In a landmark development for South Africa’s youth entrepreneurship ecosystem, the Youth Employment Service (YES) officially launched the YES Gamechangers Challenge (YGC).
Launched at Sandton Convention Centre on October 15, the YGC is a transformative initiative designed to bridge the gap between high-potential young entrepreneurs and established corporate supply chains.
YES CEO Ravi Naidoo said, “With South Africa grappling with one of the world’s highest start-up failure rates, where over 86% of small businesses collapse within the first year, the YGC aims to rewrite that narrative by providing not just funding, but a sustainable market for youth-led businesses to thrive.
“It represents a fundamental shift in how we support young entrepreneurs in South Africa. This programme is demand-led. We’re not just providing capital; we’re creating pathways for sustainable growth by connecting youth entrepreneurs directly to corporate supply chains, while providing the support entrepreneurs need to succeed.”
YES, which operates as a public-private partnership between the Presidency and corporate South Africa, has already made a significant mark with its youth employment programmes.
Naidoo said since 2019, the initiative has placed over 200 000 young South Africans into quality work experiences, often their first.
“A growing outcome of these internships has been the rise of youth-led start-ups. In 2025 alone, 15% of the 43 088 YES youth participants, over 7 100 young people, started their own businesses. Overall, more than 28 000 YES alumni have gone on to establish businesses.
“The YGC leverages this existing momentum by offering a powerful launch pad for 1 000 youth entrepreneurs in its next phase. Entrepreneurs with confirmed contracts with corporates can access funding between R300 000 and R2m to accelerate their ventures.”
Naidoo added that the initiative is also designed to serve as a solution for large corporates aiming to strengthen their ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) credentials.
By onboarding youth-led enterprises into their supply chains, corporates can make a meaningful impact while also benefitting from innovative and agile service providers.
“We know young people are not short on ideas or drive; what they need is opportunity and access. The YGC gives them both,” said Naidoo. “We’re opening the doors to nearly 2 000 corporate partners, ensuring that young entrepreneurs can build sustainable businesses, not just survive the first year.”
The programme is open to entrepreneurs under 35 years of age, or YES alumni, who can demonstrate business potential and corporate engagement. It will also offer training, mentorship, and non-financial support to increase chances of success.
The first cohort of the programme participants is set to launch in early 2026, with applications expected to open in the first quarter of the year.
Amendment to the Gazette