Do you have a brilliant business idea that’s waiting to take off?
Is your current business venture struggling to turn a profit?
Or maybe you just need expert guidance to help develop your business plan?
If you answered yes to any of these questions, then the 2025 Business Partners Limited SME Toolkit SA Competition for aspiring young entrepreneurs is for you! This competition is designed to empower and support young innovators like you, whether you’re just starting out or looking to take your business to the next level.
At Business Partners Limited, we believe it is very important to lay a strong foundation when starting and running your own business. That is why we host the SME Toolkit SA competition every year, in order to support and inspire the next generation of entrepreneurs. Launched in 2009, the competition opens for entries annually on Youth Day, aligning with our mission to empower young and aspiring business owners between the ages of 18 and 35.
This year marks the 16th anniversary of the SME Toolkit SA competition, a milestone that brings with it a fresh opportunity for you to finally turn your business vision into reality and to realise your entrepreneurial dreams.
The Competition is divided into three phases:
1. Phase 1: All participants who enter the competition will be invited to attend a workshop in one of the following key locations: Johannesburg, Pretoria, Soweto, Durban, and Cape Town.
If more than 20 entries are received from additional areas, workshops will also be hosted in Polokwane, Nelspruit, Bloemfontein, Kimberley, Port Elizabeth, East London and other eligible regions, ensuring broader access and support. During the workshops, participants will learn practical skills to:
Develop a comprehensive business plan,
Create a marketing plan/ strategy
Understand and manage cash flow solutions.
These sessions are also a great opportunity to network with fellow entrepreneurs, share ideas and build lasting connections.
2. Phase 2: To advance to phase 2 of the competition, participants must submit a complete business plan by 30 November for judging. From these submissions, 10 finalists will be selected to proceed to the final round, where they will take part in interviews with a panel of judges.
3. Phase 3: The national award ceremony will be held in Johannesburg in February 2026, where the entrepreneurs will be celebrated.
The national winner of the competition walks away with:
A mentorship voucher to the value of R50 000
A cash prize of R50 000
1st and 2nd runner up prizes are also up for grabs
The competition launches on 16 June 2025, and the closing date for Phase 1 of the competition is 31 July 2025.
