#YouthStartCT participants get going

02 April 2025

The City of Cape Town welcomed the participants of the ninth edition of the annual #YouthStartCT Entrepreneurial Challenge last night.

The City of Cape Town’s Mayoral Committee Member for Community Services and Health, Councillor Francine Higham, opened the 2025 challenge and welcomed the 67 young entrepreneurs who will compete over six weeks in five categories: agriculture and farming, information technology, finance and business services, tourism and manufacturing.

The challenge encourages young people between the ages of 18 and 35 to submit their existing businesses, which already creates employment opportunities for youth, or business ideas, which include employment opportunities for young people.
 
‘The #YouthStartCT challenge is an example of the City’s commitment to uplifting our communities by empowering our young business leaders. This is an opportunity for them to grow their businesses and employ more people, and in turn these young entrepreneurs can help to address the huge challenges of unemployment and poverty. We wish all participants the best of luck,’ said Councillor Higham.

Training sessions will be provided to participants to improve their pitch presentations and assist them through each elimination round.

This year, more applications were received for new business ideas with the majority falling within the Business/ Finance sector. Training for the duration of the competition will be provided by Entreprenacity.

The highest number of applications were received from youth residing in Khayelitsha.

The City’s partners in the competition include Workshop17, ORTSA, The V&A Waterfront, False Bay College and Silulo Foundation. 

Prizes will be awarded to the winners at a ceremony on 11 June 2025.

Caption 1: Councillor Francine Higham welcomed the entrepreneurs.
Caption 2: The group will compete over the next six weeks.

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Published by:
City of Cape Town, Media Office