Bellville Business Expo 2025: connecting local entrepreneurs and businesses

The 2025 Bellville Business Expo (BBEXPO) forged a significant link between local businesses and aspiring entrepreneurs on 28 and 29 October 2025, at the Tygervalley Centre Arena. Celebrating its third year, the expo emerged as one of Cape Town’s foremost platforms for fostering business growth and collaboration, attracting over 500 participants from the Northern Suburbs and beyond.

Organised by the Greater Tygerberg Partnership (GTP), this year’s expo focused on the sustainable growth of small, medium, and micro enterprises (SMMEs). “Each year, the Bellville Business Expo grows stronger - in both scale and impact,” noted Nasmera Buckus, Chief Operations Officer at the GTP. The event highlighted the innovation and resilience that characterises Bellville's local economy, showcasing businesses across diverse sectors including technology, finance, retail, creative industries, manufacturing, and social entrepreneurship.

Attendees had the unique opportunity to connect directly with buyers, funders, and industry experts, gaining critical insights into strategies for sustainable scaling, building brand visibility, and accessing new markets. The support from key partners such as Tyger Valley Centre, Standard Bank, Vodacom, and Petco enriched the event, transforming it into a powerful launching pad for local SMMEs.

The Bellville Connect Level Up Business Programme once again proved instrumental in driving entrepreneurial growth in the lead-up to the expo. Spanning eight weeks, the hybrid programme featured expert-led workshops, mentorship sessions, and strategic coaching that culminated in a live pitch event on 21 October. Five standout businesses were recognised and showcased at the expo.

• Sodieq Barendse – Pekkish
• Carmy Davis – Davis Clothing
• Cazri Johnson – Ncinci Ndiqala
• Shaun Cairns – Seed2harvest
• Aqeebah Taliep – Diamond Sparkle Detergent

The top three winners of the programme were awarded mentorship focused on strategy, finance, operations, and sustainability, along with access to additional resources designed to bolster their business foundations and future growth.

The expo also introduced the Sustainable Journey, a new interactive feature aimed at encouraging visitors to adopt greener habits. Highlights included Tappd’s paperless digital contact cards, e-waste recycling initiatives, an organic waste compost challenge, and a Green Pledge Wall, where guests could publicly commit to sustainable practices. This initiative underlined the growing appetite for sustainability among local businesses.

The speaker lineup showcased several industry leaders, including Alderman James Vos (Mayoral Committee Member for Economic Growth) and Warren Hewitt (CEO of the GTP), who engaged the audience in vital discussions. A significant highlight was the panel discussion on Zero Waste, Circular Economy, and Collaboration, featuring experts like Kara Rohleder from Petco and Darius van Niekerk from Wasteplan, moderated by Damien Hewitt of Plant the Seed.

“The Bellville Business Expo is a key driver of economic development and entrepreneurship in the Northern Suburbs,” emphasised Alderman Vos. “Through the GTP, the City is proud to support this initiative that fosters collaboration, innovation, and sustainable growth.”

All participating entrepreneurs will be integrated into the Bellville Connect platform—a digital ecosystem designed by the GTP to connect and empower local SMMEs through a validated business directory, resource hub, 24/7 AI-powered assistant, and a network community.

GTP remains committed to nurturing entrepreneurs and ensuring that Bellville and its surrounding areas continue to emerge as vibrant, inclusive, and opportunity-rich business districts. Ongoing programmes like Bellville Connect and the Level Up Business Programme are pivotal in equipping local enterprises to contribute meaningfully to economic advancement.