Young entrepreneurs awarded THABANG KUAHO Young, budding entrepreneurs who took part in the City of Cape Town’s fourth #YouthStartCT competition were rewarded during an award ceremony held at the Civic Centre on Tuesday 25 June. The #YouthStartCT Challenge is a startup programme which aims to contribute to skills development and innovation, and encourages entrepreneurship in Cape Town. It is in partnership with the City; mobile network operator, MTN; various higher education training institutions and Radisson Red, among others. Mayco member for community services and health, Zahid Badroodien with the top 11 of this For the first time, the competition saw year's YouthStartCT competition. two finalists taking the third prize. They each walked away with R15 000, a full year Click Africa Digital provides online mar“Starting a business is extremely diffiincubation from False Bay Technical and keting solutions to small businesses using cult, especially for young people. You being Vocational Education and Training College a graduate programme by placing youth here only shows your capabilities. This is which includes learning, coaching, market that are digitally skilled in small businesses a stepping stone to successful business venlinkages and access to mini-factories; a that need skills in order to participate in the tures,” Badroodien said. handset and mobile data from MTN, and digital economy. “#YouthStartCT has been He encouraged the young businessmen branding and promotional materials from an absolute accelerator. The funding (cash and women of the Parable of the Pencil and branding company, Acom. prize) and training we are receiving in or- said that if they live by it, their businesses Jade Wyngaardt of Click Africa Digital der to refine these ideas and bring them have a great chance of achieving great took honours with her concept Afriversity, forth has been phenomenal,” she explained. lengths. which assists South African entrepreneurs The second place winner walked away “These five parables prepare you for the from low resource areas with practical with a R20 000 cash prize, a mobile handset journey that you are about to embark on.” tools, training and mentorship to compete and data for a year, and business advisory Last year’s winner, Thabiso Mokomele and be part of the digital economy, said the services, among others. who runs a clothing manufacturing busiaim of starting the organisation was to emThe funding will help buy three full work ness in Gugulethu, congratulated the finalpower as many young people as possible. stations for their graduates. ists and said the competition will open Wyngaardt received a R50 000 cash prize Mayco member for community services doors to a lot of opportunities for them. towards the initiative, a one terabyte hard and health Zahid Badroodien said he was “It is no coincidence that you are here. drive and unfettered access to meeting ve- proud of the finalists for their hard work You were to be here so that you could nues at the Radisson Red Hotel and determination. learn,” Mokomele said.