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By Shumirai Chimombe

As an entrepreneur, whether you are running a start-up or scaling your small business, constantly seeking the right strategies will ensure that your business succeeds and reaches new heights.

The challenges that women entrepreneurs encounter along their business journeys are well known. They range from securing funding, growing their client base, to finding a supportive network of fellow women entrepreneurs and mentors. It is also helpful to receive constructive feedback from successful business people who will ask the right questions about your business and your offering, helping you fine tune your ideas and grow as a business owner. 

This is where crafting a compelling business pitch comes in as an excellent strategy.  

A business pitch is a brief presentation that an entrepreneur gives to an audience of potential stakeholders who may take an interest in your business. These can include potential funders, investors,  partners, or clients. Also known as an ‘elevator pitch’, it requires you to develop a presentation that is concise and goes straight to the point, that captivates your audience, and successfully outlines and communicates the key elements of your business idea, product or service.

Pitching dens have risen in popularity usually at networking events such as conferences and they have become one of the best opportunities for start-ups and small businesses to state their case to funders to support their ideas. They are also a great platform to promote your product or service to a wider audience. 

To get your business idea to the right people, there are some tips to keep in mind:

Go out and network: The thought of putting yourself on the spot and speaking to a roomful of influential people can be very daunting. Especially if you are not used to public speaking, and it’s easier to stay out of the limelight. So it’s important to understand that networking is an essential part of being a businesswoman. It opens up opportunities for you to meet and learn from like-minded entrepreneurs, while creating new and potentially lucrative connections. Finding the courage to showcase yourself and your idea could turn out to be one of the most valuable undertakings you can do for your business. 

Tailor an authentic and persuasive narrative: The bottom line is that you are selling a product, service or solution that addresses a problem that you have identified in the market.  The pitch needs to outline the key elements of your idea with the aim of getting buy-in from potential funders, partners or clients. It needs to succinctly cover what your company does and what differentiates you. It is your opportunity to impress by giving you the chance to make a positive and lasting impression on your audience, increasing your chances of securing interest and support. 

Improve your communication skills: A well-prepared business pitch enables you to effectively communicate your value proposition. Therefore it is important to work on your verbal presentation and refine it as much as possible. Boost your confidence by practising with your friends and colleagues to give feedback on your delivery. It is also essential to be very well prepared to be able to give credible answers to questions from your audience. The more professional and confident the pitch, the more likely it will receive a positive response. 

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Confidence. Clarity. A brilliant business idea

This is all you need to enter the Standard Bank Top Women EmpowHER pitching den in Cape Town next month. 

After two very successful EmpowHER events in Gauteng and in Durban, the third and final leg of this exciting and empowering series comes to Cape Town on 21 August,

These one-day conferences aim to build communities and equip women entrepreneurs with the skills to build successful enterprises while creating access to networks for small business owners.

Participants will have the opportunity to listen to keynote talks from successful Top Women award-winners and entrepreneurs along with an interactive fast-track networking session.

The highlight will be the EmpowHER Pitching Den – where 10 bold entrepreneurs pitch live in just 3 minutes and face a high-impact Q&A with top business experts.

The top three winners from each region will be entered into the prestigious Standard Bank Top Women Awards, taking place in December 2025 in Johannesburg. One winner will take home the trophy and a R100,000 cash prize.

Nokwanda Dlamini (pictured above) the CEO Ozel Group, which specialises in the design, supply, installation and maintenance of Lifts and Escalators, walked away as the winner of the Standard Bank EmpowHER pitching den in Durban in June. Her inspiring story, her courage to run a business in a male-dominated industry, as well as her determination to elevate her brand in an industry dominated by major players such Schindler and Otis impressed the judges and the audience. “Together with Ozel Group, let us Lift each other up and Elevate South Africa one level at a time.”

Are you ready to step into the spotlight and share your business with a room full of decision-makers, mentors, and fellow entrepreneurs?

Apply to enter your business into the pitching den here and let us help you open the doors to success,

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