✅ Attention Job Seekers: Be sure to read through the entire post for important details! You'll find the application link or email provided at the end of the post.
Jacaranda FM invites qualified entrepreneurs to apply for its Her Perfect Pitch competition. The closing date for applications is 15 October 2024.
Jacaranda FM has just announced the ten businesses that made it into the latest round of its flagship women‑focused programme, Her Perfect Pitch. After a country‑wide call for driven entrepreneurs, the shortlist shows a wide mix of South African companies. Their ideas cover health care, artificial intelligence, schooling, transport, cyber‑security, outdoor living, building work and skills training.
These ten entrepreneurs will now go head‑to‑head for the top prize: R500 000 worth of advertising on Jacaranda FM. The winning business will get a radio advert, digital promotion on the station’s platforms and cash support to help it grow.
Jacaranda FM Managing Director Vuyani Dombo says the quality and variety of this year’s finalists prove how strong South Africa’s start‑up spirit is. “Her Perfect Pitch keeps showing us that the best business ideas come from real problems people see in their own neighborhoods,” he said. “What stands out this year is not only the ambition of these founders but also the deep thinking behind their plans. They are creating solutions, jobs and chances while tackling everyday challenges for South Africans. All of these businesses are led by women, and Jacaranda FM is proud to give them a stage to share their stories.”
Below is a closer look at the ten finalists and what each company does.
Goodness Thandeka Ngcongo – Orchid Medical
Orchid Medical brings preventive health services closer to people who need them. The company runs mobile clinics that offer mammograms and cancer screening, adds tele‑health appointments, and provides wellness programmes for businesses. It aims especially at South Africa’s “missing middle” – people who can access health care but often can’t use it because of distance, time or other barriers.
Kelly Damons – KellyGirl Skills Academy
KellyGirl Skills Academy turns practical abilities into steady income. The academy runs accredited and non‑accredited courses that mix hands‑on training with entrepreneurship lessons, mentorship and ongoing help. Its students include unemployed youth, women, small businesses, community groups and corporate clients. The goal is to equip more South Africans with skills that lead to jobs, self‑employment or owning a business.
Kelotilwe Legwabe – Sethakga Cleaning Company
Founded in 2019, Sethakga Cleaning Company works to professionalise the cleaning sector while giving jobs to women and young people. It offers home, commercial and specialised cleaning services, plus a mobile braiding service called Sethakga HAIR. The next growth step is the Sethakga Hub model—community‑based hubs placed near residential estates to bring trusted services closer to customers and create local jobs.
Kinesa Tuganadar – Kindgenix
Kindgenix is a South African AI start‑up that tackles hiring challenges with its platform My‑Job. The AI‑driven tool helps employers with job profiling, applicant tracking, candidate matching, scoring, assessments, vetting and interview scheduling. Designed for small and medium enterprises, recruiters, large companies and the public sector, My‑Job makes it easier for businesses to find talent and for job seekers to be seen and prepared for opportunities.
Marcia Mandisi Mabaso – MAH SAMBE
MAH SAMBE provides transport and mobility solutions for employees, learners, corporate groups and tourists. After seeing how reliable travel links directly to work, study and leisure, the founder is shifting the company from a traditional transport provider to a tech‑enabled mobility business. The upcoming Workforce Mobility Management Platform will digitise bookings, scheduling, driver allocation, compliance and reporting.
Nicola Polmans – Sprung Outdoor Living
Based in Cape Town, Sprung Outdoor Living brings design‑focused products to South Africa’s outdoor market. Since 2021, the company has produced locally made fire pits, outdoor kitchens, furniture and cooking accessories that blend function with style. Its customers range from design‑savvy homeowners and renovators to hospitality professionals. Sprung is also expanding its B2B line so architects and designers specify its pieces, while everyday consumers can buy directly.
Sharleen Botha – Stratus Cloud Security
Stratus Cloud Security started during the COVID‑19 pandemic and now serves clients across Southern Africa. Its new service, Stratus Cloud Protect, offers enterprise‑level cyber‑security to small and medium businesses through an affordable subscription. The package includes essential protection, monitoring and expert advice, so companies don’t need to keep a full‑time security team in‑house.
Stephanie Bence – GSB Rental
GSB Rental supplies high‑quality aluminium towers for entrepreneurs and contractors who need to work safely at height. Launched in 2025, the firm identified a gap for small contractors who require short‑term equipment without the high cost of large‑scale rentals. Safety is the core of the business, and GSB Rental also aims to create job opportunities for women in South Africa’s construction sector.
Tshaamano Mabuba – Buddy Learning
Buddy Learning removes obstacles to school support with a hybrid model that mixes human tutors with BuddyAI, a multilingual AI tutor delivered via WhatsApp. The platform gives learners personalised help without needing expensive devices or complex technology. In addition to its direct‑to‑consumer tutoring subscription, Buddy Learning partners with schools, NGOs, corporations and other education groups, with a long‑term goal of expanding quality education throughout South Africa and the continent.
Zulfa Nkosi – Zulfa’s Glamour Girls Swimming Academy
Zulfa’s Glamour Girls Swimming Academy (ZGG) was created to fill the lack of swimming lessons in township areas. Based in Ivory Park and Tembisa, the academy turned a family home into a professional indoor pool where children learn in small groups with qualified coaches. Beyond teaching swimming, ZGG promotes water safety, builds confidence, creates jobs and gives township youth a chance to compete in swimming.
What the finalists will compete for
The ten finalists will now pitch their ideas to a panel of judges. The champion will receive R500 000 worth of advertising on Jacaranda FM, which includes the creation, professional production and broadcasting of a dedicated radio commercial plus wide digital promotion on the station’s channels. The winner also gets R20 000 cash from First For Women, plus custom business support and mentorship covering business modelling, research, branding, digital strategy and public‑relations advice.
The first runner‑up will take home R100 000 in Jacaranda FM airtime and R15 000 cash. The second runner‑up receives R100 000 in airtime and R10 000 cash. The remaining seven finalists each earn R100 000 worth of advertising on Jacaranda FM and a R5 000 SPAR voucher, giving all ten women‑led businesses a major boost in visibility and audience reach.
For full details and updates, visit the official Jacaranda FM site at www.jacarandafm.com.
Keywords: Jacaranda FM, Her Perfect Pitch, female entrepreneurs, South Africa start‑ups, business competition, R500 000 advertising prize, AI recruitment, mobile health services, skills academy, cleaning company, outdoor living design, cyber‑security subscription, construction safety equipment, swimming academy, education AI tutor.