Annual Start-Up Competitions All Entrepreneurs Should Know Of

There are many avenues one can pursue to kick start their business. Loans are not for everyone and investors can be very sceptical. The best option is to enter a business start-up competition, prove your worth and the strengths of your company to the panel of judges and get yourself funding. It might sound like too much work but then again the field of entrepreneurship is never an easy one. One only survives through sweat and blood. The list below gives you annual competitions one could enter to earn themselves a push in the right direction and a great start to their business.

Lead SA

South Africa is home to an abundance of individuals who possess worthy business concepts, yet often these ideas go unheard as these entrepreneurs don’t have the means to develop the idea further. Due to the role entrepreneurs play in the economy and how they contribute towards job creation, we are hopeful that this competition will lead to the introduction of more small businesses in the country.

Entrants will stand a chance to win a seat at a one-day business workshop, where they will have the opportunity to learn the intricacies of compiling a business and marketing plan, as well as how to manage the many functions of operating a business and how to effectively network to maximise success.

The workshops will take place in 12 areas around the country, and 20 finalists will be selected to attend each workshop. Following the workshop, the finalist will be asked to submit a business plan, which will be drafted using the knowledge that was learnt.

Enterprise Elevator

A selection of South Africa’s most innovative entrepreneurs will be chosen to pitch their model or business idea to a panel of expert judges. There is up to the value of R350,000 in PRIZES to be won, which includes a cash prize, business coaching by FutureFit and investment readiness incubation by Impact Amplifier.

The final 12 Pitch applicants will also get access to the investors lounge on the evening of the event, and the opportunity to be fast-tracked into the Unreasonable Institute’s 2013 incubation program in Colorado, USA.

SAB Youth Entrepreneurship Competition

SAB KickStart, which started in May 1995, is one of the longest youth entrepreneurship programmes and has assisted with the start-up of more than 3500 businesses. Entrants selected to participate in the 18 month-long programme stand the chance of winning a share of R6-million worth of business support, including an international business learning trip.

SAB KickStart follows a competition model and provides youth entrepreneurs running small businesses with a comprehensive package of business development support to increase the chances of building sustainable and high impact entities able to contribute towards job creation. In 2013, SAB KickStart’s 14 national finalists created more than 60 jobs within their respective communities.

Startup Knight

Startup Knight was launched in 2012 by Byte Orbit. The purpose of the competition is to promulgate, support and embrace tech startups in South Africa. Although there are many startup competitions hosted in South Africa, Startup Knight is differentiated through the partnerships created to build and commercialise the winning innovations.

Experience has taught them that it takes more than money to turn an idea or innovation into a viable growing business. Therefore they leverage experience, expertise and partnerships to create their winning formula on top of the financial commitment.

Innovation Hub

The Innovation Hub is running four high profile innovation competitions for Gauteng-based researchers and entrepreneurs with plans to be global leaders in the Green, Medical, ICT, and Biotech sectors. Entries for the competitions open throughout the year to access more than R3 million in seed funding and incubation services.

U-Start BLOOM Business Plan Competition

U-Start is a revolutionary global online platform that puts dynamic entrepreneurs worldwide in touch with international investors most focused on innovative, high growth, and impact-driven projects. 6 of SA’s top entrepreneurs in the seed and growth stage of their business will be invited to Italy for the event (flights and accommodation included!)

SiMODiSA Start-up

SiMODiSA Start-up, an entrepreneurship initiative, is hosting the largest Start-up conference each year in October at the Cape Town International Convention Centre (CTICC). Encouraging entrepreneurship and aligning to government, this initiative aims at alleviating poverty, creating jobs and reducing crime.

Each start-up will have 12 minutes of fame where they will be pitching to the judges who could possibly invest in their business venture. The grand prize winner will be jetted off to the United States of America to experience the technology boom taking place in Silicon Valley, California. They will receive the extraordinary opportunity to network with global entrepreneurs, influencers, and learn the tricks of the trade in a unique effort to help build their business.

Seedstars World

Seedstars World is an exclusive startup competition in emerging markets. Only high quality startups can receive an invitation and are chosen following a strict selection process. The winner is crowned with the prestigious denomination Seedstars World Best Startup. SSW innovation sourcing program has for objective to help your corporation stay ahead of the curve by sourcing growth (innovation) where growth takes place (emerging markets).

Vodacom appStar

appStar is the Annual Developer Contest conducted by Vodafone, for developers across several countries of African & Asian continent, to promote local talent & bring them to the international stage. If you have an innovative and cool app that you have built or as an idea that you want to develop and showcase, appStar is the right platform for you.