After a series of play-off rounds between the 100 finalists in the City’s young entrepreneur competition, only 25 are left standing.
The second instalment of the City of Cape Town’s #YouthStartCT 2017 competition is heating up, with just 25 contestants remaining.
The initiative is part of the Social Development and Early Childhood Development Department’s Youth Development Programme, and is designed to help kick-start interesting entrepreneurial ventures and stimulate job creation.
On Saturday 20 May 2017, the top 50 contestants each had three minutes to pitch their business or business idea to a panel of adjudicators who then scored them from set criteria, taking into account viability, the entrepreneur’s passion for what they’re doing, the market, and impact.
The judging panel comprised representatives from the Raymond Ackerman Academy at the University of Cape Town, the University of the Western Cape’s Centre for Entrepreneurship, ABSA, the Small Enterprise Development Agency, and the City.
‘I don’t envy the judging panel because there are some brilliant and very diverse business ideas being showcased this year. From hair and beauty salons, to fresh produce, to apps and other tech solutions designed to make life easier, I can’t wait to see what happens next,’ said the City’s Mayoral Committee Member for Safety and Security; and Social Services, Alderman JP Smith.
Details of the top 25 are available here.
The group will go head to head again this coming weekend during the next elimination round, with the top 15 to be announced on Monday 29 May 2017. The next milestone in the #YouthStartCT 2017 journey will be the final pitch on 10 June 2017, after which the top three entrepreneurs will be unveiled at the awards ceremony to coincide with Youth Day.
‘The timing of the grand finale is fitting because it embodies youth empowerment. Engaging with these young entrepreneurs has personally been an eye-opener and gives one a sense of hope that there are amazing ideas out there to help take our economy to the next level. These young people are ready to roll up their sleeves and put in the hard work necessary to get their businesses off the ground, but everyone can do with a little stepping stone and hopefully #YouthStartCT is a step in the right direction. Offering these stepping stones is in line with our Organisational Development and Transformation Plan which prioritises economic inclusion whereby the City and residents work together to create economic opportunities,’ added Alderman Smith.