The winners of the 2025 Business Ignition Challenge were officially announced today (25 September 2025), marking an important milestone in the Nelson Mandela Bay Business Chamber’s ongoing efforts to drive inclusive economic growth and support small business development across the metro.
Powered by Standard Bank in partnership with the Chamber, the Business Ignition Challenge is a developmental initiative aimed at supporting micro and small enterprises through targeted grant funding, mentorship and access to resources that help drive long-term sustainability.
A total of R100 000 in grant funding has been awarded across three key categories. This year’s winners are:
- Entrepreneurship Desk: Anlit Africa – awarded R50 000. An FMCG consumer brand company manufacturing plant-based edible oils, organic personal care, and non-perishables using traditional recipes and sustainable ingredients. Founded in the Eastern Cape and now trading in the Western Cape, Anlit Africa blends heritage and innovation in a unique offering.
- Township-Based Business: Toms Tyres – awarded R30 000. A township-based business offering truck tyre services, suspension repairs, wheel alignment, and the sale of both new and second-hand tyres.
- Youth-Owned Business: Advanced Academy – awarded R20 000. An education technology company offering affordable tutoring for Grade 3 to 12 learners. By employing student tutors and using a digital tracking platform, Advanced Academy is making education more accessible and measurable at just R49 per hour.
The announcement comes at a critical time for the Eastern Cape, which continues to face some of the country’s highest unemployment rates of 41,9 percent, and overall metro unemployment at 26.4%, according to the latest Quarterly Labour Force Survey for Q2 by Statistics South Africa.
Through Standard Bank’s Enterprise Development division, the Business Ignition Challenge aims to directly address the challenges that MSMEs face, particularly access to essential equipment and machinery, a common barrier to scale and growth.
Speaking at today’s announcement, Lunga Mjodo, Strategic Initiatives Manager of the Nelson Mandela Bay Business Chamber, commended the winners and emphasised the broader significance of the programme.
“We are thrilled to announce the winners of the 2025 Business Ignition Challenge and to celebrate the incredible innovation and resilience demonstrated by these entrepreneurs. Anlit Africa, Toms Tyres and Advanced Academy embody the entrepreneurial spirit that our metro urgently needs to harness as we tackle the dual challenges of economic stagnation and unemployment,” Mjodo said.
“This initiative is not merely about handing out cheques - it’s a targeted intervention designed to unlock real, tangible growth for businesses that have the potential to drive inclusive economic recovery. In today’s tough economic climate, many entrepreneurs struggle with accessing the tools and machinery they need to scale. Through this challenge, we are directly addressing that barrier.”
“Our partnership with Standard Bank is a testament to what can be achieved when the private sector comes together to champion local enterprise development. This collaboration reflects our shared vision to support MSMEs as engines of job creation and innovation, especially those in high-impact sectors and under-served communities,” she said.
Jonty Bouw, Provincial Head of Enterprise Banking for the Eastern Cape at Standard Bank, reaffirmed the bank’s commitment to fostering entrepreneurship.
“At Standard Bank, we believe that the future of South Africa's economy lies in the hands of its entrepreneurs. The 2025 Business Ignition Challenge reflects our long-standing commitment to enabling small businesses, not just through funding, but through strategic support that enables sustainable growth,” he said.
“We are especially proud to back businesses like these, each of which is solving local problems with local solutions. Whether it’s through technology-driven education, township-based service delivery or culturally rooted product innovation, these businesses are changing lives and revitalising communities from the ground up.”
The Business Ignition Challenge will continue to serve as a platform for capacity building, with future iterations aiming to reach even more small businesses in the metro, particularly those with high potential for impact and innovation.
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