The Big Pitch 2025 – South Africa’s Largest Startup Pitch Event

Benefits

• Funding Information:
  • Secure a $1m investment for your business, subject to due diligence.
• Connect:
  • Meet leading early-stage investors, corporate partners and potential customers.
• Exposure:
  • Gain unparalleled visibility for your business.

Eligibility Criteria

• Applicants must meet their definition of a STARTUP:
  • A disruptive early-stage business that is using innovative technology to solve a significant problem for a large market, whilst creating or capturing commercial value.
  • The startup must be a for-profit business founded in South Africa, or if founded abroad, have a majority South African founding team and be operating in South Africa.
  • Startups must have a minimum viable product (MVP) product or service in the market, that is actively being used by target customers.
  • Applicants can be pre-revenue, but preference will be given to those generating sales.
  • Applicants must be pre-Series A (i.e. not have raised a Series A round of funding).
  • Applicants are welcome from all sectors/industries.
  • Applications must be submitted in English.
  • The startup must have at least one full-time founder.
  • The applicant must be 18 years or older and authorized to represent the startup.

Selection Criteria

• Applications will be assessed by their independent committee and selected to participate on merit. Selection will be made on, but not limited to, the following criteria:
  • Innovation and viability of solution.
  • Scalability (size of the problem & market opportunity).
  • Competitive advantage of the startup and/or founding team.
  • Traction and short-term prospects.
  • Measurable impact (SDG-aligned).
  • Preference for startups that haven’t raised capital or received mainstream media coverage in the last year.

For more information, visit STARTUP CLUB ZA.