Cape Town Startup of the Year – 2025 Edition

Details

Think your startup has what it takes to rise above the rest? This September, Startup Grind Cape Town is giving bold founders the chance to compete for the title of Cape Town Startup of the Year and a coveted place on the Global Startup Grind All-Star Pitch Battle stage in Silicon Valley (February 2026).

This is your opportunity to:

Be crowned Cape Town Startup of the Year
Earn global exposure and pitch in front of international VCs at the All-Star Pitch Battle
Have your pitch featured for 12 months on our YouTube channel (83k+ subscribers)
Unlock R350,000 worth of venture studio support through Akha Ventures, plus additional benefits from Cloud Plexo and AWS
Gain access to mentorship, investor networks, exclusive events, and tailored growth support

Who Should Apply?

We’re looking for tech-driven startups with scalable business models and a working MVP or live product. Revenue traction is preferred but not required.

Event Details

📅 Date: Thursday, 18 September 2025

⏰ Time: 18:00 – 19:30

📍 Location: Virtual(meeting link to be shared)

📌 [Application Form – Click here to Apply]

For sponsorship or partnership inquiries, email: startcpt@startupgrind.com

Proudly brought to by:

This is a hybrid event. Join the event virtually at https://www.startupgrind.com/events/details/startup-grind-cape-town-presents-cape-town-startup-of-the-year-2025-edition/
or in person at

TBC - 1 Cape Town, 8001

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Agenda

5:50 PM: Welcoming

6:15 PM: Picth Battle

7:15 PM: Winner Announcement

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Hosted By

Brian Mlambo, CEO & Founder

Introducing Brian Mlambo - an esteemed entrepreneur, dynamic leader, and visionary ecosystem builder. As the CEO & Founder of Akha Ventures and Director for Startup Grind Johannesburg, Brian stands at the pinnacle of business ecosystem creation in South Africa. With a database boasting over 35,000 entrepreneurs, Brian has been the cornerstone for many startups, bringing their aspirations to fruition.

Brian's achievements are vast and noteworthy. In under six months, he amassed a database of over 10,000 SMEs and has graced many media platforms like Jozi FM, Kaya FM, Morning Live, Kasie FM, CliffCentral, and Radio 2000.

A lifelong learner, Brian continually pursues knowledge and innovation. He's organized over 100 entrepreneurship events in recent years, sharing a stage with industry giants such as Robert Kiyosaki, author of Rich Dad Poor Dad, Allon Raiz, Founder of Raizcorp, Vusi Thembekwayo, Group CEO of MyGrowthFund and Lebo Gunguluza, CEO & Founder of The New Gem Group.

Since the tender age of 14, when he clinched the Young Entrepreneur of the Year award at the Step Up 2 A Startup Programme by Primestars, Brian has been a trailblazer in entrepreneurship. He's embarked on ventures that resonate with empowerment, inspiration, and nurturing South Africans toward entrepreneurship. Esteemed mentors like Allon Raiz, Sanjay Soni, and Lindile Xoko have guided him, solidifying his reputation.

Having organized over 100 entrepreneurial events, Brian has touched the lives of 50,000+ South African entrepreneurs over the past 5 years, solidifying his role as an ecosystem pioneer.

Brian's insightful speaking engagements reflect his profound expertise in various domains. Drawing from his rich entrepreneurial experience, he addresses topics that include ecosystem building in Africa, preparing entrepreneurs for investors, the art of effective communication, and digital transformation. His mastery over marketing and sales strategies enriches his perspective, making him a sought-after voice in the business community.

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Global Partner

Google Cloud (https://cloud.google.com/resources/content/future-of-ai-report?utm_source=events-with-google&utm_medium=et&utm_campaign=FY25-Q1-NORTHAM-SMB31054-website-dl-AIThoughtLeader-52420&utm_content=startup-grind&utm_term=-&hl=en)