It is TEA’s national pitching platform at the Township Economy Summit. Selected township businesses present their businesses to independent judges and compete for business funding and support.

The Grand Finale takes place on 19 and 20 November 2026 at the 8th Annual Township Economy Summit in Tembisa, Ekurhuleni. Finalists will receive detailed venue and arrival instructions.

Businesses must be based in and operate within a township, be 100% South African-owned, have been trading for two or more years, and be Level 1 B-BBEE black-owned micro enterprises with the required compliance documents.

First register for the Township Economy Summit. Registered attendees will receive an email invitation with the separate pitching application link. Complete that application and submit the required documents and video. Summit registration alone does not enter your business into the Challenge.

Applications open on 5 November 2026 at 14:00 and close on 9 November 2026 at 23:59 (South African Standard Time). Late entries are not accepted. If you have not heard from the team by 13 November 2026 at 17:00, consider your application unsuccessful.

Complete the application form and upload a one-minute pitch video (maximum 100MB), a copy of the pitching director's ID, a high-resolution photo of the pitcher, your company profile, CIPC company registration documents, a valid tax clearance and your company logo. You will also confirm that your CIPC annual returns are up to date and that you have valid proof of business address (police affidavit, lease or supplier letter). Incomplete submissions will not be considered.

No. Summit registration and participation in the pitching application process are free. Travel and accommodation arrangements will be communicated separately; do not assume they are included.

Selection takes place from 10 to 14 November 2026. Fourteen businesses will be selected for Round 1. Registering or applying does not guarantee selection. TEA will communicate the outcome and finalist instructions.

On 19 November, 14 finalists each deliver a three-minute pitch. The top six are announced that afternoon. On 20 November, those six each deliver a five-minute pitch. Final rankings are announced that afternoon. Any additional question time will be explained in the finalist briefing.

Six independent judges will assess the pitches on each day. The final scoring framework and judging instructions will be shared before the live rounds.

Yes. Finalists attend the full Summit on 19 and 20 November 2026. Tell the team immediately if your availability changes.

The total package value is R150 000. First place receives R60 000, second R30 000, third R25 000, fourth R20 000, fifth R10 000 and sixth R5 000. These are business funding and support package values.

The funding component is paid directly to verified suppliers on behalf of the winning business for machinery, equipment or other approved business needs. Each package also includes business support and value-added services. The breakdown will be specified in the final package terms.

Yes. The overall winner will participate in interviews and be featured with their business on TEA social media. TEA will arrange the details and confirm the information and permissions needed for publication.

No. The Grand Finale Kasi Pitching Challenge and the Township Economy Awards have separate application and selection processes. Summit registration does not automatically enter either competition.