Standard Bank has announced the second national edition of the Standard Bank Kasi SME Pitch Challenge. Kasi entrepreneurs from all nine provinces are invited to enter and compete for the grand prize of R1 million at the national finals.
The Standard Bank Kasi SME Pitch Challenge has become a fan favourite among Kasi SMEs who eagerly share their innovative ideas and creative solutions. Building on the momentum from last year’s successful national event, this year promises to be equally impactful.
The first round of participants is judged provincially, inviting the top ten entrepreneurs who entered to pitch their business. From these local rounds, the judges select three to winners. First place receives R50 000, while the first and second runners-up will each receive R10 000.
Next, the nine provincial winners, along with one first runner-up (forming a Top 10), will advance to the Standard Bank Kasi SME National Pitch Challenge, where they will compete for the R1 million prize.
The final round culminates at the annual Kasi SME Summit.
Each regional pitch challenge is an opportunity for local SMEs to showcase their products and services to key stakeholders, including buyers and decision-makers. This exposure enhances brand visibility and creates direct pathways to commercialisation.
Entries close on 22 May 2026 at 17:00.
The Kasi SME Summit
The Kasi SME Summit, celebrating its 4th anniversary in 2026, continues to accelerate the commercialisation of SME enterprises and unlock meaningful market access pathways for these businesses. Effectively, the Summit provides the tools, networks and platforms businesses need to scale sustainably.
The Kasi SME Summit provides an integrated ecosystem of tools, networks, and platforms designed to enable majority black-owned businesses to scale sustainably and participate meaningfully in the formal economy.
Among these business tools are access to funding solutions, tailored financial products, and structured enterprise and supplier development support. Finalists can look forward to mentorship, business advisory, and technical support aimed at strengthening governance, compliance, and operational efficiency.
The 2026 Summit sharpens its focus on connecting SME entrepreneurs to real economic opportunities. This includes linking them with corporate supply chains, retail partners, financiers, digital marketplaces, and ecosystem enablers committed to inclusive growth. Essentially, businesses will form part of the Standard Bank pipeline of SMEs that will be linked to corporate supply chains, retail partners, and distribution channels, as well as digital marketplaces that expand their reach and customer base.
As part of the journey to the national finals, the Top 10 participants will also gain access to a Standard Bank Enterprise and Supplier Development pitching masterclass, designed to refine their business models, storytelling, and presentation skills ahead of the finals later this year.
“As Standard Bank, we are proud to see how the Kasi SME Summit has grown into a launchpad for entrepreneurial success. The National Pitch Challenge gives township SMEs the stage to showcase their innovation and resilience. This initiative reflects Standard Bank’s ongoing commitment to unlocking market access and creating pathways for sustainable business growth,” says Naledzani Mosomane, Head of Enterprise and Supplier Development at Business and Commercial Banking, Standard Bank South Africa.
“Township businesses are important to local communities as well as to the broader South African economy. By combining funding with knowledge, mentorship and national visibility, the bank aims to help these entrepreneurs transform their ideas into enterprises that can thrive well beyond their immediate markets.”
She notes that as a partner in growth, through deep sector expertise, digital innovation, human-led engagements and strong market penetration/access, Standard Bank Business and Commercial Banking is committed to helping businesses unlock their full growth potential. This is why it is so important to unlock the commercial potential of township businesses.
Who Should Enter?
Entrepreneurs who are situated within any South African township should consider entering this competition. Entry requirements are as follows:
- 51% or more black-owned;
- A valid BBBEE Certificate or sworn affidavit;
- Registered business with CIPC;
- Participants must be 18 years or older and have a valid tax certificate for the business;
- The business must have been operational for a minimum of 2 years before the date of the competition;
- The business must have a total annual revenue of less than R50 million.
Interested SME entrepreneurs must visit the Standard Bank Kasi SME Pitch Challenge landing page to apply for the Standard Bank 2026 Kasi SME Pitch Challenge and secure their chance at a million-rand grand prize.
Entries close on 22 May 2026 at 17:00.
