Access to capital remains unequal, but a new generation of African women is transforming entrepreneurship. The 2025 Basali Business Pitch Competition, supported by Standard Bank South Africa and Giving Wings SA, highlighted this change, emphasizing the theme: The Power of Her Pitch.
From more than a hundred applicants, three remarkable women emerged as this year’s winners, collectively taking home R600,000 in prize funding.
- 1st Place: Tumelo Tshwagong, Managing Director at Tshwagong Farm, whose agribusiness embodies sustainability and scale in South Africa’s evolving food landscape.
- 2nd Place: Mahlatse Mamaila, CEO of INO-Biodiesel, a social impact entrepreneur, climate negotiator and one of Forbes BLK’s rising voices in clean energy innovation.
- 3rd Place: Zanele Stole, CEO of Immaculate Cleaning & Hygiene Services, philanthropist and founder of the Melokuhle Initiative and Ignite Graduate Programme, both empowering youth and women across South Africa.
Their victories are not just individual triumphs, they symbolize a broader movement transforming the face of African entrepreneurship.
A Catalyst for Women in Business
Launched in November 2021, the Basali Development Programme is the cornerstone of this momentum. A partnership between Standard Bank and Giving Wings SA, it aims to equip black women-owned enterprises with the financial literacy, strategic insight and investor readiness needed to thrive in a rapidly changing economy.
The programme’s name, Basali derived from Southern Sotho, meaning “women” captures its spirit: empowerment through opportunity. Over twelve months, participants embark on an intensive journey of growth engaging in expert-led masterclasses, hands-on workshops and high-level mentorship. The outcome is not merely business acceleration, but personal transformation.
“Each winner exceptionally showcased The Power Of Her Pitch. Ultimately, proving that the future of business is Basali,” said Basali in a statement.
Closing the Gender and Opportunity Gap
Despite South Africa’s entrepreneurial dynamism, gender and socio-economic inequalities persist. Many black women founders continue to face limited access to finance, mentorship and visibility. The Basali initiative tackles these barriers directly offering practical tools, structured training and access to networks that are often out of reach.
Since its inception, the programme has helped hundreds of women entrepreneurs formalize their businesses, improve financial management and access both local and international markets. Many participants have reported measurable success higher revenue, expanded customer bases and increased employment within their communities.
These women are operating across diverse sectors from agriculture and climate-tech to manufacturing, consulting and digital innovation. The breadth of industries reflects a new kind of African businesswoman: grounded in her community yet globally competitive.
A Movement Beyond Competition
At its heart, the Basali Business Pitch Competition is more than a funding challenge; it is a celebration of resilience and ingenuity. Each presentation tells a story of long nights refining business models, of markets built from scratch, of quiet determination transforming into public recognition.
The finalists of 2025 have demonstrated that the future of African business is not confined to boardrooms or urban centres, it’s taking root in farms, factories and community hubs across the continent. Their ventures are reshaping local economies, driving employment and inspiring younger generations to believe that entrepreneurship can be a tool for both survival and legacy-building.
“You have truly outdone yourselves and proven the strength, innovation and resilience of black women-owned businesses in South Africa,” Giving Wings SA, one of the event organisers declared, “We are proud of every Basali who stepped onto that stage – well done to you. This is only the beginning. The future of business is Basali.”
A Broader Economic Shift
Inclusive development is essential for Africa’s private sector and it is no longer just an option. Women-led enterprises contribute significantly to Africa’s GDP, yet they remain underfunded and underrepresented. Initiatives like Basali serve as economic equalizers, bridging knowledge gaps and fostering financial inclusion at scale.
With the support of Standard Bank and partners like Giving Wings SA, the programme is cultivating an ecosystem of possibility where innovation, sustainability and social impact intersect.
For investors and policymakers alike, the Basali initiative offers a blueprint for inclusive economic transformation one that harnesses the potential of women entrepreneurs as the next frontier of Africa’s growth story.
As Tumelo, Mahlatse and Zanele stand in the spotlight, their journeys illuminate a shared vision: an Africa where business is defined not by barriers but by breakthroughs. Each woman embodies the courage to innovate, the discipline to scale and the determination to leave no one behind.
Their stories are proof that when women rise, communities prosper and economies flourish.
The Basali Development Programme may have begun as a training platform, but it has evolved into something far greater, a movement of purpose-driven entrepreneurs rewriting the narrative of African enterprise.
