Startup Club ZA, in partnership with The South African Future Trust, has announced the launch of The Big Pitch 2025, South Africa’s first-ever US$1 million startup pitch competition.
Over the next six months, 20 of South Africa’s most promising startups will compete live on stage for investment into their business, alongside invaluable media exposure and access to top tier partners.
The competition will take place in three key phases. Ten startups will compete in each of two regional qualifiers in Johannesburg (April) and Cape Town (August), while the top five startups from each qualifier will advance to the grand final at the South African Future Trust Summit, hosted at the Sandton Convention Centre in October.
“Core to our mission is spotlighting the exceptional startups, founders and solutions that are emerging across South Africa,” said Mathew Marsden, founder of Startup Club ZA. “The Big Pitch 2025 is more than just a pitch event for significant investment – it’s a platform to showcase our country’s most promising tech entrepreneurs and uncover the immense untapped potential within our innovation ecosystem.”
To qualify, businesses must demonstrate disruptive innovation, commercial scalability, and the ability to solve significant problems using technology. Startups from anywhere in the world are encouraged to apply, provided they meet the application criteria.
Applications for the first qualifier in Johannesburg close on April 8.
