The finalists have been selected across three categories based on turnover and trading history, with businesses ranging from emerging companies with turnover of up to R10m to medium-sized businesses generating more than R50m.
The shortlist comes against a difficult backdrop for South African entrepreneurs. The country's entrepreneurial ecosystem received a score of 3.9 out of 10 in a recent assessment covering 56 economies, compared with a global average of 4.7.
Access to finance, government support and ease of market entry were among the weaker areas measured.
The finalists include businesses addressing challenges in areas such as financial inclusion, agricultural skills, waste, invasive alien plants and access to services in township and informal markets.
PB Gaz, founded by Lwazi, Lwando and Simnikiwe Ndlangalavu, supplies LPG cooking gas and related services to township households, schools and small businesses.
Linda Ntshanga's Ekash Group operates a fintech platform providing mobile money services to individuals, SMMEs, informal traders and community groups, while Mxolisi Mhlongo's Euphrosyne converts invasive alien plants into charcoal.
Other emerging-business finalists include Bokamoso Farmers Academy, CoralBloom Studio, SoWeToo Tours and Euphrosyne.
The Small Business Entrepreneur of the Year category includes Food Sock Meals, First Class Parking, Offshore Africa Training Centre, Donkey Long Tong, Noleo Projects and Henque Waste.
The businesses cover areas including shelf-stable food production, airport valet parking, oil and gas training, braai and fire-tool manufacturing, construction and engineering, and waste management and recycling.
The three finalists in the Medium Business Entrepreneur of the Year category are The CMF Group, HSP Mobility Solutions and TTI Bursary Management.
The CMF Group operates in wholesale, distribution and e-commerce, supplying consumer electronics, mobile accessories and homeware.
HSP Mobility Solutions combines driver training, fleet rental and chauffeur services with AI-powered mobility solutions, while TTI Bursary Management manages the bursary lifecycle for corporate funders.
Gugu Mjadu of Business Partners Limited says a common thread among this year's finalists is their focus on turning persistent challenges into businesses.
The finalists will be assessed on entrepreneurial ability, growth, management skills, market strategy, financial performance and social and environmental contribution. The assessment also includes independently reviewed financial statements and compliance verification.
A winner will be selected in each of the three categories, with one of the finalists also set to be named South Africa's overall Entrepreneur of the Year 2026.
Judges may additionally confer Job Creator, Innovator and Impact Entrepreneur of the Year titles on finalists for contributions to employment, market innovation or social impact.
The 2026 winners will be announced at an awards ceremony in October, with prizes including funding, mentorship, technical assistance and business exposure opportunities.
