Cloudy Deliveries Takes Top Prize at 2025 Standard Bank Kasi SME National Pitch Challenge

South Africa’s township entrepreneurs are making waves and this year’s Standard Bank Kasi SME Summit was proof. Attracting over 850 applications from small businesses across all nine provinces, the 2025 edition of the Kasi SME National Pitch Challenge showcased the country’s brightest entrepreneurial talent, with Cloudy Deliveries emerging as the national winner. The awards ceremony took place on 27 August 2025 in KwaZulu-Natal, marking the Challenge’s first fully national rollout.

Top Winners of 2025

• 1st Place: Cloudy Deliveries (Western Cape) – R200,000 A township-based delivery service connecting restaurants, supermarkets, and local businesses with customers via bicycles. Cloudy Deliveries also supports local enterprises by distributing promotional materials, turning logistics into a platform for community growth.
• 2nd Place: Ukuhamba (Gauteng) – R100,000 A black youth- and women-owned healthcare tech company producing high-quality, affordable prosthetics, braces, and orthotics for amputees and persons with disabilities.
• 3rd Place: Keiskamma Hygiene Services and Projects (Eastern Cape) – R80,000 Specialising in cleaning and environmental services, this business offers pest control, gardening, deep cleaning, and mobile car wash solutions to residential and commercial clients.
• 4th Place: Ariel Robotics (KwaZulu-Natal) – R70,000 Innovators in drone technology, Ariel Robotics develops autonomous drones for inventory management and logistics, improving supply chain efficiency.
• 5th Place: Sky Drop (KwaZulu-Natal) – R50,000 An eco-conscious water company using atmospheric water generators to provide clean, potable water to households, communities, and businesses.

All finalists participated in a national pitch masterclass programme, covering storytelling, financial management, go-to-market strategy, and investor engagement. This training ensured that entrepreneurs weren’t just competing for prize money — they were building the skills to scale their businesses sustainably.

“The courage, creativity, and resilience demonstrated by this year’s entrepreneurs embody the future of inclusive growth in South Africa,” said Naledzani Mosomane, Head of Enterprise and Supplier Development at Standard Bank South Africa. “Through initiatives like this, we are helping township businesses future-proof themselves and build resilience to thrive in competitive markets.”

KwaZulu-Natal, contributing roughly 16% of South Africa’s GDP, provided a strategic backdrop for the national finals. Hosting the event in the province underscores Standard Bank’s commitment to unlocking township economic potential while giving local entrepreneurs visibility and access to high-value networks and opportunities.

Following provincial rounds, the top two businesses from each province advanced to the national finals, bringing 18 standout enterprises together to compete for national honours. All finalists received SimplyBLU machines, Standard Bank’s all-in-one payment solution, and complimentary tickets to the South African Future Trust (SAFT) Summit in November, providing additional avenues to pitch to potential investors.

The Challenge is delivered in partnership with SAFT, aligning with Standard Bank’s Enterprise & Supplier Development (ESD) strategy to support black-owned SMEs with both financial and non-financial resources. Targeted at businesses with 51% black ownership and annual turnover under R50 million, the programme ensures that high-potential township enterprises receive the tools, mentorship, and access needed to scale.

“Township economies are a powerful engine for South Africa’s future,” Mosomane concluded. “By taking the Challenge national, we’re creating access to growth, unlocking jobs, and transforming communities — equipping businesses to succeed through digitally enabled, human-led support.”