South Africa’s innovation ecosystem came together on 9 December 2025, with hundreds attending in person at Cape Town’s Mount Nelson Hotel and via livestream, to celebrate the announcement of the winners of the 2025 South African Startup Awards.
Now in its third year, the Awards have grown into the country’s flagship initiative recognising early-stage technology ventures. The 2025 Awards season saw 221 entries submitted in just five days, 4,121 verified public votes, a strengthened panel of 28 expert judges, and a finalist showcase of 44 startups across 12 sector-specific categories.
Following a rigorous screening and adjudication process, the 2025 category winners were announced as follows:
- AI & Big Data: Nineteen58 – Building omnichannel AI agents to transform customer service and business growth.
- Climate & Sustainability: Still Good – Connecting consumers with local businesses to rescue unsold food at discounted prices.
- Consumertech: Dream Drive – A skills-based competition platform making car ownership accessible to everyday South Africans.
- Deeptech: MariHealth Solutions – Leveraging biotechnology to promote sustainable aquaculture and optimise fish health and nutrition.
- Digital Commerce: SKUBU – South Africa’s first fully automated refill retail store, offering packaging-free groceries at significantly reduced prices.
- Edtech: LEVRA – Using proprietary psychometrics and immersive learning to strengthen employee communication, teamwork and resilience.
- Fintech: Jem – Delivering affordable, effective HR and financial services to frontline workers via WhatsApp.
- Future of Work: ArcFlow – AI-powered ERP technology providing enterprise-level automation and efficiency to SMEs.
- Healthtech: Biomine Health – Applying gut-microbiome insights to predict which cancer drugs are most likely to be effective before treatment begins.
- Informal Market: PayGas – Allowing low-income households to refill LPG cylinders on a pay-as-you-go basis from as little as R10.
- Mobility & Logistics: Delivery Ka Speed – Addressing unreliable delivery infrastructure while creating youth employment in underserved communities.
- People’s Choice Award: FindHomes – An AI-powered property intelligence platform revealing true costs, value and investment potential.
The Awards ceremony honoured not only the winners but also the broader momentum of South Africa’s tech ecosystem. The finalists represent some of the country’s most innovative teams and demonstrate the increasing depth and diversity of local entrepreneurial talent.
Startup Club ZA founder Mathew Marsden commented:
“South African founders continue to build world-class solutions. The calibre of entrants this year was truly exceptional, and our winners reflect the strength of a growing innovation ecosystem across the country. We are convinced that the next generation of great global tech companies is being built right here at home. A special thanks to our esteemed judging committee for ensuring a robust and merit-driven outcome, and to our nationwide community for rallying behind this initiative once again. Our sincere gratitude goes to our 2025 anchor partners, whose continued support makes our mission of strengthening the South African startup ecosystem possible.”
The 2025 Awards were proudly hosted in partnership with the South African Future Trust, RMB, FNB South Africa, E Squared Investments, Futuregrowth Asset Management, Paystack, MakeReign, AIONS Ventures, Origen Software, Dommisse Attorneys, Jonsson Workwear, Finovate, Impact Capital Africa, and Disraptor.
South Africa’s innovation ecosystem came together on 9 December 2025, with hundreds attending in person at Cape Town’s Mount Nelson Hotel and via livestream, to celebrate the announcement of the Read More
