The 2025 Step Up 2 A Green Start Up programme closes with a celebration of young climate innovators
South Africa’s brightest young green entrepreneurs were honoured as the 2025 Step Up 2 A Green Start Up programme wrapped up, showcasing bold climate-focused solutions built by youth across all nine provinces.
South Africa honoured some of its most promising young entrepreneurs at the National Youth Entrepreneurship Awards, bringing the 2025 Step Up 2 A Green Start Up programme to its close on December 9 at the Wanderers Club.
The initiative, co-led by Primestars and The YouthStart Foundation, drew nearly 14 000 learners from all provinces, building a pipeline of enterprises designed to tackle climate change, unemployment, and community-level challenges.
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This year’s top 11 teams offered practical innovations across water, energy, manufacturing, waste, agriculture, and digital employment.
Their ideas respond directly to issues affecting millions, from water scarcity and pollution to rising energy insecurity.
Among the standout concepts were eco-friendly charcoal briquettes made from organic waste, solar-powered safety vests, atmospheric water generators, plastic-to-ecobrick conversion, micro-hydro rainwater turbines, and a local job-matching mobile app.
These ideas reflect the sectors expected to create more than 250 000 green-economy jobs by 2030.
The programme also aligned with the government’s priorities: Growing small businesses, cutting youth unemployment, strengthening township and rural enterprises, and improving climate resilience.
During the ceremony, Martin Sweet spoke to guests about the crossroads South Africa faces. He highlighted the twin crises of youth unemployment and climate change, noting that, within this overlap lies one of the country’s biggest opportunities… The rise of the green economy.
Renewable energy, sustainable agriculture, water security, and waste recycling are not abstract ideas, he argued, but emerging labour markets that need bold young entrepreneurs.
Sweet pointed to past participants, such as Limpopo innovator Boitshepo Matloga, whose algae-powered streetlight earned her a spot in the national top 10, and Fanosi Brighton Maharela, whose waterless carwash model now operates in Olienhoutbosch. Both showed how young people can build sustainable ventures, with limited resources, but strong conviction.
The 2025 finalists, he said, are part of a generation that sees environmental challenges as opportunities.
Through Step Up’s edutainment model, blending film, mentorship, and practical learning, learners are trained to think critically, test ideas quickly, and build solutions that serve both people and the planet.
Sponsors, including Citibank, Stanlib, AECI, Spar South Rand, Cell C, 3M, BYD, Zutari, King Price, SA Future Trust, Richfield, Raizcorp, Johannesburg Business School, WDB Investment Holdings, and SEDFA, were thanked for helping take the programme to a national scale.
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