Startup Knight is a competition for South African software-based tech startups that are getting ready to start a viable business. Byte Orbit, the company behind Startup Knight, will be hosting the event on November 3rd. Entries are open until October 25th. Read on for details.

{Byte Orbit}

A series of established organizations such a Microsoft, Nokia, Bandwidth Barn, and 8ta have come on board with significant sponsorship for the winning startup. Microsoft will be providing software packages for the winning startup to run their business for 3 years as well as $60,000 worth of Azure Services. Bandwidth Barn will be providing office space for the duration of 6 months and Nokia has come on board as a product sponsor. In addition, 8ta will be providing a 3G data modem loaded with their 60Gig + 60Gig offering. The grand prize will be sponsored by Byte Orbit and will consist of software development to the value of R100,000 and ongoing mentorship. Byte Orbit will take a small equity stake in the winning business and subsequently support them on an ongoing basis leveraging 9 years of industry experience to increase their ability to succeed.

Participants can enter online at www.byteorbit.com from now through October 25th. Fifteen finalists will be announced by October 26th and they will be required to pitch to a judging panel at Byte Orbit Offices in Durbanville, Cape Town on November 3rd. The results of the winner will be announced on the evening of November 3rd at a venue in Cape Town. The main requirement is that the entry must be focused on a software product.

A recap of the associate sponsors (who each have a representative on the judging panel):

• Microsoft
• Nokia
• 8ta
• Bandwidth Barn
• Bandwidth Blog
• Ching Payments

For more information, visit Byte Orbit and don’t forget to follow the company on Twitter for competition updates.