Nedbank Green Economy Indaba 2026

Terms and conditions

Green Economy Pitch Session & Green Economy Awards

“Green Economy: A Solution for a Thriving Society”

1. About the Indaba

The Nedbank Green Economy Indaba is an annual platform for dialogue, idea exchange and the showcasing of South Africa’s green transition. It focuses on practical solutions across four levers: water, waste, sustainable agriculture and renewable energy.

2026 marks the third edition. Between 200 and 300 delegates are expected — approximately 50% of them young people — alongside funders, development finance institutions, government, enterprise support organisations and green economy operators. The 2026 programme is deliberately structured to move from the diagnoses of 2025 to concrete action.

The day programme runs from 09:00 to 16:00 at Houghton Hotal. The AllFashion & Awards Evening, at which the Green Economy Awards are presented, runs from 18:30 to 21:00 at Level Three, Kramerville.

2. What this call is for

The Nedbank Social Impact Unit invites applications from youth-led green economy enterprises to take part in the Green Economy Pitch Session on the main stage of the 2026 Indaba.

Ten finalists will be shortlisted from all applications received. Each finalist pitches live to a panel of Nedbank judges in front of the full delegate room, with real-time audience voting. Two of the six 2026 Green Economy Awards — the Innovative Youth Business Model Award (R50,000) and the Scalable Youth Business Award (R50 000) — are awarded from this group of finalists on the same day.
 

Please note: the remaining four award categories are closed nomination categories. They are adjudicated internally from enterprises already funded or supported by the Nedbank Social Impact Unit portfolio and are not open for public application. Successful pitch applicants are, however, considered for future Social Impact Unit funding pipelines.

3. The 2026 Green Economy Awards

All six categories are presented at the AllFashion & Awards Evening. The table below sets out which categories are open to this call and which are closed nomination categories.

All shortlisted finalists (Top 10) will, subject to their interest and participation requirements, be afforded the opportunity to participate in a 12-month business incubation programme delivered by one of Nedbank's enterprise development partners. The programme is designed to strengthen business sustainability, growth readiness, market access, investment preparedness and leadership capability. Participation in the incubation programme is offered independently of the award outcomes, ensuring that all finalists benefit from structured development support following the Green Economy Indaba.

4. Who may apply

To be eligible for the Green Economy Pitch Session, an applicant must meet all of the following:

• Be a youth-led enterprise — the founder or a majority of the founding team must be under the age of 35 on the closing date of this call.
• Be registered and operating in South Africa, with a valid company registration or co-operative registration number.
• Have been trading for between one and five years, with demonstrable revenue or off-take.
• Operate primarily within one of the four green economy levers: water and sanitation, waste and recycling, regenerative or sustainable agriculture, or renewable energy. Enterprises in adjacent green sectors — including green technology, sustainable fashion and circular manufacturing — may apply and will be assessed against the closest lever.
• Be able to attend the Indaba in person on 1 September 2026 and pitch live on the main stage. Virtual pitching is not available.
• Be tax compliant, or able to demonstrate that a compliance process is under way.

Enterprises that are currently funded or supported by the Nedbank Social Impact Unit portfolio may not apply to the Pitch Session. They are considered under the closed nomination categories instead.

5. How applications are assessed

Stage 1 — Written application

All applications are screened for eligibility and then scored against the criteria below by the Social Impact Unit’s Portfolio Development team. The ten highest-scoring eligible applicants are invited to pitch.

Stage 2 — Live pitch on the day

Each finalist delivers a five-minute pitch followed by three minutes of questions from the judging panel. No slides are required or permitted — this is a story-and-vision format. The delegate audience votes in real time via Mentimeter after each pitch, and the audience result is displayed on screen before the judges score.

Judges’ scores and the audience vote carry equal weight. The judging panel is drawn from the Nedbank Social Impact Unit across the Education, Impact Reporting, Portfolio Development and Staff Volunteerism portfolios. The panel’s decision is final and no correspondence will be entered into.

6. Key dates

7. How to apply

Complete the application form that accompanies this document and submit it, together with the supporting documents listed below, to NedbankGreenEconomyIndabaAwards@Nedbank.co.za by 24 August 2026 at 17:00 SAST.

Supporting documents required

• Company registration certificate (CIPC / co-operative registration).
• Certified copy of the identity document of the founder or lead applicant.
• Proof of business bank account in the name of the enterprise.
• Most recent financial statements or, where these are not available, a twelve-month management income and expenditure summary.
• SARS tax clearance or tax compliance status pin, where available.
• Up to five photographs or a short video (maximum two minutes) of the enterprise in operation. Optional but strongly encouraged.

Applications submitted without the required supporting documents will be screened out. Please submit one consolidated PDF where possible, named [Enterprise Name]_GEI2026_Application.

