Logo - SAVCA Industry Awards 2025

Friday, 7 November 2025

About the Awards

The SAVCA Industry Awards recognises portfolio companies that have thrived from private capital investment, particularly within the private equity and venture capital sectors. This awards programme focuses on the value that the private capital asset class provides such as mentorship, market access, business development, corporate governance guidance and so much more. All portfolio companies, headquartered in Southern Africa, and currently benefiting from these types of investments are eligible for consideration by our judging panel, which comprises renowned business leaders and captains of industry.

Info on Criteria
2024 Awards Gallery

Nominations

For more information on the nominations process and completion of the nomination form, please contact us: info@savca.co.za

Submit Nominations Online or
Download Nomination Form

Congratulations to the 2023/4 Awards Winners!

Awards Categories

These firms would generally meet at least two of the following criteria.
The judges reserve the right to re-categorise nominees to ensure classification consistency.

START-UPS / VENTURE CAPITAL

Hover for info

Criteria

  • Less than 5 years old
  • Enterprise Value not relevant
  • Post-revenue
  • Funding Stage: Early Stage / Series A or Series B funding (excludes seed / pre-revenue)

SMALL
COMPANIES

Hover for info

Criteria

  • Enterprise Value of under R200m
  • Revenue of under R200m
  • Funding stage not relevant
  • Established with positive operating cash flows

MEDIUM
COMPANIES

Hover for info

Criteria

  • Enterprise Value over R200m and under R1.5bn
  • Revenue of over R200m and under R1.5bn
  • Funding stage not relevant
  • Established with positive operating cash flows

LARGE
COMPANIES

Hover for info

Criteria

  • Enterprise Value over R1.5bn
  • Revenue of over R1.5bn
  • Funding stage not relevant
  • Established with positive operating cash flows

GP Award

Hover for info

Criteria

This award recognises an individual from a fund management firm who has provided exceptional support to a portfolio company.

  • Award will be presented to a GP professional.
  • Judges shall give more weighting to professionals of nominator GPs.
  • Professionals from non-nominator companies will also be considered.
  • Professional must have been integral to the success of the transaction.

Judging Process

Step 1

Review of nominations.

Step 1

Step 2

Finalists shortlisted for each category.

Step 2

Step 3

Finalists interviewed.

Step 3

Step 4

Finalists individually assessed by judging panel.

Step 4

Step 5

Winners selected by judging panel and announced at the event.

Step 5

Judging Criteria

Nominees must be current portfolio companies, or the associated private equity or venture capital firm must have exited in the past 18 to 24 months leading up to December 2024. Only the performance of companies during the last 36 months will be considered during the judging process.

What we will assess:

  • Company Background
  • Analysis of financials
  • Growth of the business
  • Job creation and retention
  • Innovation
  • Environmental impact
  • Social impact
  • Leadership and reputation
  • Governance
  • Corporate citizenship
  • The impat of private equity investment

Other differentiating factors will include whether:

  • the nominee is an attractive, distinctive business that stands out amongst peers;
  • the company demonstrates skilled execution of particular projects, including product innovation, acquisition, capital investment, international expansion, or marketing innovation;
  • the business demonstrates evidence of bold and authentic leadership, including the development of a strong, progressive culture and wider contribution to society; and
  • there is evidence of the positive impact of the private equity/venture capital relationship with the company: ranging from mentorship to new market access and other relevant factors.

Being guided by the criteria, our judging panel will comprehensively assess all submissions, shortlist the finalists, and select a winner for each category.

Judging Panel

Anne Keppler

Anne Keppler

Regional Director Southern Africa, DEG
Dr Anthony Costa SAVCA

Dr Anthony Costa

Investment Lead, RSA Presidency
SAVCA Awards Craig Beney

Craig Beney

CEO, Helical Capital Partners
Dr David Makovah

Dr David Makovah

Director, Tactus Advisory
Idan Segal SAVCA 2025

Idan Segal

Chief Investment Officer & Founding Partner, Convergence Partners
Lumka Mlambo SAVCA 2025

Lumka Mlambo

Principal, SA SME Fund
Mike Donaldson SAVCA 2025

Mike Donaldson

CEO, RMB Corvest
Shainal-Sukha-SAVCA

Shainal Sukha

Managing Director, Sukha and Associates (Pty) Ltd

Contact Us

Theodore Van Der Merwe SAVCA

Theodore van der Merwe
Research & Communications Manager

Email: theodore@savca.co.za
Tel: +27 11 268 0041

Thakane Pswarayi SAVCA

Thakane Pswarayi
Events & Membership Manager

Email: thakane@savca.co.za
Tel: +27 11 268 0041