In a region grappling with youth unemployment and slow economic growth, the North-West University (NWU) is actively tackling these issues through its robust entrepreneurship development initiatives.
Each year, the University’s bhive Enterprise and Development Centre supports sustainable business creation for students, staff and the wider community by hosting competitions and offering skills development programmes.
The 2025 Pitch Your Business Competition was held on 23 October at the Vanderbijlpark Campus’s Big Lapa. The event, hosted by NWU’s Faculty of Economic and Management Science in collaboration with its bhive Enterprise Development Centre, I Am Youth, Radio Pulpit, and TBN Africa, featured a showdown between finalists who were judged by a panel of prominent leaders.
Now in its third year, this competition is designed to empower aspiring South African entrepreneurs by providing structured training, media exposure, and business development support. It attracted a whopping 764 entries.
The Road to the Finals
The competition began with an online training phase, after which participants submitted their business concepts. Of the 764 entries, only 30 participants were selected to advance to the second phase.
In the second phase, these 30 participants continued their training and submitted their business models, resulting in the field being narrowed down to the top 20. The third phase featured semi-final pitches, for which the semi-finalists submitted videos. This led to the selection of six finalists, who presented their ventures live at the final event before a panel of expert judges.
The judging panel this year included Theuns Erasmus, Director of Radio Pulpit; Klippies Kritzinger, CEO of Vaal Business Corporation (VBC); and Danie van Deventer, Director of Toolac and General Manager of Elite Tents. The panel also included Neo Kuaho, Manager of Youth Leadership and Entrepreneurship Development, Lebogang Lekotoko, Director of NDS Chefs Academy, and Nkosinathi Tom, Director of Strategic Partnerships at the NWU. The finalists received crucial advice from the judges to help them develop their businesses.
Final Pitching Results
The winner of the 2025 Pitch Your Business Competition was Bandile Shoba, a second-year BHSc student who took the top prize for SmartLiving, his eco-conscious, purpose-built student accommodation project, which is planned for development near the NWU Potchefstroom Campus.
Shoba described the win as a validation of his hard work. “Winning this competition means a lot. It validates the purpose behind SmartLiving, and it gives me the confidence to keep developing solutions that make everyday living smarter and more accessible.”
The first runner-up, Penelope Pukwane, impressed the judges with her with her Curvѐa Swimwear brand, which is designed to boost the confidence of curvy women. Third place went to Bronwin Henn for her online workshop teaching women to design websites as a digital marketing tool.
As part of the prizes, all three winners will receive targeted media exposure to help grow their ventures. This will include radio interviews and features on partner platforms. They will also receive continuous mentorship and further entrepreneurship straining through the NWU and its partners.
Neo Kuaho praised the business models of the finalists. “A lot of great work has been done. The finalists displayed a clear understanding of their business models in their presentations. We are happy with our choice of winner. Overall, they are brilliant entrepreneurs.”
Reflecting on the success of the competition, Dr Leonie Greyling, NWU Coordinator of the competition commented: “We are incredibly proud of all the entrants and inspired by the ideas they presented. The Pitch Your Business Competition is not just about winning; it’s about growth, visibility, and learning how to communicate your vision clearly.”
Winner Bandile Shoba says this win motivates her to keep on working
The Finalists of the 2025 Pitch Your Business Competition
