The 2025 SAPICS Conference, Africa’s leading event for the supply chain profession, saw the debut of an exciting new initiative: the SAPICS Supply Chain Pitch Parade.

This was a high-energy competition that celebrated entrepreneurial talent and supply chain innovation, with a first prize valued at R80 000 up for grabs. The initiative was introduced by supply chain industry body SAPICS to support small, medium and micro enterprises (SMMEs) operating in South Africa’s supply chain sector, and it was one of the most talked-about features of this year’s 47th annual SAPICS Conference in Cape Town.

Open to SMMEs with a turnover of less than R10 million annually, the Pitch Parade offered a powerful platform for small business owners to showcase their ideas, connect with industry leaders and potentially unlock sales and contract opportunities within the broader SAPICS community. It aligns with SAPICS’s mission to advance supply chain excellence and nurture emerging talent.

After a rigorous application process managed by the SAPICS team, including financial checks and eligibility verification, 19 high-quality submissions were received. These were assessed by a panel of respected judges led by head judge Cobus Rossouw and supported by Thato Moloi (SAPICS president and area head of Maersk Contract Logistics SAI), Claudia de Jonge (DSV), Wesley Estment (SAP), Levers Mahlaule (Nebula Transport) and Alan van Vuuren (B2Wise).

After careful deliberation, three outstanding finalists were selected:

• Renko Bergh (Ctrl Fleet)
• Lethlohonolo Mpshe (Atarah Solutions)
• Nyeko Mathebula (Procure Africa)

The top three were invited to attend the SAPICS Conference in Cape Town, with flights and accommodation included. Those who didn’t make the finals were awarded individual SAPICS memberships as a token of recognition.

Pitching for the future

At the conference, the main stage was transformed into a live pitch arena. Each finalist had five minutes to present their solution, followed by a Q&A session with the judging panel. Conference delegates were then invited to vote for their favourite via the SAPICS Conference app.

After a round of spirited presentations and audience voting, Nyeko Mathebula of Procure Africa was announced as the winner and awarded a prize valued at R80 000, presented on stage by Cobus Rossouw. The runners-up received a SAPICS SME membership and complimentary attendance of the CILTSA ESG event.

Feedback from attendees and participants has been overwhelmingly positive. One finalist stated: “I had the honour of being a finalist in the SAPICS Pitch Parade and, wow, what a moment to remember. A big thank you to the SAPICS team for the opportunity to pitch. I genuinely enjoyed every part of it.”

Another attendee praised the energy and fresh perspective the competition brought to the event: “It was inspiring to see the up-and-coming projects and the energy behind them. It’s such a valuable platform for engagement and innovation.”

The Pitch Parade also added a lighter, dynamic element to the SAPICS Conference programme. As one participant put it: “It was great to have some vibes and bring an element of fun to the event. Great idea!”

The inaugural SAPICS Supply Chain Pitch Parade was a resounding success and looks set to become a firm fixture on the supply chain community’s, the organisation says.