EDHE Entrepreneurship Intervarsity 2025
The Entrepreneurship Development in Higher Education (EDHE), a programme of Universities South Africa (USAf), hosts the seventh annual EDHE Entrepreneurship Intervarsity in 2025. USAf is the voice of 26 South African universities. This flagship competition is funded by the Department of Higher Education and Training (DHET) through the University Capacity Development Programme (UCDP). For the sixth year, this Intervarsity is hosted in partnership with the SAB Foundation.
Alignment of the Intervarsity with the EDHE theme 2025 – Entrepreneurship for Sustainability.
This year, EDHE sets a higher standard with a renewed focus on sustainable and scalable innovations. The competition aims to attract businesses that exist to solve critical global challenges such as climate change, health, resource depletion, food shortages, environmental sustainability, and social inequality. It seeks ventures that can scale efficiently, maximising their positive impact while remaining financially sustainable.
The EDHE Entrepreneurship Intervarsity 2025 is a platform designed to identify, recognise and showcase the top student entrepreneurs at South Africa’s 26 public universities. The primary objectives of the Intervarsity are:
- To identify the top student entrepreneurs at each university;
- To identify the top student businesses at each university;
- To encourage universities to support student businesses and entrepreneurs better.
The competition is designed with four distinct categories, providing opportunities for diverse groups of innovative students to participate and benefit. The competition invites studentpreneurs to submit their entries in one of the following categories:
- Category 1: Existing Business – Tech – Designed for businesses that primarily create and develop innovative technology.
- Category 2: Existing Business – Social Impact – Focuses on businesses that leverage research, innovation, and technology to address social, environmental, or community challenges while generating profit.
- Category 3: Existing Business – General – Invites businesses with a proven track record of success, established products or services, and align with one or more of the 17 global Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
- Category 4: Research-Based Business renamed Commercialisation of Academic Research in 2025. – Targets Master’s or PhD entrepreneurs who transform scientific and technology-driven experimental academic research into viable commercial ventures. Research should have been accepted by an authorised South African academic or research institution.
The EDHE Entrepreneurship Intervarsity 2025 invites university students aged 18 to 35 from all 26 South African public universities to participate. Registered undergraduate and postgraduate students from all disciplines are eligible, whether they study full-time or part-time. However, MBA students are not eligible to participate. University staff members may only enter under the Commercialisation of Academic Research category.
To qualify for participation, applicants must meet the following criteria:
- Be currently enrolled as an undergraduate or postgraduate student at one of the 26 South African public universities at the time of submission. Both full-time and part-time students are eligible.
- Maintain good academic standing, as verified by their university’s EDHE Student Entrepreneurship Coordinators.
- As the owner, founder, or controlling shareholder of an existing business competing in one of the categories, participants must be primarily responsible for its operation. Each business may only be represented by one participant in the competition.
- The business entered must have been operational for at least three consecutive months before the competition entry.
The EDHE Entrepreneurship Intervarsity provides an exceptional platform for student entrepreneurs to showcase their innovative ideas and gain well-deserved recognition. Here are key reasons why student entrepreneurs should consider participating:
- Exposure: The competition offers student entrepreneurs the opportunity to present their innovative ideas to a wider audience, potentially attracting media attention, investors, and customers.
- Networking: Participants can connect with fellow entrepreneurs, investors, and business leaders, fostering valuable relationships and gaining industry insights.
- Feedback: Student entrepreneurs receive constructive feedback on their businesses and presentations, helping them refine their strategies and operations.
- Funding opportunities: The competition provides student entrepreneurs with funding opportunities to further develop their ideas and transform them into successful ventures.
- Skills development: Participation enhances pitching and presentation skills, which are essential for long-term business success.
- Recognition: Winning the EDHE Entrepreneurship Intervarsity boosts credibility, making it easier to attract investors, customers, and strategic partners.
- The competition has successfully received submissions from 26 universities since its inception in 2019, with 1 155 entries, 1545 in 2020, 1468 in 2021, 1682 in 2022, 1266 in 2023, and 599 quality existing businesses in 2024.
- In 2022 and 2023, winners were granted international business visits to Switzerland, allowing them to explore potential partnerships.
