Startup Grind East London invites you to:

The 2nd Annual All-Star Pitch Battle

Startup Grind East London's second annual All-Star Pitch Battle brings the region's boldest founders to one stage for a single high-stakes evening of pitching — judged live by a panel of experienced business and innovation leaders.  The winner walks away with a sponsored trip to Silicon Valley for the SG Global Conference 2027.

Applications have been extended and now close 17 September 2026 @ 00:00 — founders still weighing it up have one more chance to submit their entry.

Join us for:

·       The Pitch Battle — founders take the stage for one minute and one slide each, no more, no less

·      Live Adjudication by a panel of three respected business and innovation leaders

·      The Announcement — Startup of the Year is crowned, with a sponsored trip to Silicon Valley for the SG Global Conference 2027 and 12 months of exposure and support on the line

Our Esteemed Adjudicator Panel Includes:

Dean Kabasa is co-founder and Chief Operating Officer of Ruka Africa, bringing a builder's eye for what actually works to every pitch he hears. He has spent his career moving between engineering and operations, and now helps steer Ruka's mission to put homegrown, enterprise-grade AI solutions into the hands of businesses across the continent.

Babalwa Nkwentsha — Director: Youth Development at the Eastern Cape Department of Social Development, with an MBA from the Nelson Mandela University Business School. Babalwa brings a strategist's background in infrastructure and the built environment, alongside research and hands-on experience in small business sustainability — she also serves as a Non-Executive Director at HAEL and is active with WECONA and Gately Rotary Club.

Mncedi Mgwigwi — East London-based small business owner, writer and editor at Mmncedi Enterprise, and founder of the IMVUSELELO AFRIKANA community platform. His interests span app development, broadband, content development, funding and ICT — a perspective rooted in East London's own small business and tech landscape.

Whether you're a founder, an investor, a student, or simply curious about what East London's startup scene is building next, come and watch the region's sharpest pitches go head-to-head.