South Africa’s next big idea could be closer than you think.
YouthX by Nedbank is opening the door for people to turn that idea into something real today.
YouthX by Nedbank is designed to give young entrepreneurs more than just a spotlight, offering access to funding, mentorship, financial education and business support.
The 2026 YouthX Awards are calling on ambitious young South Africans aged 18 to 26 to put their ideas forward and turn potential into something bigger.
How to enter:
• You must be aged 18 to 26 and have a valid South African ID.
• You need a qualifying Nedbank account and must be a registered Unlocked.Me user.
• Submit an original idea, business, product, or solution.
• Give your entry a title and explain how YouthX could help unlock your potential.
• Submit a summary of your idea in 350 words or less.
• Use sketches, prototypes or other supporting material to bring your idea to life.
• Upload proof of your qualifying Nedbank account.
You can save your entry as a draft while working on it, but once you submit the final version, you cannot make changes.
Entries close 9 October 2026, with finalists moving through the judging process before pitching their ideas to an independent panel. Winners will be announced at the YouthX Awards on 21 November 2026.
Your entry must describe how you will solve a problem or enhance any aspect in line with the following criteria:
Creativity: 40%
• Uniqueness of the idea (is it a new idea or something that will fill a gap in the market?). 15%
• Quality of work submitted (its visual appeal and quality of execution). 10%
• Implementation of the idea (is it well thought through?). 15%
Innovation: 40%
• Strategic approach (media used or how the idea is put together – logic behind the entry). 20%
• Market context (is it viable and realistic?). 10%
• Objectives, target audience and implementation. 10%
Community upliftment: 20%
• Impact (will it help people or better people’s lives?). 10%
• Reach (can it be implemented and be accessible to everyone – is it scalable?). 5%
• Sustainability (is there room for improvement and does it have long-term viability?). 5%
All YouthX Awards entries must be submitted via https://www.youthxbynedbank.co.za/youthx/youthxawards website.
