From a production bakery looking to attract investors to an agricultural co-operative creating opportunities for local growers, the Bellville Business Expo 2026 highlighted what can happen when entrepreneurs get access to the right support, networks and markets.
For many small business owners, building a business is only half the challenge. Finding customers, securing funding, accessing distribution networks and competing in an increasingly demanding marketplace can be just as difficult.
For Franc Lubbe, director of Francly Foods, the opportunity to take his business to the next level became a little closer when he was named the overall winner of the Greater Tygerberg Partnership’s (GTP) 2026 Level Up Business Programme.
Franc Lubbe took first place at the Bellville Business Expo (BBEXPO) on 28 October, following several months of business development, mentorship and preparation through the programme.
His halaal-certified production bakery supplies coffee shops, restaurants and retailers across Cape Town. His next ambition is to attract investors who can help expand the business.
Speaking to Franc Lubbe after the announcement, he described the programme as a valuable growth experience, highlighting the opportunities and business connections it had created.
“We started in July with the GTP’s Level Up Programme. It has been very tough, but month to month we have just grown, grown and grown,” he said.
His experience illustrates an important reality for South Africa’s small business sector: entrepreneurial potential is abundant, but the right connections and access to opportunity can make a significant difference to how far a business can go.
The missing link between potential and growth
For the Greater Tygerberg Partnership (GTP), supporting entrepreneurs means addressing more than the immediate challenges of running a small business.
Its Level Up Programme is designed to help established entrepreneurs strengthen their business foundations, improve their competitiveness and prepare for commercial opportunities.
Now in its fourth year, the 2026 programme ran from July to October, supporting 28 graduating entrepreneurs through business development workshops, mentorship, expert guidance and accountability support.
“The BBEXPO is more than an exhibition. It created an opportunity for local businesses to connect with new markets, showcase their products and services, strengthen their networks and access practical business support,” says Nasmera Buckus, Chief Operating Officer (COO) at GTP.
The event was hosted by GTP in collaboration with better. together., the City of Cape Town (CoCT) and Tyger Valley Shopping Centre. It is the Northern Suburbs’ only annual business event of its size.
From the wider programme, ten entrepreneurs were selected to pitch their businesses to a panel of judges at the Sanlam Auditorium in Bellville on 19 October. Five finalists progressed to BBEXPO, where their businesses were showcased and the top three positions announced.
The 2026 finalists represented a diverse range of industries, demonstrating the breadth of entrepreneurial activity within the Northern Suburbs.
Tanya van Stade of Seeds for Life Farm, which produces nutrient-rich vegetable powders and vegetable-infused butters while creating market opportunities for other local growers, secured second place.
Haythem van der Schyff of Spice It Up & Go, a Durbanville-based spice retailer, took third place.
Algernon Jacobs of Multi-Fast, an industrial fastener and tools supplier, finished fourth, while Jorgina Heugh of Adore Her by G, a beauty and grooming brand with approximately 30 products and a customer base of more than 15,000, placed fifth.
Each business has its own growth ambitions, but they share a common need: the opportunity to reach more customers, strengthen their market position and build sustainable operations.
Why access to markets matters
The importance of market access was a recurring theme at this year’s expo.
Addressing entrepreneurs at the opening, Alderman James Vos, Mayoral Committee Member for Economic Growth at the City of Cape Town, highlighted the role small businesses play in the local economy and the importance of connecting them to customers and larger supply chains.
“There’s no shortage of innovation and craftsmanship in Cape Town,” Vos said. “But what we need to get right is improving access to market.”
It is a challenge that extends beyond simply finding a place to sell.
Entrepreneurs must understand their customers, price their products appropriately, develop effective distribution strategies and build the relationships that enable them to compete for larger opportunities.
Warren Hewitt, CEO of the Greater Tygerberg Partnership, also emphasised that sustainable business growth requires an ecosystem of support and collaboration.
His message to entrepreneurs was clear: commitment and hard work matter, but so do the partnerships that help businesses move forward.
