Standard Bank Kasi SME Summit is back this year, and it is bigger and better than before. The 2025 edition has been expanded beyond its previous focus on Gauteng-based entrepreneurs to include the entire nation, giving township businesses in all nine provinces the platform to pitch, showcase their offerings, and unlock new growth opportunities.
The Kasi SME Pitch Challenge is a long-standing highlight of this event, bringing together eighteen kasipreneurs from across Mzansi to battle it out for R500 000 in the final showdown. Each province is represented by its top two township entrepreneurs, and among these finalists, a wide array of industries are also covered: from agriculture and robotics to fashion and mining.
The township entrepreneurship showcase will take place in Kwa-Zulu Natal on 27 August 2025. This year’s theme is “Future-Proofing Kasi Businesses: From Survival to Sustainable Success”. It will explore how township entrepreneurs can move from short-term survival to long-term sustainability by building financial resilience, embracing environmental responsibility, and deepening their social impact.
The finalists are as follows:
The Kasi SME Pitch Challenge
The Kasi SME National Pitch Challenge forms part of Standard Bank’s broader Enterprise and Supplier Development (ESD) strategy, which aims to support all majority black-owned SMEs with funding, skills development, and market access.
“Now in its third year, the Standard Bank Kasi SME Summit consistently empowers entrepreneurs,” says Standard Bank South Africa Business and Commercial Banking head of enterprise development Naledzani Mosomane. “For years, township entrepreneurs have been an unstoppable force for economic growth and social change. With the Summit and Challenge, we are investing in the great potential of the businesses operating in South Africa’s township economies by equipping them not just with funding, but most importantly, knowledge and national exposure to help them turn possibilities into solid business opportunities.”
The challenge worked as follows:
Fifteen entrepreneurs were shortlisted in each province, after which the top three received R30 000, R20 000, and R10 000. Now, the top two from each province have progressed to the national finals. These finalists also attended a national masterclass that sharpened their business storytelling and presentation skills.
“We are incredibly proud of all the participants who stepped up to share their vision. Their courage and passion are what drive the spirit of entrepreneurship in our communities. We aim to keep empowering local businesses and help them thrive in today’s tough economic climate with improved market access,” says Naledzani Mosomane, Head of Enterprise and Supplier Development at Business and Commercial Banking, Standard Bank South Africa. “Standard Bank’s support for local businesses goes beyond financial solutions. Through initiatives like the Kasi SME National Pitch Challenge, and in partnership with like-minded sponsors such as the South African Future Trust, we reaffirm our belief in entrepreneurs as the backbone of our economy, contributing to job creation and national growth.”
Partnering with a Purpose-driven Organisation
Standard Bank has partnered with the South African Future Trust (SAFT) as a Gold Sponsor for this year’s summit. SAFT’s support reflects a deep commitment to the power of entrepreneurship to drive inclusive growth, unlock innovation, and help communities thrive from the ground up.
Nico Jacobs, CEO of SAFT, adds: “The South African Future Trust, generously enabled by Oppenheimer Generations, prides itself on championing SMEs across South Africa. We believe profoundly that SMEs are the lifeblood of the South African economy and are privileged to play a role in supporting the Kasi SME Summit.”
Events such as the Standard Bank Kasi SME Summit drive growth within the township economy. What makes this so important is that roleplayers not only provide businesses with funding in the form of a cash prize, but also bring value to their audience through skills development and market access. By expanding the pitch challenge to the rest of South Africa, township entrepreneurs from anywhere in the country operating in any industry to showcase their business ideas and boost their business.
The success of previous years and the expansion of this year’s event prove how vital its impact is.
