How a Western Cape anti-corrosion coating specialist found the right funding partner

In the world of vehicle protection, the chassis is everything. As Anthony Zeeman of Anthony Anti-Corrosion Coating puts it, “The chassis is the heart of the car.” But building a business around protecting that heart requires more than technical expertise. It requires the right financial partner.

From local expertise to international recognition

Anthony Anti-Corrosion Coating has grown from a South African startup into a business serving clients across Germany, Canada, Portugal, the United States, and beyond. Their speciality? Creating innovative, durable treatments that protect vehicles from the harsh realities of South African conditions.

But success didn’t happen overnight, and it certainly didn’t happen without the right funding support.

The cash flow challenge that every SME knows

Like thousands of other growing businesses, Zeeman and his partner Marie-Louise Dreyer faced a problem that kept them awake at night: cash flow constraints.
“Cash flow is important,” Zeeman explains. “Without cash flow, we cannot develop our paints and pay our staff so that they can develop with us.”

They had the vision, the expertise, and the market demand. What they needed was a financial partner who could see beyond traditional banking boxes and understand their unique business model.

Finding a business partner, not just a funder

That’s when they discovered South Africa’s leading SME financial services fintech, Lula. But this wasn’t just another funding application; it became the foundation of something much more valuable.
“They saw our vision, they saw what we’re about,” says Dreyer. “And they have been so important to us in our growth.”

The difference wasn’t just the funding; it was the relationship. Dreyer describes her experience with Lula account manager Mujaahid: “I can phone him up and go, I’ve got this plan, and instead of having to tick boxes, we can enter into a conversation and throw ideas around and plan together.”

“It’s people dealing with people. It’s not a computer dealing with statistics.”

Innovation made possible

With Lula’s support, Anthony Anti-Corrosion Coating achieved a remarkable milestone: they developed their own South African-made paint, specifically designed to handle the challenges of 4x4 vehicles.

This wasn’t just product development; it was innovation that positioned them as industry leaders rather than followers.

The funding enabled them to:
● Expand their workforce;
● Invest in new equipment and infrastructure, including specialised booths;
● Develop their unique paint technology;
● Build capacity for international clients; and
● Create a partnership built to last.

Watch how Lula partnered with Anthony Anti-Corrosion Coatings below:

Perhaps the most telling sign of Lula’s impact comes from Zeeman himself: “Lula has shown me that they are invested in us. So, I’m invested in Lula to grow together even when I’m not around any longer.”

This isn’t the language of a typical funder-borrower relationship. It’s the language of genuine partnership.

What this means for YOUR business

Anthony Anti-Corrosion Coating represents more than just a success story; it demonstrates what happens when innovative businesses get the financial support they deserve.
Their journey from cash flow constraints to international expansion shows that the right funding partner doesn’t just provide money – they provide the foundation for transformational growth.

The heart of your business deserves protection too

Just as Zeeman and his team protects vehicle chassis from corrosion, the right funding partner can help protect your business from the cash flow challenges that can eat away at growth opportunities.

For Zeeman and Dreyer, finding Lula meant finding a partner who saw their vision and invested in their success. The question is: What could YOUR business achieve with that kind of support?

This article was sponsored by Lula and produced by Media24 Advertising and Content Marketing for News24.