IOL Reporter|Published
High school learners participating in iAccelerate SA’s 2026 youth entrepreneurship programme have reached the halfway mark of their four-month journey, completing a dynamic two-day workshop focused on turning community-focused concepts into market-ready products.
Session 3: Initiate, held on October 16 and 17, shifted the cohort's focus from community problem-solving toward minimum viable products (MVPs), pricing strategies, distribution channels, and financial management.
Moving from Concept to Customer
The weekend session featured industry experts who shared practical advice on bringing ventures to life.
Happyboy Mafora, social entrepreneur and Founder and Executive Director of MyNon-ProfitSA (Pty) Ltd, led a session titled Getting Your Product or Service to Market, guiding learners through customer acquisition and market entry strategies.
“I was impressed by the students’ responses, their curiosity and the questions they asked. I was particularly encouraged to see iAccelerate SA providing opportunities for learners from underserved communities, including townships, to explore entrepreneurship,” said Mafora. “Their eagerness to understand business and how to turn their ideas into something tangible and valuable was a highlight of the session.”
Liyabona Ladlokova, an iAccelerate SA participant, noted that Mafora’s practical insights stood out during the workshop.
“One of my key highlights was when guest speaker Happyboy Mafora shared that a good idea is not yet a business, but a business begins when a real customer chooses to pay. He also emphasised the importance of testing before investing,” said Ladlokova.
Mastering Business Models and Sales
Saturday’s curriculum focused on the mechanics of revenue generation, cost structures, and sales strategy.
Moshe Apleni, Transformation and Corporate Affairs Executive at Spur Corporation and Chair of the Spur Foundation Trust, addressed the cohort on Business Development and the Sales Process, sharing insights from over 15 years of leadership experience.
“iAccelerate SA is a great initiative that introduces entrepreneurship at a young age. It is encouraging to see learners giving up their Saturday mornings to learn and develop their ideas,” Apleni remarked. “My message to them is to remain curious and keep asking questions. The worst someone can say is no.”
Spur Corporation and Apleni also sponsored Panarottis pizzas for the cohort and staff over the weekend.
Hands-on Financial Literacy
To reinforce business finance concepts, learners took part in an interactive Financials Game facilitated by programme assistant intern Kuhle Majeke, applying revenue and cost calculations through group collaboration and problem-solving exercises.
Launched in November 2024, iAccelerate SA aims to equip young South Africans with the practical skills, mentorship, and confidence required to transform community challenges into scalable, commercial business opportunities. As the cohort enters the second half of the program, participants will focus on refining their business models to ensure long-term commercial viability.
IOL