Helton Traders wins GEC Uganda pitch to secure Cape Town summit ticket

A Ugandan startup that transforms plastic waste into sewing thread and fabric has won a prestigious national business competition, securing the country’s sole slot at a major continental entrepreneurship summit in South Africa.

Helton Traders Limited beat more than 100 other applicants to claim the grand prize at the 2026 Global Entrepreneurship Congress (GEC) Uganda Pitching Competition in Kampala.

The enterprise walked away with a cash prize of 2 million Ugandan shillings (£420 / $530) and will now officially represent Uganda at the GEC+ Africa 2026 Conference in Cape Town this September.

The competition, organized by the Global Entrepreneurship Network (GEN) Uganda in partnership with Enterprise Uganda, was narrowed down to 10 finalists who pitched diverse commercial solutions to pressing social, environmental, and economic challenges.

Energy sector innovator Kyuka Ventures Innovation Hub was named first runner-up, receiving 1.5 million shillings, while health-tech startup Dada Innovations, also known as Simply Hers, secured the second runner-up position with 1 million shillings.

Global exposure

Organizers say the true value of the forum for these budding enterprises extends far beyond immediate capital, offering invaluable entry into international investor circles and cross-border markets.

The winning team will join more than 2,000 delegates, policymakers, and business leaders convening in South Africa to discuss innovation and investment-driven growth.

Mary Odongo, managing director of GEN Uganda, described the event as more than just a competition.

“Behind every pitch is an entrepreneur who has chosen to step forward, take risks and work towards building solutions that can transform lives, communities and economies,” Ms Odongo said.

She added that participation in the continental round would allow Ugandan innovators to connect with fellow entrepreneurs across Africa, exchange ideas, and explore new markets.

As the national representative, Helton Traders will be included in a continental deal book shared directly with high-net-worth investors, significantly increasing the startup’s chances of attracting funding and international partnerships.

Tackling bottlenecks

Carmen Rudd, managing director representing GEN South Africa and one of the competition judges, said the GEC+ Africa platform was explicitly created to accelerate business growth across the continent.

She noted that the inaugural congress in 2024 drew over 3,500 delegates from 38 African countries, including 16 cabinet ministers, establishing a stronger regional innovation framework.

“The importance of this Congress lies in the knowledge economy and how entrepreneurs can learn from somebody else’s experiences in order to grow and scale their businesses,” Ms Rudd said.

Among the top finalists pushed to the final round was Paytota Universal Payment Gateway, a tech startup addressing systemic transaction friction within Africa’s digital commerce landscape.

Erasmus Okurut, chief executive of Paytota, underscored that fragmented payment systems remain a primary bottleneck restricting cross-border trade.

“Africa is ready for digital payments,” Mr Okurut said. “We are focused on building solutions that make money move seamlessly across borders while helping businesses access larger markets.”

Next generation

Co-organizer Enterprise Uganda reaffirmed its commitment to nurturing small and medium enterprises long after the curtains close on the pitch stage.

Ronald Mukasa Senkubuge, chief operating officer of Enterprise Uganda, said the initiative succeeded in its core mandate of mapping out the next generation of scalable African disruptions.

“We want to celebrate young entrepreneurs who are innovative, creating impact in their communities and generating jobs,” Mr Senkubuge said. “This competition gives them an audience and a platform to showcase their business ideas.”

For Helton Traders founder Munyasa Hellen, the achievement serves as a powerful validation of domestic ingenuity.

“This is a really big opportunity for us,” Ms Hellen said. “It will give us access to global connections, wider markets for our products and encourage many other young entrepreneurs who have great ideas but lack support.”

While the competitive chapter in Kampala has drawn to a close, the path toward continental market exposure and global investment has just opened up for Helton Traders as they prepare for Cape Town this September.