This thinking underpins the GTP’s approach to enterprise development, connecting business support with platforms that enable entrepreneurs to engage with customers, industry representatives, potential buyers and funders.
Taking business development beyond the classroom
The fourth annual Bellville Business Expo (BBEXPO) 2026, held at Tyger Valley Centre on 28 and 29 October, provided that next step.
With 50 exhibitors, including 30 businesses participating in the Level Up programme, the BBEXPO brought together 1508 local enterprises, entrepreneurs and attendees that registered to join a high-traffic retail environment, creating opportunities to showcase products, meet prospective customers, generate interest and develop new business relationships.
Under the theme Local is Better, the expo was designed to bring local business and local community together.
Six Discovery Zones showcased the diversity of the Bellville business landscape, covering food and artisan producers, fashion and lifestyle, beauty, creative industries, professional services and emerging innovation.
But the event was also designed to offer practical value to business owners.
The Level Up Business Lab was booked out and featured six workshops covering access to finance, artificial intelligence, retail readiness, sales, customer conversion, digital marketing and branding.
Entrepreneurs could also access one-to-one advice through the Expert Business Lounge, where experienced professionals offered guidance on issues ranging from finance and compliance to procurement, leadership and business growth.
A programme of live product demonstrations, entrepreneur pitches and Meet the Maker spotlights gave exhibitors additional opportunities to tell their stories and engage with visitors.
A further highlight on day one of the expo was the keynote contributions by Ayanda Vumazonke, National Marketing Manager at Pareto Limited, and Paul Raphaely, Director of NOMU. Raphaely shared insights from NOMU’s 27-year entrepreneurial journey, highlighting the importance of perseverance, distinctive products and clear, credible brand positioning in building a successful business.
For consumers, the Local is Better Passport Challenge encouraged active participation, inviting visitors to discover local businesses, sample products, identify woman-owned enterprises and explore the businesses contributing to the local economy.
The intention was to make supporting local business something people could experience, rather than simply a message they heard.
A business ecosystem built on collaboration
BBEXPO is not intended to be a once-a-year opportunity.
It forms part of GTP’s wider work to strengthen the local business environment through enterprise development, partnerships and platforms that connect businesses to resources and opportunities.
Initiatives such as the Level Up Business Programme and Bellville Connect are designed to support entrepreneurs beyond the event itself, helping businesses become more discoverable, access useful information and develop networks within the local economy.
The impact of this approach is also attracting interest beyond the Western Cape. Three additional Level Up programmes are planned for Gauteng in 2027, extending the initiative into other economic centres and creating opportunities to support more entrepreneurs.
For businesses such as Francly Foods, Seeds for Life Farm and Spice It Up & Go, the next chapter is about building on the momentum created through the programme and turning new connections into tangible commercial opportunities.
That is ultimately what makes initiatives like BBEXPO important.
“A business showcase can introduce a product to a new audience. A development programme can strengthen an entrepreneur’s ability to run a business. But when these opportunities are connected, they can help create a more supportive environment in which local enterprises have a better chance of growing,” says Nasmera Buckus.
“And when those businesses grow, the benefits reach further than the business owner. They create opportunities for employees, suppliers, customers and the communities they serve.”
Local is Better is therefore more than a celebration of local products and services. It is a recognition that building a stronger local economy requires people, businesses and institutions to participate in its success.
Key event partners, including the City of Cape Town, Tyger Valley Centre, Rain Natural Skincare, Fuji Express, Metropolitan, African Bank, Tappd, NOMU, BizMag, Urban Seed PR, The Human Economy and Get Published, helped make this year’s BBEXPO possible through their valued support and contributions.
Through the GTP’s ongoing work, Bellville is building those connections, one business, one opportunity and one partnership at a time.
Be part of Bellville’s growth story.
Partner with the Greater Tygerberg Partnership (GTP) to unlock opportunities, strengthen business connections and help build a stronger, more inclusive local economy. Together, we can create a better Bellville where businesses, communities and investment grow.
To explore partnership opportunities, contact: Nasmera Buckus – COO, Greater Tygerberg Partnership, [email protected].
