Seen Here: Driving enterprise growth through opportunity: Naledzani Mosomane, Head of Enterprise and Supplier Development, Business and Commercial Banking at Standard Bank South Africa, is championing initiatives that connect emerging entrepreneurs with the funding, mentorship, market access and visibility they need to scale. As the Kasi SME National Pitch Challenge heads towards its national finale, Mosomane says supporting small businesses is key to unlocking inclusive economic growth across South Africa. Photo Credit: Supplied
GQEBERHA, Eastern Cape — Ten entrepreneurs from across South Africa are preparing to take centre stage in the final battle for a R1 million grand prize after being named finalists in the 2026 Standard Bank Kasi SME National Pitch Challenge.
The national finalists will compete at the Kasi SME Summit in Gqeberha on Thursday, 27 August 2026, bringing together businesses from all nine provinces and a diverse range of sectors.
Now in its fourth year, the competition forms part of Standard Bank’s broader drive to help township-based and emerging businesses move from survival to sustainable growth.
Meet the Top 10
The finalists, representing all nine provinces, are:
| Finalist | Province |
| Buhlebenkosi Agri Productions (Pty) Ltd | Free State |
| Ezempilo Primecare Clinic (Pty) Ltd | North West |
| GQ Creamery (Pty) Ltd | Eastern Cape |
| Maduwa Paint World (Pty) Ltd | Gauteng |
| Marabou Essentials (Pty) Ltd | North West |
| Muzi Capital Media (Pty) Ltd | Western Cape |
| Mycopro | KwaZulu-Natal |
| PSD Scent Perfumes (Pty) Ltd | Mpumalanga |
| Trash Converters (Pty) Ltd | Limpopo |
| Uuka Bricks (Pty) Ltd | Northern Cape |
The group represents a broad cross-section of South Africa’s entrepreneurial economy, with businesses operating in agriculture and agri-processing, healthcare, food production, manufacturing, beauty and personal care, media and communications, circular economy solutions and sustainable construction materials.
The finalists comprise the nine provincial winners, alongside an additional entrepreneur who secured a place through the competition’s Viewers’ Choice process.
That route gave one business a second opportunity to progress to the national stage through public support.
From township enterprise to national stage
For the entrepreneurs, reaching the national final represents more than an opportunity to win funding.
It provides a platform to place their businesses before judges, fellow entrepreneurs, investors, industry stakeholders and potential partners.
The finalists emerged from a competitive provincial selection process and will now have to demonstrate not only the strength of their business ideas, but their ability to build commercially sustainable enterprises.
With R1 million at stake, the national pitch is expected to be a defining moment for the businesses competing.
For many SMEs, access to growth capital remains one of the biggest barriers to expansion. A significant injection of funding can potentially enable an entrepreneur to invest in equipment, technology, stock, people, market expansion or other areas critical to scaling.
Commercialising the kasi economy
This year’s Kasi SME Summit is centred on the theme “Commercialising Kasi: Unlocking Competitive Township Businesses”, reflecting Standard Bank’s focus on helping township enterprises become more competitive and commercially sustainable.
The summit brings together SMEs, industry leaders, policymakers, investors and development partners, creating an environment where entrepreneurs can access knowledge, networks and potential opportunities beyond the pitch competition itself.
The approach recognises that township businesses are an important component of South Africa’s economic landscape and can play a significant role in creating jobs and generating economic activity within local communities.
Standard Bank Business and Commercial Banking’s Head of Enterprise and Supplier Development, Naledzani Mosomane, says the competition demonstrates the entrepreneurial potential within communities across the country.
“The Standard Bank Kasi SME National Pitch Challenge … continues to demonstrate the immense talent that exists within our communities and the impact that targeted support can have in helping businesses unlock their full growth potential.”
Mosomane says the strong response from both entrepreneurs and the communities supporting them points to a growing appetite for entrepreneurship.
The bank, he adds, remains focused on creating platforms that connect entrepreneurs with the support, visibility and opportunities required to scale.
Beyond the R1 million prize
While the grand prize will undoubtedly be one of the biggest attractions at the national final, the Kasi SME National Pitch Challenge forms part of a broader enterprise development ecosystem.
The initiative is linked to Standard Bank’s Enterprise and Supplier Development programme, which supports qualifying majority black-owned SMEs through interventions including funding, business development support, mentorship, skills development and market access.
That combination is important because capital alone does not necessarily guarantee sustainable growth.
Entrepreneurs also require access to markets, business knowledge, networks and the capabilities needed to manage an expanding enterprise.
The Kasi SME Summit seeks to bring these elements together by connecting business owners with stakeholders who can contribute to their next stage of growth.
A showcase of South Africa’s entrepreneurial diversity
The national finalists also illustrate the changing face of entrepreneurship in South Africa.
From agricultural production and healthcare to manufacturing, media, personal care and recycling, the businesses competing demonstrate how entrepreneurs are identifying opportunities across very different parts of the economy.
Their presence on a national platform also highlights the potential of township and community-based enterprises to develop solutions that address local needs while pursuing wider commercial markets.
The challenge is now for each finalist to translate that potential into a compelling national pitch.
On 27 August, the spotlight will turn to Gqeberha as the country’s top 10 finalists compete for the R1 million prize and the opportunity to take their businesses to the next level.
For the entrepreneurs, the national final could be more than a competition.
It could be the launchpad that transforms a promising township enterprise into a business with the scale, visibility and market access to compete far beyond its community.
The Kasi SME National Pitch Challenge will form part of the Standard Bank Kasi SME Summit in Gqeberha on Thursday, 27 August 2026.
