Ten entrepreneurs representing all nine provinces will compete for R1 million in Standard Bank’s 2026 Kasi SME National Pitch Challenge in Gqeberha next week.
The national final forms part of the Standard Bank Kasi SME Summit, taking place in the Eastern Cape on Thursday, 27 August 2026, bringing together entrepreneurs and businesses from across the country.
The Top 10 finalists are Buhlebenkosi Agri Productions from the Free State; Ezempilo Primecare Clinic and Marabou Essentials from North West; GQ Creamery from the Eastern Cape; Maduwa Paint World from Gauteng; Muzi Capital Media from the Western Cape; Mycopro from KwaZulu-Natal; PSD Scent Perfumes from Mpumalanga; Trash Converters from Limpopo; and Uuka Bricks from the Northern Cape.
Nine businesses qualified as provincial winners, while one entrepreneur secured a place through the competition’s Viewers’ Choice process, giving the public an opportunity to support a business for a second chance at reaching the national final.
The finalists operate across agriculture and agri-processing, healthcare, food production, manufacturing, beauty and personal care, media and communications, circular economy solutions and sustainable construction materials.
They will pitch their businesses to a panel of judges at the national finale, competing for the R1 million grand prize and an opportunity to strengthen the visibility and growth potential of their enterprises.
Naledzani Mosomane, Head of Enterprise and Supplier Development at Business and Commercial Banking, Standard Bank South Africa, said the competition demonstrates the entrepreneurial potential within communities across the country.
“The Standard Bank Kasi SME National Pitch Challenge, which forms an integral part of our Kasi SME Summit, 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,” said Mosomane.
“The enthusiasm we have seen from not only SMEs but also the communities that support them, right across the country, highlights the growing appetite for entrepreneurship and the important role small businesses play in creating sustainable local economic opportunities.”
Mosomane said Standard Bank is focused on creating platforms that connect entrepreneurs with the support, visibility and opportunities needed to scale their businesses.
Now in its fourth year, the Standard Bank Kasi SME Summit brings together SMEs, industry leaders, policymakers, investors and development partners around business growth, market access, networking and enterprise development.
This year’s theme, “Commercialising Kasi: Unlocking Competitive Township Businesses,” focuses on strengthening township enterprises and helping them compete within the broader economy.
The summit and pitch challenge form part of Standard Bank’s Enterprise and Supplier Development programme, which supports qualifying majority black-owned SMEs through funding, mentorship, skills development, business development support and access to markets.
Through the initiative, Standard Bank aims to create pathways for entrepreneurs to build sustainable businesses, create employment and contribute to more inclusive economic growth.