- Each year, winners benefit from a business coaching and mentorship programme sponsored by the SAB Foundation.
- Winners in each category receive R20 000.00 financial award, while two runners-up in the social impact category each receive R10,000. The overall winner receives an additional R100,000.
- Over the past seven years, R1,127,500 has been awarded to 51 entrepreneurs with high-potential businesses.
- Our finalists serve as a valuable pipeline to various funding stakeholders, including the SAB Foundation, Hult Prize, EO Global Student Entrepreneur Awards, and many others.
The EDHE Student Entrepreneurship Coordinators play a vital role in advancing student entrepreneurship across South Africa’s 26 public universities and supporting students in participating in the EDHE Entrepreneurship Intervarsity. As communication channel between EDHE and their respective institutions, they fulfil a range of responsibilities, including:
- Promoting the competition: They actively promote the EDHE Entrepreneurship Intervarsity within their universities, encouraging student entrepreneurs to participate.
- Assisting with entries: They guide students through the competition submission process, ensuring all entries are complete and compliant with the requirements.
- Reviewing applications: They assess student applications to ensure they meet the competition criteria and approve successful entries for internal university rounds.
- Preparing students for pitching: They facilitate relationships with industry experts available to support students in refining their business pitches and enhancing their presentation skills.
- Hosting internal rounds: They organise internal university rounds where students pitch their businesses to a panel of judges. Successful contestants then advance to the regional rounds.
- Conducting due diligence: They verify businesses advancing to the regional rounds by checking legitimacy, ownership, and compliance with the competition’s Terms and Conditions.
The adjudication process will evaluate key factors, including the innovation, sustainability, and scalability of each business. Adjudicators will be carefully selected based on specific criteria to ensure consistency and fairness throughout the competition. Auditors approved by EDHE will oversee adjudication of the regional and final rounds to maintain transparency and integrity.
During the adjudication process, judges will consider various factors when evaluating business presentations according to specific criteria for each category. Click on the Competition Documents button to view criteria for each category.
The EDHE team, led by the Director for Entrepreneurship at Universities South Africa (USAf), oversees the EDHE Entrepreneurship Intervarsity 2025. The Senior Student Engagement Officer at EDHE manages this flagship project and reports to the Project Manager for Entrepreneurship at USAf.
Supporting team includes the competition’s Advisory Committee and the EDHE Community of Practice for Student Entrepreneurship Coordinators. EDHE is responsible for setting competition rules, terms and conditions, defining adjudication criteria for each category, and appointing judges and auditors for the Regional and Final Rounds.
Additionally, reviewing entries and the coordination of Internal Rounds fall under the responsibility of university Student Entrepreneurship Coordinators within their respective institutions and regions.
Category Prizes:
- Category 1: Existing Business – Tech – R20 000.00
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- Category 1: Existing Business – Tech Runner Up – R10 000.00
- Category 2: Existing Business – Social Impact – R20 000.00
- Category 2: Existing Business – Social Impact 1st Runner Up – R10 000.00
- Category 2: Existing Business – Social Impact 2nd Runner Up – R10 000.00
- Category 3: Existing Business – General – R20 000.00
- Category 3: Existing Business – General Runner Up – R10 000.00
- Category 4: Academic Research Commercialisation – R20 000.00
- Category 4: Academic Research Commercialisation Runner Up – R10 000.00
Overall Prize:
- Studentpreneur of The Year 2025 – R100 000.00
The terms and conditions of the EDHE Entrepreneurship Intervarsity are grouped into Key Definitions, Eligibility for Existing Businesses, and General Conditions related to the competition. Click on the Competition Documents button to view criteria for each category.
EDHE Entrepreneurship Intervarsity 2024 Highlights Video
Contact Details
Calls and messages are only answered between 08:00 and 17:00.
Mr Sandile Shabalala
(Senior Student Engagement Officer)WhatsApp
+27 78 1032 519
How it Works?
The EDHE Entrepreneurship Intervarsity 2025 officially launches on 4 April 2025, with entry submissions open for 5 weeks until 9 May 2025. The competition comprises four stages: the Entry Period, university Internal Rounds, Regional Rounds, and finishes at the National Finals in Gauteng on 20 November 2025.
