Know of a fantastic South African startup business that deserves its time in the sun? Then it’s time to enter them in South Africa’s Top Five startups for 2023.
Organized by entrepreneur training platform Heavy Chef, these annual awards celebrate amazingly innovative small businesses that are driving the country’s economy forward, providing employment and growth.
This annual awards celebration, made possible by our partners Xero, District Six Homecoming Centre, Xneelo, and Workshop17, demonstrates just how successful local entrepreneurs can be and the measurable impact they make in their markets.
Fred Roed, CEO, Heavy Chef
To be eligible for selection, startups must:
· Have traded for less than seven years.
· Be registered as a business in South Africa.
· Have at least one South African founder.
While financial results are not key determinants, it does help if the business has come out of the gates strong and attained a measure of recognition, media attention, and publicity. Essentially, the judges are looking for ‘exciting startups’ that are changing their particular part of the world in some measurable way.
Fred Roed
Putting it simply, the judges are looking for innovation and scalability.
Startups must have their own Internet Protocol (IP) address that connects to the Internet and previous winners are not eligible.
Each year, eight highly qualified persons are appointed to evaluate nominations for the award. This year’s judges are:
· Zinhle Novazi, Heavy Chef (Judge Chairperson).
· Zola Thekiso, Heavy Chef.
· Lukhanyo Neer, Heavy Chef.
· Andile Khumalo, ‘KhumaloCo’.
· Keitumetse Lekaba, ‘I Am An Entrepreneur’.
· Tshepo Kgapane, ‘Wafunda’.
· Hope Dithlikanyane, ‘We Fund Women’.
· Cursurn Janthies, ‘Xero’.
The following timeline needs to be followed in the nomination process:
· Early October: nominations open.
· Mid-November: the first round of judging starts and the top 12 startups are shortlisted.
· End November: the final round of judging takes place and
· November 30th: South Africa’s Top 5 Most Exciting Startups are named.
This year’s awards ceremony will be held at the historic District Six Museum Homecoming Centre (the old Fugard Theatre) at Number 15, Buitenkant Street, Cape Town, at 18h00 on 30 November.
Previous winners from 2017 to 2022 include:
· 2017: Jumo, SweepSouth, Wala, Yoco, Zoona.
· 2018: Aerobotics, DataProphet, LifeCheq, LifeQ, Thursdays.
· 2019: 3×4 Genetics, DigsConnect, Lula, Mama Money, MyFanPark.
· 2020: Bathu, Carry1st, EasyEquities, MatchKit, Yebo Fresh.
· 2021: FCB.ai, Kusini Water, Livestock Wealth, Valenture Institute, WalkFresh.
· 2022: Curbon, Franc, Parket, Floatpays, Zoie.
Small businesses impact employment and social stability and there is a positive link between entrepreneurship and economic growth, so essential in the current South African environment. We believe our role is to equip these businesses with the right tools to perform at their optimum and to give them the best opportunity for success.
Fred Roed
For more information on how to nominate your favorite startup, go to: https://www.heavychef.com/top-5-startups-south-africa
