Standard Bank Reveals 10 SMEs Set to Compete for R1 Million Pitch Prize
Standard Bank Reveals 10 SMEs Set to Compete for R1 Million Pitch Prize. Standard Bank has announced the 10 finalists who will compete for a R1 million prize at the 2026 Kasi SME National Pitch Challenge.
The finalists, representing all nine provinces, will present their businesses at the Kasi SME Summit in Gqeberha, Eastern Cape, on 27 August 2026.
The selected businesses operate across a range of industries, including agriculture, healthcare, food production, manufacturing, beauty and personal care, media, recycling and sustainable construction.
The finalists are Buhlebenkosi Agri Productions from the Free State, Ezempilo Primecare Clinic from North West, GQ Creamery from the Eastern Cape, Maduwa Paint World from Gauteng and Marabou Essentials, also from North West.
The national finalists also include 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.
The 10 finalists include the nine provincial winners, while an additional business secured its place through the competition’s Viewers’ Choice process.
The businesses progressed through a provincial competition before reaching the national stage, where they will pitch their ventures to a judging panel.
The national pitch challenge forms part of Standard Bank’s fourth annual Kasi SME Summit, which brings together entrepreneurs, investors, policymakers and other stakeholders focused on enterprise development.
This year’s summit is being held under the theme “Commercialising Kasi: Unlocking Competitive Township Businesses”.
Naledzani Mosomane, head of Enterprise and Supplier Development at Standard Bank South Africa’s Business and Commercial Banking division, said the response to the competition demonstrated growing interest in entrepreneurship among SMEs and their communities.
The pitch challenge forms part of Standard Bank’s Enterprise and Supplier Development programme. The programme provides qualifying majority Black-owned SMEs with access to support that includes funding, mentorship, skills development, business assistance and market access opportunities.
The national finalists will now compete for the R1 million prize at the Kasi SME Summit, with the event providing a platform for the businesses to present their ventures at the national level.
