Assistance for young entrepreneurs

Young entrepreneurs play an important role in promoting social change and driving innovation. New products and services created by entrepreneurs can cause a ripple effect and stimulate related businesses or sectors that need to support the new venture. That's why young entrepreneurs are important for stimulating economic growth.

We understand that young entrepreneurs face certain challenges when they want to start their own businesses. Access to funding, education and training, better infrastructure, and networking opportunities are some of the challenges they can face.

Different programmes have been put in place to remove unnecessary challenges and assist young entrepreneurs. You can contact the following organisations should you need assistance:

Khayelitsha Bandwidth Barn

The Western Cape Government established the Khayelitsha Bandwidth Barn in collaboration with the Cape Innovation and Technology Initiative (CiTi) to enable, support, and grow the township tech ecosystem in the Western Cape. The Khayelitsha Bandwidth Barn is South Africa's only township-based tech hub and offers community space that supports tech entrepreneurship, innovation and digital skills development within the Khayelitsha and Mitchells Plain communities.

For more information about the Khayelitsha Bandwidth Barn, visit their website.

GoDigital Western Cape

#GoDigital initiative is no longer offered but it provides valuable resources to help SMME’s adopt digital technologies and practices to grow and enter new markets. You can still make use of the webinars and articles provided:

• The Western Cape Tech volunteers initiative 
• GoDigital Webinars
• GoDigital Articles
• GoDigital Training

Junior Achievement SA (JASA)

For over 38 years, JASA’s in-school and out-of-school youth programmes have provided entrepreneurship, financial literacy and workplace readiness training, reaching upwards of 7 000 learners and young adults annually.

Through experiential learning, participants tackle real issues related to starting up and running small businesses, and the Services SETA has accredited 2 premium JASA programmes at NQF Level 4.

Out-of-school youth

The premium Youth Enterprise Development Programme guides 18 to 35 year-olds through the process of establishing sustainable businesses. For 6 months, participants attend incubator-style classes, followed by a further 6 months of support and mentorship.

High school

The Enterprise Programme is the flagship offering for Grade 10 and 11 learners. The learners form companies and go through the entire process of starting up businesses and developing products or services. They learn about all the aspects of entrepreneurship, financial literacy and life skills. A longer version is the premium Entrepreneurship Academy Programme. There are other shorter entrepreneurial courses, including programmes focussing on addressing environmental issues, financial literacy, career planning and workplace readiness.

National Youth Development Agency (NYDA)

The National Youth Development Agency helps create opportunities for youth employment and youth entrepreneurship by developing, funding and supporting effective programmes. The fund was established by the South African Government in response to the high youth unemployment in the country.

NYDA Grant Programme

The NYDA Grant Programme aims to provide young entrepreneurs an opportunity to access both financial and non-financial business development support to establish their survivalist businesses. 

The programme focuses on youth entrepreneurs who are just starting and are displaying signs of future potential but are not yet fully developed.

Young people interested in accessing the grant programme will have to commit to participating in the NYDA mentorship and voucher programme for a minimum of 2 years.

Please visit their website for more information.

For more information contact JASA at:
Tel: 071 191 0167
Email: info@jasa.co.za

Western Cape office
Tel: 021 785 6982
Email: elena@jasa.co.za

NYDA Call Centre 0800 52 52 52
NYDA online Enquiry

Physical Address
Shop P 18a, Piazza level, Golden Acre, Cape Town, 8000

Tel: 087 158 7701
Email: Capetown@nyda.gov.za