Entries are now open for the 2026 South African Startup Awards, which look to recognise innovative local early-stage tech startups.
Run by Startup Club ZA and now in its fourth year, the awards will name winners across 11 vertical-specific categories, including fintech, e-health, ed-tech, AI and big data, deeptech, climate and sustainability, and informal market, as well as a People’s Choice Award. Past winners include Jem, Float, JobJack, Happy Pay and Delivery Ka Speed.
To qualify, startups must be tech ventures under five years old with a majority presence in South Africa. They must also be pre-Series A, have an active product in market, and be either post-revenue or showing substantial user growth, though deeptech entries are exempt from the last two criteria. Startups can enter up to two categories.
Public voting, running from November 2 to 6, will help determine shortlists of up to five startups per category, while the startup with the most confirmed votes takes the People’s Choice Award. A panel of more than 20 founders, investors and ecosystem leaders will then score finalists on innovation, scalability, traction, impact, team and short-term prospects.
“The calibre of founders building in South Africa keeps rising, and they deserve a national stage that reflects that,” said Mathew Marsden, founder of Startup Club ZA.
Winners will be announced at a live event in Cape Town on November 18, and will receive a trophy, an invitation to a winners’ dinner in early 2027, and national media coverage.
Startups can apply here until October 30.
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