Cape Town City invites young entrepreneurs to apply for participation in #YouthStartCT Challenge

Youth unemployment remains one of the most significant challenges facing South African youth today so the City of Cape Town’s Social Development and Early Childhood Development Department’s invitation to young entrepreneurs to apply for participation in the annual #YouthStartCT entrepreneurial challenge is sorely needed.

It will provide participants with opportunities to learn business skills and gain valuable knowledge on how to start and maintain a youth-owned business.

The annual competition is open for young entrepreneurs, aged 16 -35 years old, who have business ideas or have started a small business that is less than three years old.  The business idea or start-up business should be creating employment opportunities for young people. 

Submissions to participate in the programme should focus on creating sustainable employment opportunities for youth. This year’s business categories are: 

·       Agriculture/farming

·       Manufacturing

·       Information technology (IT)

·       Finance and business services

·       Tourism 

Applications to participate in the programme will close on 30 April 2023. 

The #YouthStartCT Challenge is a  programme for start-up entrepreneurs which aims to contribute to skills development, innovation and development of entrepreneurship. 

The competition has three objectives: 

·       Open up channels for new ideas and businesses 

·       Seed fund a handful of ideas or businesses 

·       Start momentum on social development initiatives 

‘We are excited to host this programme to assist young people with business ideas and to equip them with the necessary skills and knowledge to start up a business or to grow an existing one. The programme will support youth capacity development and job creation and will focus on developing both the entrepreneur and the business idea. We would like to invite young people to participate in the programme and submit their relevant business ideas and proposals,’ said Mayoral Committee Member for Community Services and Health, Councillor Patricia van der Ross. 

City gives running start to young entrepreneurs

The City’s Social Development and Early Childhood Development Department invites young entrepreneurs to apply for participation in the annual #YouthStartCT entrepreneurial challenge.

Read more: https://t.co/GwuIiAp0sV#CTNews pic.twitter.com/nGI0qCwuNE

— City of Cape Town (@CityofCT) April 13, 2023

The competition will also provide the City of Cape Town with knowledge of specific requirements and trends in Cape Town – which is a practical way to do research on customer challenges and possible solutions. 

For more information on the #YouthStartCT programme visit www.capetown.gov.za/YouthStart. 

Online applications can be accessed here: www.capetown.gov.za/YouthStart.