The 3rd edition of the EmpowaEntrepreneurs Funding Summit 2026 will convene entrepreneurs, investors, development finance institutions, venture capital firms, corporates and ecosystem leaders in a focused national engagement on entrepreneurial funding, business growth, market access and economic participation. The summit will culminate in the closed-door Pitching Festival, where qualifying entrepreneurs will pitch directly to funders, investors and strategic partners on funding and growth opportunities.
Hosted in Gauteng, the summit continues to position itself as one of South Africa’s emerging platforms focused on connecting entrepreneurs with real funding pathways, procurement opportunities, strategic partnerships and scalable business support ecosystems.
The summit is expected to attract over three hundred entrepreneurs, alongside approximately one hundred funders, capital deployers, investors and ecosystem leaders from across South Africa’s entrepreneurial and funding landscape.
According to organisers, the platform has demonstrated significant traction since its launch. Previous editions facilitated funding and investment conversations across a broad range of enterprise needs, from early-stage growth capital requirements to large-scale expansion and commercial funding opportunities, generating active engagements between entrepreneurs, investors, DFIs and strategic partners.
The summit targets entrepreneurs operating within high-growth and future-facing sectors including fintech and digital innovation, clean technology and renewable energy, agritech and food systems, manufacturing and Industry 4.0, healthtech and life sciences, education technology and skills development, as well as growth sectors such as retail technology, tourism and logistics.
Managing Executive of EmpowaEntrepreneurs, Thulisa Bianca Sosibo said the summit was developed to bridge the persistent gap between entrepreneurial ambition and accessible growth capital. “The EmpowaEntrepreneurs Funding Summit was created to move beyond conversations and create practical pathways for entrepreneurs to access funding, markets, strategic networks and ecosystem support. South Africa has no shortage of entrepreneurial talent, but many businesses still struggle to gain meaningful access to capital deployment opportunities. This platform exists to help close that gap.”
Sosibo said the summit has evolved into a broader economic participation platform focused on building stronger entrepreneurial ecosystems. “What makes this platform valuable is that it brings multiple parts of the entrepreneurial ecosystem into one environment.” The objective is not only to facilitate funding conversations, but also to strengthen collaboration, enterprise readiness and long-term economic participation.
The 2026 programme will include funding application clinics, financial readiness workshops, investor networking engagements, venture showcases, legal and governance advisory clinics, keynote sessions, masterclasses and the Pitching Festival component, where vetted entrepreneurs will engage directly with funders and investors.
The EmpowaEntrepreneurs Funding Summit 2026 takes place on 19 June 2026 in Gauteng. Entrepreneurs, investors and ecosystem partners can register at www.empowaentrepreneurs.co.za.