#YouthstartCT Challange contenders swing for the fences
20 May 2025
The ninth edition of the annual #YouthStartCT Entrepreneurial Challenge is nearing the finish line. Contestants have completed their final pitches, and now it’s with the judging panel who’ll announce the winners in the days leading up to Youth Day.
The #YouthStartCT Entrepreneurial Challenge is a process of elimination, where contestants have to pitch their existing businesses or business ideas to a judging panel to progress to the next round.
The competition started with an induction session for the 67 qualifying young entrepreneurs, followed by two rounds of training and resultant pitches in the business ideas category.
Participants with existing businesses attended three training sessions and delivered three pitch presentations – the last session was held on Saturday, 17 May.
The training and pitch presentations for the existing businesses have been successfully completed, with the final pitch that took place on Saturday, 17 May 2025.
‘I’m very excited to see how this year’s #YouthStartCT Challenge will play out. The contestants have done the hard work, and we thank each and everyone who threw their hats into the ring. The challenge not only provides excellent learning opportunities, but also creates a platform for networking and new markets. We hope that their commitment, adaptability, and willingness to embrace constructive criticism will pay off. We are now down to the business end of the competition, and I look forward to the big reveal at our awards evening in June,’ said Mayoral Committee Member for Community Services and Health, Councillor Francine Higham.
The judging panel is in the process of finalising the top performers in the various categories. In the category for existing businesses, the panel will conduct site visits as part of its final deliberations.
The site verification process is to confirm and assess key aspects of the business operations.
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.
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Published by:
City of Cape Town, Media Office
