Zaio Institute Named Small Business of the Year

Zaio Institute of Technology and other South African small businesses were honoured at the 2026 News24 X Lula SME Awards in Cape Town.

Updated on Nov. 2, 2026 in Business — General

Zaio Institute Named Small Business of the Year

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Should South Africa do more to support small businesses and entrepreneurs?

The 2026 News24 X Lula SME Awards were held at Nasdak in Cape Town on Thursday, 29 October, recognising South Africa's top small businesses across five categories. Zaio Institute of Technology won both Small Business of the Year and Service Business of the Year.

Why it matters

The awards, now in their second year, spotlight small enterprises across South Africa and share R300,000 in prize money based on growth, innovation, impact and resilience. Recognition of this kind gives smaller businesses visibility with customers, partners and investors across the country.

The awards distribute R300,000 across five categories, judged on growth, innovation, impact and resilience. The extraction does not state how the prize money is divided between winners in each category.

The players

Zaio Institute of Technology

A private institute that began as a University of Cape Town student start-up and now provides accredited programmes in software development, artificial intelligence, data science and cybersecurity.

Bulelani Balabala

Founder of the Township Entrepreneurs Alliance, a network that builds databases of township entrepreneurs across South Africa.

Wonder Snacks

A Cape Town snack company that began in 2017 with small popcorn poppers and now runs a fully automated popcorn plant in Parow.

The details

Zaio Institute of Technology, which began as a University of Cape Town student start-up, now offers accredited programmes in software development, artificial intelligence, data science and cybersecurity. Other winners included Wonder Snacks (Product Business of the Year), Ambesha Africa (Women-Owned Business of the Year) and Bulelani Balabala of the Township Entrepreneurs Alliance (Business Networker of the Year).

2017: Wonder Snacks starts with small popcorn poppers.
2015: Balabala founds the Township Entrepreneurs Alliance with about 10,000 township entrepreneurs.
Thursday, 29 October 2026: News24 X Lula SME Awards held in Cape Town.
16-22 November 2026: Global Entrepreneurship Week.

Market Landscape

The awards arrive as South African small businesses seek visibility through national recognition programmes. Global Entrepreneurship Week, which runs from 16 to 22 November and is in its 19th year, reaches more than 10 million people across 200 countries and territories.

For South African consumers, the recognition of local brands such as Wonder Snacks may raise awareness of homegrown products on shop shelves. Entrepreneurs in townships and other communities can use programmes like the Township Entrepreneurs Alliance to connect with networks and opportunities.

The takeaway

Small businesses seeking visibility can use national awards and networks such as Global Entrepreneurship Week to connect with peers, mentors and customers. Recognition programmes like these show how consistent growth and resilience can be measured and rewarded.

What happens next

Global Entrepreneurship Week runs from 16 to 22 November 2026, with its 19th annual edition drawing participants across 200 countries and territories.