Positive leadership the cornerstone of The Pitch UCT

The University of Cape Town’s (UCT) flagship student entrepreneurship programme and competition, The Pitch UCT, has recently marked its 10th anniversary. Its founding programme director, Frank Karigambe, reflects on its journey as they chart the future.

“The Pitch has been successful because it combines student ownership, institutional support, and was created to train students to go from entrepreneurial thinking to entrepreneurial development and, one day, entrepreneurial success while endeavouring to tackle societal challenges around us and in the future,” Karigambe told UCT News.

In terms of student ownership, the Academic Representative Council (ARC) in the Department of Student Affairs (DSA) ensures relevance and accessibility, while it is supported by the vice-chancellor and the broader entrepreneurial ecosystem, providing credibility and continuity.

“A key differentiator is that the programme is informed by principles from Kim Cameron’s Positive Leadership framework, which emphasises building strengths rather than focusing only on deficits, fostering high-quality connections and creating environments where individuals can perform at their best,” he said.

The work of The Pitch UCT also finds expression in the university’s visionary Strategy 2030, which notes that UCT will “continue to grow as the bedrock of talent, hallmark of excellence and home of innovation in Africa”. The document further notes: “By combining our dynamic internal capabilities, we can create appropriate and context-specific innovation models and draw from our innovation and entrepreneurship institutional strategy to guide product development and commercialisation. On these aspects, UCT has deep skills that can create value.”

The Pitch UCT, according to Karigambe, thrives on a strong allied environment. “The partnership ecosystem has been sustained through shared value, active participation, and a positive leadership approach to collaboration. The Pitch is located within the newly established Centre for Wellbeing and Flourishing and works with partners such as the Solution Space at the Bertha Centre at UCT’s Graduate School of Business (UCT GSB); Allan Gray Orbis Foundation; the Hasso Plattner School of Design Thinking Afrika (d-school Afrika); Careers Service, and the Residence Academic Development Committee (RADC), alongside internal collaborators.”

He added: “After a decade, The Pitch is evolving from a competition into a structured venture pipeline within the UCT ecosystem, with positive leadership as a core operating framework. The work of applying innovation and entrepreneurial thinking is for every staff and student, no matter what role, to the benefit of our UCT community and the society we belong to.”

Karigambe continued: “The next phase focuses on extending development through Pitch Plus, strengthening alumni contribution, formalising sustainable corporate and faculty partnerships, as well as integrating more deeply with research and innovation structures.”

Guided by positive leadership, the focus is on:

• enabling high-performance environments

• strengthening collaboration across stakeholders

• producing sustained venture outcomes.

New partnership models

The goal is not only participation, but flourishing ventures and capable graduates. “The impact is seen not only in ventures, but in how students begin to see themselves as capable contributors and problem-solvers. It is an honour and privilege to bring together Africa’s brightest minds. The most meaningful part of my role is creating conditions where students can grow into their potential. This involves removing structural and psychological barriers, building partnerships that expand opportunity and enabling environments where students can perform at their best.

“The environment is collaborative rather than adversarial, reflecting a culture of shared growth and collective success. The Pitch reduces fear through peer-led engagement and structured progression. Students are introduced through familiar student leadership structures, which lowers barriers to entry.

“New partnership models, including corporate and faculty tables at the finals, are being introduced to enable structured engagement between students, staff, and external partners. These developments are guided by a positive leadership approach, ensuring that The Pitch continues to build strong relationships, enable collaboration and support meaningful outcomes.”