The newest cohort of iAccelerate SA has officially embarked on its four-month entrepreneurial journey, bringing together 24 high school learners in Cape Town to build strong business foundations and explore creative problem-solving.
Hands-On Learning and Real-World Experience
Designed to introduce learners to the “I-We-It” Process Approach, the launch session focused on practical activities, self-awareness, and team collaboration.
Assistant Facilitator Lola Bello led the group through the “Daring Greatly Game,” encouraging participants to step out of their comfort zones, while Lead Facilitator Sibulelo Mafrika introduced the basics of business planning through a Lean Canvas session.
Iyokhanya Baliso, a participant in the 2026 cohort, shared that the opening session offered a fresh perspective on how small concepts can scale into impactful ventures.
“Joining iAccelerate SA has been an amazing experience. The first session taught me a lot and opened my mind to different ways of thinking,” Baliso said. “My favourite part was hearing how the speaker started with something that seemed small and turned it into something very big. It showed me the importance of building on an idea and reminded me that something small can grow into something much bigger.”
Industry Mentorship Unlocks Youth Potential
A core pillar of the iAccelerate SA model is connecting young people with real-world industry experience. During the session, guest speaker and mentor Arthur Mexico—Founder and CEO of Access Network Africa and CEO of Yanda Edtech—shared insights from his journey as a social entrepreneur and youth development practitioner.
Mexico addressed the cohort on hard work, growth, and how viewing failure as part of the learning process unlocks creative solutions.
“Today’s session was very interesting and exciting. It was the first session in the students’ entrepreneurial journey, and although I came in feeling nervous, the energy and engagement from the students quickly changed that,” Mexico said. “They are a very talented group of young people. My favourite part of the session was the discussion around failure, which sparked a realisation in many of the students that it is okay not to know everything and to figure things out along the way.”
Throughout the four-month initiative, learners will engage with a new industry professional during every session, gaining exposure to diverse business perspectives.
Shaping the Next Generation of Leaders
Launched in November 2024, iAccelerate SA operates as an intensive youth entrepreneurship initiative aimed at equipping South African learners with the practical tools, mentorship, and leadership skills required to address real-world challenges and launch community-driven ventures.
Over the coming months, the 2026 cohort will continue to refine their business ideas and develop practical ventures, culminating in a final Pitch Day where they will present their solutions to a panel of mentors and industry leaders.
