Call for Applications: SA Tech Challenge 2025

The SA Tech Challenge is the most lucrative and exciting tech opportunity 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 challenge aims to integrate the various government departments to support scale up businesses 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 lucrative tech innovation competition ever. The winner of each category will pitch their solutions against each other for the grand prize of R1 million. The runner up receives a whopping R750,000 with a healthy R500,000 prize for 3rd place. 4th, 5th and 6th all receive R250,000 each. Beyond the funding, winners will also receive support packages from stakeholders as well as access to global markets and investors via G20-DIA.

• Table of Content
• About Government of South Africa
• SA Tech Challenge
• Aim and Benefits of SA Tech Challenge
• Requirements for SA Tech Challenge Qualification
• Application Deadline
• How to Apply

About Government of South Africa

SA Tech Challenge

Application Deadline	30 Jun 2025
Country to study	South Africa
Type	Contest
Sponsor	Government of South Africa
Gender	Men and Women

Aim and Benefits of SA Tech Challenge

Prizes:

A rigorous evaluation will run throughout July 2025 and deliver six category winners who will also compete for the R1 million top prize. Prize allocations are as follows:

1st – R1 million
2nd – R750,000
3rd – R500,000
4th, 5th and 6th – R250,000 each.

The top five finalists per category will also be invited to the G20 Digital Innovation Alliance Summit in Cape Town from 24 to 26 September 2025.

The winners will also receive non-financial support from different government agencies to support their post-competition business development.

Requirements for SA Tech Challenge Qualification

We are looking for formal Micro, Small and Medium (MSME) technology enterprises from South Africa who meet the following criteria:

• Enterprise Stage – Must be post-revenue with less than 250 employees and less than R250 million annual turnover.
• Technology Readiness Level (TRL) – Your technology or solution should be at a minimum of TRL 7 as per The Technology Innovation Agency (TIA) guidelines. It should be post-prototype, with demonstrated use by clients and implemented in relevant environments.
• Impact – Must address at least one of the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) with potential for regional/global growth with quantifiable social outcomes.
• Ownership – Companies should be owned and headquartered in South Africa and meet all compliance requirements as per CIPC and SARS.

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

Application Deadline

June 30, 2025

How to Apply

Interested and qualified? Go to Government of South Africa on innovationbridge.info to apply

For more details, visit SA Tech Challenge webpage