Africa’s entrepreneurial landscape is poised for a seismic shift as EmpowaEntrepreneurs hosts two flagship events: the Funding Summit on Friday, 30 May 2025 at The Forum in Bryanston, Johannesburg, followed by the inaugural Pitching Festival on Monday, 2 June 2025.
Building on the resounding success of the 2024 Summit — which connected 850 high-growth entrepreneurs to more than R500 million in funding opportunities through the support of 250 top funders and industry experts — this year’s edition promises to be even bigger, bolder, and more transformative.
The EmpowaEntrepreneurs Funding Summit is a purpose-built platform designed to link Africa’s most promising, investment-ready businesses with a dynamic network of funders — from Venture Capitalists and Angel Investors to Development Finance Institutions, Women-Focused Funds, Impact Funds, and ESD Capital Partners.
“Africa’s future belongs to those who build it,” said Simphiwe Masiza, Founder and Executive Producer of EmpowaEntrepreneurs. “This Summit is not just about deals — it’s about architecting a new era of African business leadership, innovation, and inclusive prosperity.”
Introducing a New Era of Entrepreneurial Excellence
Launching in 2025, the EmpowaEntrepreneurs Pitching Festival will spotlight Africa’s brightest entrepreneurial talent in a live, high-stakes pitch showdown before an elite panel of funders. It’s where bold ideas meet transformative capital — and where the next generation of business leaders will rise. Expect a full day of high-energy pitches, strategic deal-making, and breakthrough partnerships that will shape the continent’s economic future.
EmpowaEntrepreneurs is aligned with Africa’s most urgent development priorities: Transformation, Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DE&I), Socio-Economic Development (SED), Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG), and Enterprise and Supplier Development (ESD). Participation in these events places stakeholders at the forefront of inclusive growth — demonstrating visionary leadership, unlocking opportunity, and driving long-term impact.
