Standard Bank is putting real capital behind women entrepreneurs in South Africa, with a R500,000 award aimed at funding and scaling female-led businesses.
This marks the second year that the bank has partnered with the South African Future Trust Awards to sponsor the Women in Business category. But unlike most corporate sponsorships, this one is front-loaded with strategic weight: R250,000 in cash and another R250,000 in mentorship, hardware and business resources.
The move is both symbolic and practical. Symbolic because women still face major systemic barriers to capital access. Practical because high-growth sectors in South Africa need inclusive leadership, and women-led startups are showing up with both resilience and returns.
“The capital is important, but it is the strategic support that enables long-term growth,” says Nico Jacobs, CEO of the South African Future Trust. The award winner won’t just walk away with a cheque. She’ll also get tailored support from industry mentors and advisors.
Standard Bank’s executive head of value propositions, Jenine Zachar, says this isn’t CSR spin. “Female entrepreneurs are creating jobs and building inclusive businesses. They’re a key part of South Africa’s economic future.”
Applications are open until 31 July 2025, and the winner will be announced at the Future Trust Summit in November. Categories include tech entrepreneur, youth entrepreneur and social entrepreneur, but the Women in Business category is the one attracting national attention.
This is not a fix-all. R500,000 won’t erase the funding gap or the gendered double standards in pitch rooms. But it sets a blueprint for how financial institutions can go beyond lip service.
Other companies are also moving in this direction. Amazon’s recent “Shop Mzansi” campaign is a good example of what real support can look like — not just listing local sellers, but giving them actual visibility and market access. It’s not just about offering tools, it’s about creating demand.
That market access point is key. Too many women-led startups stall after launch because they’re not plugged into procurement pipelines or scaling networks. This award tries to close that gap with a hybrid model: cash plus visibility plus mentorship.
Still, results will depend on execution. Past winners of similar awards have struggled to maintain growth beyond the media moment. Standard Bank’s approach will need to ensure that the post-award runway is long enough to turn promise into progress.
Whether this kind of intervention becomes industry standard will depend on what kind of traction the winner achieves over the next 12 months. But as a signal to the market, this is clear: women entrepreneurs in South Africa are not just being celebrated. They’re being backed.