The Standard Bank Kasi SME Pitch Challenge is back! This year, for the first time, the competition is going national, giving township entrepreneurs across all nine South African provinces the chance to pitch for a share of R60,000 in provincial prize money. Top township entrepreneurs will advance to the national finals later this year, competing for a bigger monetary prize, greater exposure and growth opportunities for their businesses. Applications for the provincial leg close on 6 May 2025.
The Kasi SME Pitch Challenge, a long-standing highlight of the Standard Bank Kasi SME Summit, previously focused only on Gauteng-based entrepreneurs. This year, the competition is expanding nationally, providing township businesses from every province the opportunity to showcase their businesses, sharpen their pitching skills, and unlock new growth opportunities.
In each province, 15 entrepreneurs will be shortlisted and invited to pitch their businesses to a panel of judges. From these, the top three winners will be selected, with R30,000 awarded to the first-place winner, R20,000 to the second-place winner, and R10,000 to the third-place winner.
The top two winners in each province will then gain access to a detailed pitching masterclass designed to sharpen their business models, storytelling abilities, and presentation skills. These finalists will prepare to compete against winners from the other provinces at the national finals later this year, where a share of R500,000 in prize money is up for grabs.
“Proudly celebrating our 3rd year in 2025, with the Standard Bank Kasi SME Summit we are consistently empowering entrepreneurs with practical tools, expert insights, and access to growth opportunities. The Summit is more than an event – it is an essential platform for economic development within South Africa’s townships, and its benefits extend far beyond the event itself. By expanding the pitch challenge nationally, Standard Bank deepens its impact on South Africa’s township economies, helping even more local businesses navigate typical business challenges, constraints to market access, and build sustainable enterprises”, says Naledzani Mosomane, Head of Enterprise Development at Business and Commercial Banking, Standard Bank South Africa.
“For years, township entrepreneurs have been an unstoppable force for economic growth and social change. Through this year’s efforts, we are investing in the great potential of the businesses operating in South Africa’s township economies, equipping them with not just funding, but most importantly, the knowledge and national exposure to help them turn the prevailing possibilities into solid business opportunities,”.
DID YOU KNOW?
Eligible township entrepreneurs must:
- Be black South African citizens
- Be formally registered with the Companies and Intellectual Property Commission (CIPC) or trading as Sole Proprietors
- Be operating businesses that are at least 51% Black-owned, with a valid B-BBEE accreditation
- Generate annual revenue between R0 and R5 million
- Be a business operating for at least 12 months, with a business profile and proof of ID
- NOT be a non-profit/governmental organisation (NPO or NGO), co-operative, joint venture, and/or Standard Bank employee.
As the trusted partner for business growth, Standard Bank Business and Commercial Banking is committed to helping enterprises start, manage, and grow through human-led relationship management, strong digital solutions, and a deep understanding of sector-specific needs.
Interested entrepreneurs must visit this link https://bit.ly/4m6fhxE to apply for the Standard Bank 2025 Kasi SME Pitch Challenge and secure their chance before Tuesday, 6 May 2025.
Programmes such as the Kasi SME Pitch Challenge and the subsequent Standard Bank Kasi SME Summit form part of the efforts of Standard Bank’s Enterprise and Supplier Development (ESD) programme, empowering township-based businesses to unlock new opportunities and expand their footprint nationally.
The Standard Bank ESD programme is designed to strengthen and grow black-owned businesses in South Africa by improving access to funding, skills development, and market opportunities. It targets businesses that are at least 51% Black-owned, have a proven operational track record, and demonstrate strong growth potential, typically with an annual turnover of under R50 million.
The ESD programme offers a range of tailored support initiatives, including affordable development funding, business advisory services, mentorship programmes, and supplier development partnerships that connect small businesses to larger corporate value chains. In addition to direct financial support, Standard Bank provides technical assistance, business incubation, entrepreneurial training, and networking opportunities that enable SMEs to build capacity, scale sustainably, and create lasting economic impact within their communities.
The programme supports qualifying enterprises across a range of sectors, with a strategic focus on helping businesses expand their operational footprint, integrate into corporate supply chains, and deliver sustainable job creation.
Through its ESD initiatives, Standard Bank is committed to fostering inclusive economic participation, driving entrepreneurial success, and enabling Black-owned businesses to move from survivalist operations to thriving, growth-oriented enterprises.
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