10 SA founders selected for One Young World job creation programme

Ten South African entrepreneurs have been selected for a new initiative run by global youth leadership organisation One Young World, which aims to support young founders in scaling their businesses.

With the Ichikowitz Family Foundation as its founding partner, the National Programme for Job-Generating Entrepreneurs supports founders aged 18-35 whose businesses show the potential to create meaningful employment. It is part of the legacy of the One Young World Summit, taking place in Cape Town from November 3-6.

The selected entrepreneurs come from sectors including technology, education, agriculture, transport, fashion and employment services. They include Christiaan van den Berg, co-founder of JOBJACK, a platform connecting unemployed South Africans with entry-level work. It has more than six million users and over 5,000 employer sites, and has placed more than 65,000 people into jobs.

Also selected are Ntwenhle Linda of rural poultry enterprises Qandalami and Bunye Qanda; Merishka Harilall of Alter Ego Promotions and Spenda Holdings; and Mandla Mazibuko of Jobox, which links young people with employers, educational institutions and funders.

The other six are:

• Akhil Boddu of Zaio Institute of Technology, which trains unemployed youth in software, data and AI.
• Bonolo Matjila of skincare brand Golden Hour.
• Huzaifa Khan of Resolute Education, which offers coding, robotics and future-skills education.
• Navhani Tshikosi of student logistics business HRA Transportation.
• Thapelo Nthite of Botlhale AI, which builds digital services in African languages.
• Thobey Cooper of Thobey Cooper and Fierce Creative Academy, which works in fashion and creative education.

The founders will attend the Cape Town summit, and then join One Young World’s network of more than 20,000 young leaders in over 190 countries and receive mentorship from established figures in South Africa’s startup ecosystem.

The programme ends with a Demo Day, provisionally planned for late May 2027, where participants will pitch to prospective investors and partners. The initiative does not provide direct funding, but instead focuses on networks, partnerships and market access.

“South Africa’s youth unemployment challenge demands more than preparing young people to find jobs. We must also support the entrepreneurs who have the vision and potential to create them,” said Kate Robertson, co-founder of One Young World.

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