From Johannesburg’s first qualifier to the final showdown, The Big Pitch has become more than a competition, it’s a reflection of a maturing startup ecosystem.
When The Big Pitch first took the stage in Johannesburg earlier this year, few could have predicted the kind of energy it would unleash. Led by Startup Club ZA (SCZA) in partnership with the South African Future Trust (SAFT), the initiative promised something audacious, a national startup competition offering one winner a US$1 million investment.
For a startup ecosystem where funding is often cautious and incremental, The Big Pitch felt like a provocation, an invitation for founders to dream bigger, and for investors to believe deeper.
A Bold Start in Johannesburg
The first qualifier in April 2025 captured the spirit of possibility. Ten startups, including Maltento, Sonke, PayGas Africa, Parent Sense, and VitruvianMD — pitched live before a packed audience. What stood out wasn’t just the innovation, but the confidence and clarity of the founders themselves.
From insect-based protein solutions to affordable health diagnostics and clean energy access, their pitches told a story of South Africa’s new generation of entrepreneurs, global in mindset, yet grounded in solving local challenges.
When the top five startups advanced, it wasn’t merely about winners and losers. It was a moment of validation, a reminder that South Africa’s founders are building with both ingenuity and intent.
Looking Toward the Finale
As the final ten prepare for the SAFT Summit finale in November, anticipation feels different. The million dollar prize still draws attention, but the real value lies elsewhere, in visibility, in credibility, and in the belief that South African innovation belongs on the global stage.
The Big Pitch has done more than create competition; it has built community. And perhaps that’s the biggest win , a reminder that Africa’s next great companies will rise not just from code and capital, but from confidence.
In its journey from the first qualifier to the final list, The Big Pitch has already achieved something rare, it has made ambition visible.
Editor’s Note
The Big Pitch marks a turning point in how South Africa nurtures entrepreneurship. For too long, local innovation has battled against limited funding and global skepticism. What SCZA and SAFT have created is more than a competition, it’s an act of storytelling.
It tells the world that African founders can think big, build bold, and be backed at home. It also challenges investors, corporates, and policymakers to match that ambition with action.
At iAfrikan, we see The Big Pitch as a sign of what’s possible when ecosystem players collaborate with purpose. Whether or not the winner becomes a unicorn, South Africa has already won something far greater, belief.
