A young Roodepoort entrepreneur is making waves on the international stage after his business venture was selected among the top 15 teams worldwide in the 2026 BeChangeMaker programme.

Chaythin Naidu, the founder of Ibexenlace, earned the recognition through the BeChangeMaker competition, an international entrepreneurship programme supported by Unesco-UNEVOC, WorldSkills and the HP Foundation. The programme supports young entrepreneurs who are developing solutions to social and economic challenges in their communities.

For Chaythin, the achievement is particularly meaningful because his business is focused on tackling one of South Africa’s biggest challenges – unemployment.

“For me to be selected as a top 15 participant, considering myself talking about solving one of South Africa’s biggest problems at the moment, which is the unemployment rate, means a lot. I’m really grateful for the opportunity. I just want to continue creating a meaningful impact and helping my community and country,” he said.

What is Ibexenlace?

Ibexenlace is an employment technology venture that aims to improve access to opportunities through AI-driven recruitment and skills development solutions. The platform focuses on matching people to opportunities based on their skills, goals and interests rather than relying only on CVs and existing professional networks.

“Most recruitment agencies are focused on CV polishing and existing networks, whereas Ibexenlace is focused on skills, goals and interests and matching talent to opportunities based on that,” said Chaythin.

“We also have an innovative AI solution, which we’re busy implementing, that also consists of WhatsApp integration. We wanted to make employment more accessible and easier for the everyday user in this country,” he added.

Chaythin believes the platform’s focus on accessibility and innovation helped it stand out among more than 1 000 applicants from 77 countries.

Helping to alleviate challenges faced by job seekeers

Having experienced both the opportunities and challenges faced by job seekers, he developed a deep appreciation for the impact meaningful employment can have on people’s lives. Through Ibexenlace, he aims to help businesses find capable talent while creating opportunities for individuals to build sustainable careers. He believes every successful placement has a wider impact on families, communities and businesses.

Chaythin’s international outlook has also been shaped by participation at the United Nations headquarters in New York, where exposure to global challenges, cross-cultural collaboration and sustainable development discussions strengthened his commitment to expanding opportunities for young people.

Next step for Chaythin

The entrepreneur, who holds a Bachelor of Business Administration in Retail Management Degree from Regenesys Business School, said the journey is only beginning.

“The next steps are definitely to grow. We’re aiming to market our app and grow it a lot more. In terms of the business, you’re definitely going to be hearing more of us. We are willing and wanting to work with companies as well as job seekers,” he expressed.

As he prepares for the next stage of the competition, Chaythin hopes his success story will inspire others to pursue innovative solutions to challenges facing their communities. To find out more about Ibexenlace, visit their website here.