The SA Tech Challenge 2025 (R3 million prize ans A chance to represent South Africa at the G20 Digital Innovation Alliance)

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Application Deadline: 30 June 2025 at 23h59

Applications at the moment are open for the 2025 SA Tech Challenge. The SA Tech Challenge is the most profitable and thrilling tech alternative in South Africa to date. It is a collaboration between The Department of Science Technology and Innovation (DSTI) The Department of Small Business Development (DSBD), The Department of Communications and Digital Technologies (DCDT), The Innovation Bridge Portal (supported by the CSIR), The Technology Innovation Agency (TIA), The Companies and Intellectual Property Commission (CIPC) and Wits University’s Tshimologong Digital Innovation Precinct. The problem goals to combine the varied authorities departments to assist scale up companies in the tech sector.

With a R3 million prize pool and a chance to represent South Africa at the G20 Digital Innovation Alliance (G20-DIA) Summit in Cape Town, The SA Tech Challenge 2025 is South Africa’s most profitable tech innovation competitors ever. The winner of every class will pitch their options in opposition to one another for the grand prize of R1 million. The runner up receives a whopping R750,000 with a wholesome R500,000 prize for third place. 4th, fifth and sixth all obtain R250,000 every. Beyond the funding, winners can even obtain assist packages from stakeholders in addition to entry to world markets and buyers by way of G20-DIA.

Requirements

 in search of formal Micro, Small and Medium (MSME) expertise enterprises from South Africa who meet the following standards:

• Enterprise Stage – Must be post-revenue with lower than 250 workers and fewer than R250 million annual turnover.
• Technology Readiness Level (TRL) – Your expertise or resolution needs to be at a minimal of TRL 7 as per The Technology Innovation Agency (TIA) tips. It needs to be post-prototype, with demonstrated use by purchasers and carried out in related environments.
• Impact – Must deal with at least considered one of the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) with potential for regional/world progress with quantifiable social outcomes.
• Ownership – Companies needs to be owned and headquartered in South Africa and meet all compliance necessities as per CIPC and SARS.

• Sector Categories – Operate in, or serve any of the following 6 sector classes:
  • Digital Platforms
  • FinTech
  • Secured Digital Infrastructure
  • Circular Economy
  • Innovations for Connectivity
  • Innovations for Development (Agri-tech, Health-tech, Ed-tech)

Prizes:

A rigorous analysis will run all through July 2025 and ship six class winners who can even compete for the R1 million high prize. Prize allocations are as follows:

1st – R1 million
2nd – R750,000
third – R500,000
4th, fifth and sixth – R250,000 every.

The high 5 finalists per class can even be invited to the G20 Digital Innovation Alliance Summit in Cape Town from 24 to 26 September 2025.

The winners can even obtain non-financial assist from completely different authorities businesses to assist their post-competition enterprise growth.

For More Information:

Visit the Official Webpage of the SA Tech Challenge