Enterprise growth platform EmpowaEntrepreneurs has opened applications for its EmpowaEntrepreneurs Pitch Week 2026, taking place from 16 to 22 November 2026 at EmpowaWorx Headquarters, Johannesburg, Gauteng.
The competition will provide 100 entrepreneurs with an opportunity to connect with funders, investors, DFIs, corporates, procurement leaders and strategic ecosystem partners. Applications will be reviewed, and qualifying businesses will be shortlisted to progress through the Pitch Week process.
What is EmpowaEntrepreneurs?
EmpowaEntrepreneurs is a premier Pan-African entrepreneurial funding and enterprise growth platform created by EmpowaWorx. It acts as a bridge connecting vetted, investment-ready startup founders and small-to-medium enterprises (SMEs) with high-impact capital, development finance institutions (DFIs), venture capitalists, and corporate market opportunities.
Competition Details
Priority Sectors
The competition will prioritise businesses in the following areas:
- Fintech
- Digital finance and enterprise software
- Enterprise AI
- Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) and cybersecurity
- Climate-tech
- Energy and circular economy
- Agri-tech and agro-processing
- Advanced manufacturing and industrial innovation
- Retail
- Commerce and township economy
- Mining
- Critical minerals and industrial technologies
- Infrastructure
- Smart cities and construction technology
- Logistics
- Mobility and supply chain technology
- Creative industries
- Media and digital content economy
Eligibility and Selection
Entrepreneurs interested in applying for the pitch need to meet the following criteria.
- Business Traction: Your business must demonstrate measurable market traction, such as revenue, users, or validated pilots. Pre-idea applicants will not be considered.
- Funding Readiness: Applicants must have a clear funding requirement, a defined investment instrument, and a use of proceeds articulated. Businesses without an active funding ask will not proceed.
- African Market Nexus: Your business must operate in, serve, or be directly expanding into African markets. Diaspora-led businesses with active African operations are eligible.
- Scalability Thesis: Funders are looking for businesses capable of multi-market scale. Hyper-local businesses without a credible expansion thesis are unlikely to receive investment interest.
- Business Operation: Your business must have been operating for a minimum of two years.
- Minimum Revenue: Your business must be generating a minimum of R500k year-on-year growth and R2 million or more in annual revenue.
Submission Requirements
Applicants should also be prepared to submit:
- A completed Business Model Canvas
- Three-year financial projections
- A business plan executive summary of no more than five pages
- A clear funding requirement and use-of-funds strategy
Preparing Your Business for Pitching Competition
Preparing your SME for a pitching competition requires a clear, evidence-based narrative that proves your market demand, financial viability, and unique value proposition. Competition pitches have a strict time limit. They typically start with a long application period which leads up to the main pitching day. On that day, there is usually a panel of judges who judge each pitch.
Steps to Preparing a Winning Pitch
1. Craft a Comprehensive Pitch Deck
Your pitch deck is a visual representation of your business. Judges will want to see that you understand the business, its purpose and its growth potential.
Key Slides Every SME Pitch Deck Must Have:
- Start with a compelling problem/solution slide. This slide must inform the reader of what huge problem you are solving and how exactly your business provides the solution.
- Next, show off your market size, where you state how many people actually need what you are selling.You also need a slide that explains what makes your approach unique.
- Financial projections are vital. Investors want to see how you plan to make money and when you will become profitable. This allows them to assess the risk and potential gain of investing in you.
- Finally, introduce your team. People invest in people, so show them why your team is the perfect group to execute this plan.
Your pitch deck must also look visually appealing. Some tips for an investor-ready deck include:
- Do not use a lot of text. The pitch deck must focus on conveying the business in less words as possible.
- Use high-quality images that showcase your business. These images must be real and not fabricated.
- Leverage a simple colour palette. A good way to do this is to use the colours of your brand.
2. Understand Investors and Their Criteria
Before you apply for the EmpowaEntrepreneurs pitch competition, you need to study the type of investors that will be there and what they expect and tailor your pitch accordingly. What investors look for in SMEs includes:
- An experienced team is critical. Investors want to see that there are experienced people behind the business to increase investor trust.
- They want a clear path to profitability. This means clearly outlining what your growth plans are for the business.
- An understanding of your market and the solution you are providing to that market.
3. Your Pitch Presentation
To successfully convey the purpose of your business to the judges, consider the following techniques:
- Explain the “Why”: Begin by showing the problem your business solves. Give real examples that show how your customers feel about this problem.
- Present Your Solution: Show how your product or service fixes the problem. Explain how your approach is different and better than others.
- Show, Don’t Just Tell: Give proof for what you say. Use case studies, customer feedback, numbers, or early sales to show results.
- Add an Emotional Hook: Investors care about people as well as ideas. Share a short story about how the company started or what drives your mission.
Because there will be limited time to pitch, consider the following:
- Stick to your core points. Focus on the elements that matter, such as your solution, market traction, team experience and how you plan to handle investment.
- Give each slide enough time but not too long. Ensure you practise your pitch thoroughly before the day.
- Your slides are a visual guide for the judging panel, not a script. Ensure you are very prepared, so you don’t have to constantly read from them.
- When you rehearse your pitch, use a timer to help you stay within your limits. This helps you get ready and be concise in your pitch.
How to Apply
If your business meets the requirements above, you are invited to submit your application using the official EmpowaEntrepreneurs Pitch Week link https://www.empowaentrepreneurs.co.za/pitch-power. Applications will be reviewed, and qualifying businesses will be shortlisted to progress through the Pitch Week process.
Enterprise growth platform EmpowaEntrepreneurs has opened applications for its EmpowaEntrepreneurs Pitch Week 2026, taking place from 16 to 22 November 2026 at EmpowaWorx Headquarters, Johannesburg,… Read More
