2027 theme: Opportunity
Day 1: learn. Day 2: connect.
The summit keeps the same shape every year, so you know what to expect. The theme, speakers, buyers and featured access focus change.
What happens at Gateway for Business summit?
Gateway for Business is a two-day summit. Day 1 runs four learning tracks (Discover, Build, Grow and Scale), practical workshops, a live Fix My Business panel and one-to-one business clinics, ending with a 90-Day Plan session. Day 2 is the Business Access Programme: procurement briefings, pre-arranged Meet the Buyer meetings, a Funding and Finance Zone, a Technology Zone and a Mentorship Lounge. The 2027 theme is Opportunity.
Day 1: Learn
Provisional timings. The full agenda and speakers are published when registration opens.
- Registration and Marketplace opensCollect your personalised programme and confirm your clinic slots.
- Opening plenaryThe business growth journey, and first findings from the South African Business Growth Report.
- Four tracks in parallelDiscover, Build, Grow and Scale, each on the year’s theme.
- Practical workshopsSmall rooms of no more than 40 people, templates in hand.
- Marketplace lunchNetworking and exhibitor demonstrations.
- Fix My BusinessThree businesses put a real problem in front of an expert panel, live.
- The Business Clinic opensBook a 15-minute slot with an accountant, lawyer, marketer, banker, HR specialist, technology specialist or mentor.
- Track workshops, round two
- 90-Day Plan sessionFacilitated tables by track. Each participant drafts their plan.
- Partner networking reception
The four tracks
The main sessions run in four rooms at once. You follow the track that matches your stage.
Discover
Explore and start
Build
Start and establish
Grow
Strengthen and expand
Scale
Expand and compete
Day 2: Connect and access
The Business Access Programme. Meetings are matched in advance using what you tell us in your Growth Assessment, so the people you meet are relevant to your business.
Meet the Buyer
Pre-arranged 20-minute meetings between qualifying businesses and corporate and public-sector buyers, matched in advance.
Procurement
Briefings where buyers explain what they buy, how to get onto their supplier lists and the mistakes to avoid.
Funding and finance
Banks, development finance institutions and alternative lenders, there to talk about financing your next stage.
Investment
Introductions and pitch sessions with investors for growth-ready businesses in the Scale track.
Technology access
Hands-on time with accounting, CRM, AI, e-commerce and cybersecurity tools. Try them rather than watch demos.
Mentorship
Sponsored cohorts meet their corporate mentors, and new mentor matches are made.
Market access
Routes into new provinces, sectors and export markets with trade and market-access partners.
The Business Clinic
Book a 15-minute one-to-one slot with a specialist and bring a real question about your business. Clinic advisors include accountants, lawyers, marketers, bankers, HR specialists, technology specialists and experienced business mentors.
Fix My Business
Three participating businesses put a real problem in front of an expert panel on stage. The audience learns from a live diagnosis instead of a lecture.
Your 90-Day Business Growth Plan
The last session of Day 1 is a facilitated planning session. You leave with one page: three priorities from your Growth Assessment, the actions for each, the people and resources that can help, and a date for your 90-day check-in.
We follow up at 90 days, six months and twelve months to see what changed. That’s how we, and our partners, know whether the summit worked.
Ticket types
Tickets follow the tracks. Prices are published when registration opens in 2027. Sponsored places are funded by partners for entrepreneurs who couldn’t otherwise attend.
| Ticket | For | Includes |
|---|---|---|
| Discover | Anyone exploring an idea or a skill | Discover track, workshops, Marketplace, 90-Day Plan session |
| Build | New businesses and early-stage founders | Build track, workshops, clinic booking, Marketplace, Day 2 zones |
| Grow | Established small businesses and SMEs | Grow track, clinic booking, Day 2 with Meet the Buyer eligibility |
| Scale | Proven, growth-ready businesses | Scale track, priority clinic and buyer meetings, investor sessions, reception |
| Sponsored | Selected through partner cohorts and community outreach | Full Discover, Build or Grow access, with travel support where needed |
| Partner and buyer | Corporates, buyers and funders | Hosted access, meeting schedules and the reception |
Speak, run a workshop or advise in the clinic
We’re looking for practitioners: people who run businesses, buy from them, fund them or advise them. Sessions are practical, in plain language, and end with something participants can do.
Be in the room for the first edition
Register your interest and we’ll tell you first when registration, the Growth Assessment and ticket prices open in 2027.