Deadline: 31 July 2025
Are you a young, aspiring entrepreneur? Do you have a brilliant business idea that’s waiting to take off? Is your current business venture struggling to turn a profit? Or maybe you just need expert guidance to help develop your business plan? If yes, then the 2025 Business Partners Limited SME Toolkit SA Competition for aspiring young entrepreneurs is for you!
At Business Partners Limited, they believe it is very important to lay a strong foundation when starting and running your own business. That is why they host the SME Toolkit SA competition in order to support and inspire the next generation of entrepreneurs.
This year marks the 16th anniversary of the SME Toolkit SA competition, a milestone that brings with it a fresh opportunity for you to finally turn your business vision into reality and to realise your entrepreneurial dreams.
The competition opens for entries annually on Youth Day, aligning with their mission to empower young and aspiring business owners between the ages of 18 and 35.
Competition Phases
- The Competition is divided into three phases:
- Phase 1: All participants who enter the competition will be invited to attend a workshop in one of the following key locations:
- Johannesburg, Pretoria, Soweto, Durban, and Cape Town.
- If more than 20 entries are received from additional areas, workshops will also be hosted in Polokwane, Nelspruit, Bloemfontein, Kimberley, Port Elizabeth, East London and other eligible regions, ensuring broader access and support. During the workshops, participants will learn practical skills to:
- Develop a comprehensive business plan,
- Create a marketing plan/strategy
- Understand and manage cash flow solutions.
- Phase 2: To advance to phase 2 of the competition, participants must submit a complete business plan by 30 November for judging. From these submissions, 10 finalists will be selected to proceed to the final round, where they will take part in interviews with a panel of judges.
- Phase 3: The national award ceremony will be held in Johannesburg in February 2026, where the entrepreneurs will be celebrated.
- Phase 1: All participants who enter the competition will be invited to attend a workshop in one of the following key locations:
Prize Information
- The national winner of the competition walks away with:
- A mentorship voucher to the value of R50 000
- A cash prize of R50 000
- 1st and 2nd runner up prizes are also up for grabs
For more information, visit Business Partners Limited.