8. Terms and conditions

8.1 These Terms and Conditions apply to all applicants, nominees, finalists and award recipients participating in the Green Economy Pitch Session and Green Economy Awards, unless stated otherwise:

8.2 The selection of the winners will take place at the Green Economy Pitch Session and Green Economy Awards on 1 September 2026. Below are some of the principles to be considered when selecting the winners:

• Innovation: The uniqueness and creativity of the business idea.
• Impact: The positive environmental and social impact of the business.
• Scalability: The potential for business growth and replication.
• Sustainability: The long-term viability and environmental sustainability of the business model.

8.3 The process of selecting winners will be as follows:

• Applications will be submitted online via email to NedbankGreenEconomyIndabaAwards@Nedbank.co.za
• A team of Nedbank selected adjudicators will review all applications submitted.
• Submitted applications will be given points based on shared information in the application form.
• Winners will be announced at the Green Economy Pitch Session and Green Economy Awards on 1 September 2026.

8.4 Submission of an application and/or participation does not constitute an offer of funding, an award, procurement opportunities, or any future business relationship with Nedbank.

8.5 Prize money awarded under the open categories is paid into the verified business bank account of the winning enterprise within 30 (thirty) business days and is intended for business growth purposes. Winners may be asked to report on the use of funds.

8.6 You cannot transfer the prize money awarded, and if you do not take up your prize money, give it up or reject it for any reason, Nedbank reserves the right to select another winner.

8.7 All other costs or expenses relating to the prize money awarded that have not been mentioned here are excluded.

8.8 We will not be responsible for any delays in redeeming the prize money.

8.9 We will not be responsible for any additional conditions that third parties impose.

8.10 We will not give the prize money awarded to a third party. We will give the prize to the verified winner(s) only.

8.11 We will not be liable for delays or failure to deliver any part of the prize resulting from acts beyond our reasonable control, including acts of God, strikes, lockouts, riots, acts of war, civil disorder, rebellions or revolutions in any country, epidemics, acts of terrorism, vandalism or sabotage, governmental regulations imposed after the fact, communication line failures, power and telecommunications failures, earthquakes, fire, floods or other disasters, and voucher expiry dates. We will notify you as soon as reasonably possible if the prize is affected in this manner.

8.12 Finalists are responsible for their own travel to and from the Indaba unless otherwise agreed in writing with the Social Impact Unit.

8.13 Nedbank reserves the right to verify any information submitted, to request additional information or supporting documentation at any stage of the application, adjudication or award process, and to disqualify any application containing false, misleading or fraudulent information.

8.14 Nedbank reserves the right not to make an award in any category where, in the view of the judging panel, no entry meets the required standard.

8.15 By applying, applicants consent to the processing of their personal and business information for the purposes of adjudication, in accordance with the Protection of Personal Information Act 4 of 2013.

8.16 By applying, finalists consent to being photographed, filmed and recorded at the Indaba, and to Nedbank using that material and the name and description of their enterprise for reporting, marketing and communications purposes.

8.17 Where a winner cannot be contacted, declines an award, or fails to meet any verification requirements, we reserve the right to withdraw the award and select an alternative recipient.

8.18 Applicants must disclose any actual, potential or perceived conflict of interest relating to the programme, the judging process or Nedbank.

8.19 Participation may be suspended or terminated if an applicant's conduct, business activities or public conduct may reasonably expose Nedbank to legal, regulatory or reputational risk.

8.20 Nothing in the competition limits Nedbank's right to support, fund, develop or engage with businesses, products, services or ideas that may be similar to those submitted by applicants.

8.21 The judging panel’s decision is final.

8.22 If a dispute arises, our decision or that of the judges will be final and binding on all aspects of the competition, and we will not enter into correspondence.

8.23 Employees of Nedbank Group and their immediate families are not eligible to apply.

8.24 We reserve the right to amend these conditions including substituting the prize at any time with another of similar commercial value.

8.25 Nedbank's failure to exercise any right under these Terms and Conditions shall not constitute a waiver of that right.

9. GENERAL

9.1 All the information about the competition and information that is published on any promotional material is part of these terms and conditions.

9.2 You may decline our request to use your details or image in marketing material or to participate in marketing of any of our services. Your refusal will not affect the awarding of a prize.

9.3 By entering the competition, you agree, consent, and acknowledge that:

• all information provided in your application is true and accurate;
• your personal information will be shared with the competition organizers and their agents, solely to the extent necessary for the competition; and 
• your personal information will be used in accordance with South African consumer and data protection laws.

9.4 By entering the competition, you agree to be bound by these competition terms and conditions.

9.5 Where applicable, our directors, employees, agents or suppliers will not be liable for any accident, injury, harm, death, damages, costs or loss that you or any other person who participates in the prize sustains at any point during the fulfilment of the prize.

9.6 We may terminate the competition immediately and without notice if we must do so because of legislative or regulatory reasons.

10. Enquiries

All enquiries relating to this call should be directed to: NedbankGreenEconomyIndabaAwards@Nedbank.co.za