2025 COMPETITION TIMELINE
Step 1: Entry Period
(A) The national launch
- Date: 4 April 2025
- Time: 12:00 – 13:00
- Format: Virtual
- Join Zoom Meeting:
- Meeting link: https://zoom.us/j/97383660822
- Meeting ID: 973 8366 0822
- Passcode: 400286
- Live stream: The event will be live-streamed to the EDHE Facebook page @EDHE Student Entrepreneurship.
- Target audience: Student entrepreneurs, university staff, university executives, EDHE CoP for Student Entrepreneurship Coordinators, EDHE Studentpreneurs CoP, and general students.
(B) Entries open: 4 April – 9 May 2025 (5 weeks)
Follow the instructions below to register and submit your entry.
- Read the criteria and terms & conditions.
- Register your account and login.
- Confirm that you have read the criteria and terms & conditions.
- Choose one of the four categories.
- Complete, save and submit the entry form. You may save your progress and continue on another day. However, once submitted, you are not allowed to make any further changes. The submission deadline is 9 May 2025 at 23:59.
- After submission, expect a response from your university’s Student Entrepreneurship Coordinator by 26 May 2025.
(C) Entries selection period: 12 – 23 May 2025 (2 weeks)
The Student Entrepreneurship Coordinators from South Africa’s 26 public universities review entries during the selection process to ensure they meet the competition requirements and category criteria. They also approve successful entries to contest at university’s Internal Round on specific dates between 26 May – 27 June 2025. To check your entry status, log in to your submission account. If you have not received feedback by 26 May 2025, visit the Intervarsity web page to find your university’s Student Entrepreneurship Coordinator’s contact details and follow up accordingly.
Step 2: Internal Rounds
University Internal Rounds: 26 May – 27 June 2025 (5 weeks)
Accepted contestants will be shortlisted and invited by their university’s Student Entrepreneurship Coordinator to pitch their businesses during the Internal Round. The Student Entrepreneurship Coordinator will provide details on the event’s date, time, and format. Judges will select 2 winners from each category to proceed and represent their university at the Regional Round from 21 July – 29 August 2025.
Step 3: Regional Rounds
Regional Rounds: 21 July – 29 August 2025 (6 weeks)
Contestants from various universities within the specified regions listed below will pitch their businesses to a panel of expert judges. The panel will select 1 winner per category to advance and represent their region at the National Finals on 20 November 2025.
| Date | Region | Hosting university | Participants |
|---|---|---|---|
| 22 – 23 July 2025 | Gauteng | University of Johannesburg (UJ) | UJ, TUT, UP, WITS, SMU |
| 29 – 30 July 2025 | KwaZulu-Natal | University of Zululand (UNIZULU) | UNIZULU, DUT, UKZN, MUT |
| 5 – 6 August 2025 | Central | Central University of Technology (CUT) | CUT, SPU, VUT, NWU, UFS |
| 12 – 13 August 2025 | Western Cape | University of the Western Cape | UWC, CPUT, UCT, SU |
| 19 – 20 August 2025 | Northern | University of Venda (UNIVEN) | UNIVEN, UL, UMP, UNISA |
| 26 – 27 August 2025 | Eastern Cape | Nelson Mandela University (NMU) | NMU, RU, WSU, NMU, UFH |
Step 4: National Final Round
(A) One-on-one coaching Sessions: 20 – 24 Oct 2025 (5 days)
Each national finalist will have the opportunity to engage in a one-on-one consultation with a business coach, with each session allocated 20 minutes per finalist. This dedicated time will enable finalists to receive personalised guidance and feedback, ensuring they are well-prepared for their business presentations at the National Finals.
(B) National finals: 20 November 2025
National finalists will compete in the National Finals for a chance to win R100 000.00 and the coveted title of EDHE Entrepreneurship Intervarsity 2025 Studentpreneur of the Year. The following day, 21 November 2025, EDHE will host the prestigious EDHE Awards 2025, where the category winners will be announced, along with the national Studentpreneur of the Year and the winning university.