitioners
Manage lease agreements, screen tenants and make sure rent is paid on time — while you live your life.
Nosipho's day
She watches the match. The platform does the work.
Nosipho is watching her soccer match while the Chartered Accountants finalise the books, the attorneys confirm compliance, and the property practitioners collect the rent from the 5,000 people served by her Mini Complex. A notification lands on her Stratum app: her share of the profits has been audited, SARS has been paid, and the money is in her account. She swipes her card and enjoys the profit — because the professionals have already done the work.
Sign up, get your membership ID and start on the bank-secure platform. Figures shown are illustrative assumptions only and are not a forecast or guarantee of returns. Profit share is paid based on actual business performance.
Managed by professionals
You own. Professionals manage. Everyone works toward growth.
You don't need to know how to run a grocery store, property company, telecom business or logistics operation. Experienced teams run the businesses — and the Chartered Accountants behind Stratum guide, research, educate and empower you along the way.
Guided by Chartered Accountants
Stratum was developed by Chartered Accountants and professionals who believe ownership should be accessible to ordinary people. They guide the structure, governance and reporting of every venture.
Research-driven growth
Each business in the ecosystem is researched, vetted and overseen through professional governance structures — so members participate with confidence.
Education & empowerment
Members receive reporting on the businesses they participate in, plus ongoing financial education — so you can track growth, performance and progress, and understand how your money works.
Why we exist
For too long, ordinary people have been consumers without being owners.
We believe the people who spend money in the economy should also have the opportunity to participate in the businesses that serve them. That's why we built Stratum.
Shop where you own. Own where you shop.Build wealth through everyday living.
Ready to own where you shop?
Registering is the first step. Click Register to participate, get your membership ID and start owning where you shop.
Register to participate