South Africa launches tech challenge with R1-million grand prize

South Africa’s Department of Science, Technology, and Innovation’s (DTSI) Innovation Bridge Portal has announced the inaugural Tech Challenge 2025 launch.

It is launching the challenge in partnership with the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research. Participants will compete for a R1-million grand prize.

The SA Tech Challenge, described as South Africa’s most lucrative tech innovation competition ever, has a R3-million prize pool.

“The winner of each category will pitch their solutions against each other for the grand prize of R1 million,” the DSTI said.

The runner-up will receive R750,000, while third place will receive a prize of R500,000. Those who place fourth, fifth, and sixth will each be awarded R250,000.

The SA Tech Challenge aims to elevate impactful and scalable small, micro, and medium enterprises (SMMEs) across the country’s digital innovation ecosystem.

“It seeks to showcase local talent on the global stage, support innovation, and strengthen South Africa’s representation at the G20 Digital Innovation Alliance (DIA) and Startup20 working groups,” the DTSI said.

“It will not only provide recognition and exposure to exceptional SMMEs but also foster an environment conducive to growth.”

Through the SA Tech Challenge, the country hopes to position itself as a hub of digital innovation and entrepreneurship while contributing to the G20 goals.

The DSTI wants to create an ecosystem that drives innovation, accelerates homegrown tech development, and empowers local innovators.

This aligns with the department’s 2022 to 2023 Decadal Plan, adopted in November 2022.

The challenge also aligns with the DSTI’s mission to drive prosperity through innovation and aims to unearth tech talent.

The University of the Witwatersrand’s Tshimologong Digital Innovation Precinct will manage the 2025 SA Tech Challenge.

It will bring together various departments, government agencies, and academic institutions, including:

• The Technology Innovation Agency
• The Department of Small Business Development
• The Department of Communications and Digital Technologies (DCDT)
• The Companies and Intellectual Property Commission

“With R1 million up for grabs, the winner of each category will represent South Africa at the G20 DIA Summit in Cape Town from 24 to 26 September 2025,” the DSTI said.

It added that the DCDT will host the top five winners in each category at the summit to showcase their solutions to global investors, mentors and leaders.

“The DCDT is integrating the Tech Challenge with the G20-DIA summit in Cape Town to showcase South African ingenuity,” the DSTI said.

It added that the integration will also help connect SMMEs with networks that can accelerate their journey.

South African tech SMMEs can apply to participate at here, provided they have operated for at least one year with revenues under R250 million per annum.

They must fit in the digital platforms, fintech, secured digital infrastructure, circular economy, innovations for connectivity, or innovations for development categories.

“Companies should be owned and headquartered in South Africa and meet all compliance requirements as per CIPC and SARS,” the DSTI said.

Applications opened on Tuesday, 20 May 2025 and close on Monday, 30 June 2025, after which a rigorous evaluation will run throughout July.

The evaluations will deliver six category winners who will then compete for the R1-million grand prize.