Thirty founders. Five-minute pitches. One afternoon to get your business in front of the right room.

Business Speed Dating returns to Innovation City Cape Town on Wednesday, 18 November 2026, giving 30 promising early-stage founders the opportunity to pitch directly to investors and selected Growth Partners.

Now in its fifth year, Business Speed Dating replaces the usual slow build of introductions, emails and follow-ups with a concentrated afternoon of face-to-face conversations. Founders rotate between stations, meeting venture capital funds, angel investors, family offices, venture studios, corporate innovation teams and other organisations interested in hearing from early-stage businesses.

Each conversation lasts just five minutes: enough time to introduce the business, explain the problem it solves and make clear what could move it forward.

Who are the Next Gen Founders?

Next Gen Founders are ambitious entrepreneurs building the next generation of African businesses through technology, original thinking or new commercial models.

Applications are open to founders who have moved beyond the initial idea and are actively building, launching or commercialising a product or service. This may include businesses with a working product, beta users, pilot customers, early adopters or initial revenue.

Companies may operate in fintech, healthtech, climate tech, agritech, proptech or another innovative sector.

Applicants should be able to explain the problem they are solving, demonstrate credible progress and identify what their business needs next. That might be investment, a corporate pilot, customers, market access, technology, infrastructure, strategic advice or mentorship.

Applications will be assessed according to the strength of the founder and opportunity, evidence of execution, growth potential and overall suitability for the event.

The opportunity to pitch

Business Speed Dating is not a pitching competition and participation does not guarantee investment, a partnership or any other commercial outcome.

What it offers is access: the opportunity to introduce your business directly to people who are interested in discovering emerging companies, ask and answer useful questions, receive immediate feedback and begin conversations that may otherwise take months to secure.

Applications are now open!

Only 30 founders will be selected to participate.

Successful applicants will pay a commitment fee of R200 excluding VAT, or R100 excluding VAT for Innovation City members, to secure their place.

Applicants must be available to attend the full event in person at Innovation City, 4 Darter Road, Longkloof, Gardens, Cape Town.

Applications close on 31 October 2026.

Apply for Business Speed Dating 2026