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Pitch Party2027
Calling all podcasters and aspiring podcasters in Africa!
Pitch us your best idea for a story about young Africans and stand a chance to win $10,000 from Radio Workshop. The winner will receive mentorship and editorial support to bring the story to life.
Pitch Party entry details
Deadline to apply
22:00 CAT
Finalists
Three finalists
Pitch before judges and a live audience at Resonate Podcast Festival in Cape Town.
Think Shark Tank but for podcasting!
About the Pitch Party
How it works
Your idea should fit this year's theme: young Africans and the arts. We are looking for show pitches about how Africans under the age of 35 are engaging with artistic practices. We want narrative projects, not chat or interview shows.
Your questions answered
FAQs
What is the pitch party?
You pitch us your idea for a podcast story or series.
Send us a summary of your story through our online form. Though you need to submit audio, you don't need to be an accomplished audio producer. Storytellers from film, writing, journalism and all creatives are welcome, as long as you’re passionate about listening to and engaging with audio stories.
We choose three finalists.
A panel of podcast professionals will select the three most promising ideas. They will get online mentoring from experienced producers to sharpen their pitches ahead of the RESONATE pitch party in Cape Town.
Finalists come to Cape Town for RESONATE.
We’ll cover visa costs, flights, accommodation, per diem and festival entry for each finalist.
You pitch live.
Each finalist presents their idea to a panel of judges and a live audience at the festival.
Produce your story
One winner receives $10,000 to produce a pilot episode of their podcast, in addition to editorial and mentorship support from Radio Workshop.
What are we looking for?
We are looking for original ideas in English that haven’t been published before.
Your story must be about youth in Africa and fit the theme of the arts.
We are open to fiction and non-fiction in a wide range of genres and styles: comedy, drama, documentary, investigation, science, magic realism… and everything in between.
Whether based on a real or fictional person, it should be character-driven and brought to life through vivid scenes and immersive sound. Let your imagination run wild!
How should your idea fit into this year’s theme?
We define the arts broadly: music, dance, theatre, visual art, film, fashion, poetry, crafts, comedy, street art, and the people who make them.
Your idea shouldn’t be about art as a topic. It should be about someone with a story about the arts. For example: a young African working in the arts; experiencing a moment in art; using art as an instrument.
Think broadly and creatively about how you’d want to capture those moments with them in sound.
Which languages can you submit in?
You need to submit your idea in English and produce an English story to be considered for this competition.
We know that asking for entries in English leaves out many brilliant storytellers. We don’t take that lightly. For this first Africa edition of RESONATE, our judging panel and small team can only assess and support work in English.
Radio Workshop is hoping to welcome entries in more African languages in future editions, and we are working hard to open up spaces for producers to do this beyond the pitch party.
What do you need to include in your application?
We need information about you, details about your story, and a commitment to participate in RESONATE Pitch Party 2027 if you are selected as a finalist. To submit a story idea, please include the following:
- Story title
- Give your story a clear and compelling name
- One-line description
- Summarise your story in a single sentence
- The central question
- Identify the main question that drives the episode and keeps the audience wanting to know more
- Elevator pitch (approx. 100 words)
- Give us a concise, engaging overview of your story. What is it about, and why should we be interested?
- Detailed story summary (approx. 500 words)
- Expand on your idea. Tell us what the story is about, who or what it follows, what unfolds, and what makes it compelling.
- Audio sample (1–2 minutes)
- Submit a short audio clip that gives us a sense of what your episode will sound like. If you don’t have a lot of audio experience, feel free to use the audio recorder on your phone and get creative!
- Video testimonial (+/- 2 minutes)
- Tell us why you want to produce this story, why you’re the right one to make it, and why you believe it deserves to be told.
Before you submit
Incomplete entries will not be considered. AI submissions will be disqualified.
Who can apply?
This competition is for storytellers living in Africa, aged 18 to 35.
You need to submit as an individual, even if the production will be done by a group.
Where can I get some help?
Some experience with audio will help, but it isn’t required. Our tutorial series is a good place to start: Audio Storytelling, Step by Step - YouTube. If you are a finalist, we’ll also provide you with mentorship and editorial support.
Here are some examples of stories to get you thinking creatively:
What is the prize?
Three finalists will receive a complimentary festival pass to attend RESONATE Podcast Festival in Cape Town on February 19–20, 2027, return airline tickets, per diem, and hotel accommodation.
All finalists will also be offered virtual mentoring from Radio Workshop staff who will help you prepare your pitches for the live event in Cape Town.
One grand prize winner will receive $10,000 to create a pilot episode of their podcast.
How do you select the finalist and winner?
A jury of podcast industry professionals will select three finalists from the qualifying submissions to advance to the pitch party at the RESONATE Podcast Festival in Cape Town.
Finalists will be notified via email between mid December–early January 2027.
At RESONATE Cape Town in February 2027, the three finalists will pitch their idea in front of a panel of judges and a live audience.
How can I find out more?
Watch Radio Workshop’s tutorial series on YouTube: Audio Storytelling, Step by Step - YouTube. This is a masterclass on producing documentary-style podcasts that teaches the five elements we look for in every good episode: character, tension, significance, change and place.
We want to set you up to win, and so we are offering an online information session on November 16, 2026, 17:00 CAT. Register here, and feel free to submit your questions ahead of time.
What’s the timeline?
- 10 November 2026
- Submission window opens
- 16 November 2026, 17:00 CAT
- Online information session
- 30 November 2026, 22:00 CAT
- Submission window closes
- Between mid December – early January 2027
- Finalists notified
- January to February 2027
- Finalists receive guidance on their pitches to get ready for the pitch party in Cape Town
- 20 February 2027
- Finalists will pitch their ideas at the Pitch Party. The winner will be announced at the conclusion of the event.
What are the terms & conditions?
By entering this Contest, you will be agreeing to these terms and conditions.
Participation and liability
By participating in the RESONATE Pitch Party Podcast Competition (the “Contest”), participants agree to the terms and conditions set forth herein and the official rules of the Contest, and that Radio Workshop, RESONATE, ICA and all parties acting in concert with them, including without limitation any producers, sponsors, service providers and affiliates or agents or employees thereof (collectively, the “Contest Entities”) will have no liability whatsoever for any injuries, losses, or damages of any kind resulting from their use or participation in the call for performances or participation in or utilisation of any prizes awarded.
Release and indemnity
Each participant agrees to release and hold harmless the Contest Entities from any injury, loss, death, damage, action, claim, demand or other liability that may occur from participant’s participation in this Contest or from the acceptance, use or misuse of any prize awarded, or attendance at any event, including the 2027 RESONATE Podcast Festival (the “Festival”).
Eligibility and prizes
We reserve the right to verify eligibility qualifications of any participant, including the winner of the Contest. There can be no substitutions for a prize of equal or greater value.
Who cannot enter
We will not accept entries from employees of Radio Workshop or a named sponsor, their immediate family members or anyone living in their household.
Your intellectual property
Your episode idea remains your intellectual property, and it will be produced in partnership with RW, and we will have a licensing agreement for it to be distributed on RW's platforms.