Today is your last chance to enter the Kasi SME pitch challenge with R60k prize

Today is the closing date for provincial entries to win a share of R60 000 from the Standard Bank Kasi SME Pitch Challenge.

The bank said this year is the first time the competition is going national, giving township entrepreneurs in all nine provinces a chance to pitch for the provincial prize money.

“Top township entrepreneurs will advance to the national finals later this year, competing for a bigger monetary prize, exposure and growth opportunities for their businesses,” read the statement.

Small and medium enterprises (SMEs) play a significant role in providing employment to South Africans, and to the country’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP).

About the SME Pitch Challenge

The Kasi SME Pitch Challenge previously focused only on Gauteng-based entrepreneurs, but this is changing this year.

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 bank added that 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.”

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Kasi SME Summit

Naledzani Mosomane, Head of Enterprise Development at Business and Commercial Banking, Standard Bank South Africa said this is the third year of the Kasi SME summit.

Through this, entrepreneurs gain practical tools, expert insights and access to growth opportunities.

“For years, township entrepreneurs have been an unstoppable force for economic growth and social change.”

Eligible township entrepreneurs must:

• Be black South African citizens.
• Be formally registered with the Companies and Intellectual Property Commission 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.

Interested entrepreneurs can click here to apply. Closing date for the provincial leg is 6 May.

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