Youth Start CT: Turning Bright Ideas into Thriving Cape Town Businesses

Are you a young Capetonian with entrepreneurial dreams? The City of Cape Town's Youth Start CT entrepreneurial challenge might be exactly the opportunity you've been waiting for. This annual competition is now accepting entries, offering aspiring business owners aged 18-35 a chance to transform their innovative ideas into successful ventures.

What is the Youth Start CT Entrepreneurial Challenge?

As Councillor Francine Higham, Mayoral Committee Member for Community Service and Health, explains, "The Youth Start CT entrepreneurial challenge is an annual competition hosted by the City of Cape Town, which targets all young entrepreneurs aged 18 to 35 years old who have a business idea or an existing start-up business and are looking for that extra boost to get their business going."

The initiative focuses on businesses that either currently create employment opportunities for youth in Cape Town or plan to do so in the future.

Youth entrepreneurship is crucial to Cape Town's economic growth and empowerment. The city recognizes that young people bring fresh perspectives, innovative ideas, and a willingness to take risks—all essential qualities for successful entrepreneurship.

"Young people shape the future of South Africa, and investing in young entrepreneurs is incredibly important to the City of Cape Town," says Higham. With South Africa's high youth unemployment rates, fostering entrepreneurship among young people can significantly impact economic growth and job creation.

The competition highlights several sectors with significant growth potential:

Agriculture

Manufacturing

Information Technology

Finance

Tourism

 

How to Enter

The application process is straightforward:

Create a three-minute video showcasing your business idea or existing start-up

Complete the entry form on the City of Cape Town website

Submit before the March 16 deadline

Ready to take your entrepreneurial journey to the next level? Visit the City of Cape Town website at capetown.gov.za for complete information and application details.

The deadline for submissions is March 16, so don't delay!

You don't need formal tertiary education to apply—just a great idea and the drive to create opportunities for Cape Town's youth.

Click on the link to here more: 

 

Presenter : Jasnine Roberts

Producer: Lydia M