Call for Applications: SA Tech Challenge 2025 – YOA

Deadline: June 30, 2025

Applications for the SA Tech Challenge 2025 are actually open. The SA Tech Challenge is essentially the most profitable and thrilling tech OPPORTUNITY in South Africa to this point. 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 within the tech sector. All class winners and high 4 finalists might be hosted on the G20 Digital Innovation Alliance (G20–DIA) summit which might be held in Cape Town the place the winners from all of the G20 international locations and the visitor international locations will showcase their options to the worldwide neighborhood of traders, mentors, corporates, and different authorities stakeholders.

Categories

• Digital Platforms: Scalable platform options connecting person teams, addressing market inefficiencies, and creating new digital ecosystems, particularly for underserved markets.
• FinTech: Innovative digital options for improved monetary administration, entry, and inclusion, significantly for underserved populations, demonstrating regulatory compliance, safety and scalability.
• Secured Digital Infrastructure: Solutions strengthening cybersecurity, knowledge safety, and system resilience, addressing vital safety challenges and enhancing digital belief, particularly for MSMEs with restricted safety sources.
• Circular Economy: Solutions to reuse and regenerate supplies or merchandise that show clear enterprise worth whereas addressing environmental challenges of linear consumption.
• Innovations for Connectivity: Digital options that bridge the digital divide and improve community infrastructure, together with applied sciences that enhance web entry, strengthen telecommunications, or allow reasonably priced use of sensible gadgets and IoT.
• Innovations for Development: Digital options in agriculture, healthcare, and schooling that enhance productiveness, entry, and supply whereas creating social impression and enterprise worth.

Prizes

• 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-monetary assist from completely different authorities businesses to assist their submit-competitors enterprise growth.

Eligibility

They are trying for formal Micro, Small and Medium (MSME) expertise enterprises from South Africa who meet the next standards:

• Enterprise Stage – Must be submit-income with lower than 250 workers and fewer than R250 million annual turnover.
• Technology Readiness Level (TRL) – Your expertise or resolution must be at a minimal of TRL 7 as per The Technology Innovation Agency (TIA) pointers. It must be submit-prototype, with demonstrated use by purchasers and carried out in related environments.
• Impact – Must deal with not less than one of many 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) with potential for regional/international development with quantifiable social outcomes.
• Ownership – Companies must 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 next 6 sector classes:
  • Digital Platforms
  • FinTech
  • Secured Digital Infrastructure
  • Circular Economy
  • Innovations for Connectivity
  • Innovations for Development (Agri-tech, Health-tech, Ed-tech)

Application

After submission, you’ll obtain a affirmation e-mail, and your application might be reviewed by ourthe staff. Shortlisted candidates might be invited for interviews or displays. Successful candidates will then be chosen to take part within the G20 Competition.

Click here to apply

For extra data, go to SA Tech Challenge.