Early-stage startups across Africa are invited to apply for the SiGMA Pitch Startup Competition 2027, an international startup competition that gives founders an opportunity to showcase their businesses to investors, venture capitalists, industry leaders and potential partners.

The competition is part of the SiGMA Startup Village and will run across several international SiGMA summits in 2027, including the SiGMA Africa Summit in Cape Town, South Africa, on February 17, 2027.

The Africa edition is expected to bring together more than 100 startups in the Startup Village, while the top six startups selected by the judges will advance to the live pitch competition.

What Is the SiGMA Pitch Competition?

SiGMA Pitch is designed to give promising startups a platform to present their businesses to investors and other stakeholders within the technology, gaming, fintech and related industries.

For the 2027 competition, startups can apply once and may be considered for the SiGMA summit that best fits their business. The competition will be held across seven international summits, including Cape Town, Dubai, São Paulo, Malta, Manila, North America and Rome.

The Africa edition will take place at GrandWest Casino and Entertainment World in Cape Town.

Who Can Apply?

The competition is targeted at early-stage startups, typically from the Seed to Series A stage.

Applicants should generally:

Have raised no more than €3 million in total funding.
Be developing an innovative product or service relevant to the SiGMA ecosystem.
Be available to attend the relevant summit in person if selected.
Demonstrate a strong business and a clear value proposition.

SiGMA is particularly interested in startups working in areas including:

iGaming
Sports betting
Casino
Esports
Affiliate technology
Artificial intelligence
Fintech
Blockchain
Gaming technology

The wider 2027 competition also highlights areas such as payments, compliance and regtech, applied AI and data infrastructure, sports and creator technology, prediction markets and event trading.

What Selected Startups Will Receive

Startups accepted into the SiGMA Startup Village will receive access to a range of opportunities during the summit.

These include:

One Premium Event Pass.
Four Standard Event Passes for the team.
A branded presence within the Startup Village.
Access to the Startup Lounge and dedicated workspace.
Invitations to exclusive networking events.
Opportunities to showcase their businesses to industry delegates.
Automatic consideration for the SiGMA Startup Pitch competition.

The Startup Village is designed to connect participating startups with investors, operators, affiliates, mentors and other industry stakeholders.

However, being accepted into the Startup Village does not automatically guarantee a place among the six finalists for the live pitch competition.

The Pitch Competition

Following the application period, SiGMA’s judging panel will review eligible applications and select the finalists.

For the Africa edition, six startups will advance to the final live pitch.

Each finalist will have:

3 minutes to present the business.
5 minutes to answer questions from the judging panel.

The three-minute presentation limit is strictly enforced, including any video used during the presentation.

The startup receiving the highest overall score from the judges will be named the winner of the SiGMA Startup Pitch.

Applicants can also improve their chances of being selected for the Startup Village by submitting a three-minute video introduction as part of their application.

Networking and Investor Exposure

Beyond the pitch itself, the competition provides startups with opportunities to meet investors, venture capitalists, operators, affiliates and other businesses within the SiGMA ecosystem.

Selected startups will also have access to the Startup Lounge, where they can hold meetings and network during the summit. SiGMA also provides PR opportunities through its magazines, website, newsletters and interviews.

For African founders, the Cape Town summit provides a regional platform to present their businesses while connecting with an international audience.

Is There an Application Fee?

No. Applying for the SiGMA Startup Village and Pitch competition is free.

There is no application fee or participation fee for selected Startup Village participants.

However, successful applicants are responsible for their own travel, accommodation, visa costs and other personal expenses associated with attending the event.

Application Deadline

Applications for the SiGMA Africa Pitch 2027 close on January 6, 2027.

The shortlist is scheduled to be announced on January 22, 2027, followed by a pitch-deck submission deadline on February 3. The live SiGMA Africa Pitch competition will take place on February 17, 2027 in Cape Town.

SiGMA Africa Pitch 2027 at a Glance

Competition: SiGMA Pitch Startup Competition
Edition: 2027
Target: Early-stage startups
Stage: Typically Seed to Series A
Funding threshold: No more than €3 million raised
Location: Cape Town, South Africa
Live pitch: February 17, 2027
Finalists: 6 startups
Pitch format: 3-minute presentation + 5-minute Q&A
Application fee: Free
Application deadline: January 6, 2027

How to Apply

Interested startups can submit their applications through the official SiGMA Pitch application page 

Apply here: SiGMA Pitch 2027 application page

Applicants should ensure that their business information accurately communicates their product, market, traction and relevance to the SiGMA ecosystem before submitting.