If you’re thinking about entering the 2025 YouthX Awards by Nedbank, then you are one step closer to unlocking your full potential. You’re also not alone or without guidance on this journey. Since making the top 10 in the 2024 YouthX awards, 4 of the finalists are now stepping in to offer their own advice, drawn from last years’ experience.
These are not generic tips. They are key pointers that come from young changemakers who were in your shoes just a year ago – submitting their ideas, recording their entries, and taking a leap of faith. They’ve been through the process and they’ve come out stronger, smarter, and with real lessons to share.
Brandon Mashaba, winner of the 2024 YouthX Awards and founder of Reagile Gaming Interactions, encourages entrants to focus more on purpose. ‘Just be yourself. Show what you’ve built and why it matters. That’s what caught the judges’ attention,’ he says. His business, which designs coin-operated gaming cabinets for township spaces, impressed judges not only for its innovation, but for its clear community impact.
Third place winner, Queen Malinda, adds that your idea doesn’t need to be perfect but needs to be real. ‘You don’t need a polished product or big following. You need a clear idea, a real story and your own voice,’ she says. Fellow 3rd place winner Akhona Mtongana agrees: ‘If you’re building something real, just enter. The judges want to see you, not a perfect pitch.’
Joining them is Brakpan-born, Ngangelizwe Mathunjwa, who was awarded 5th place for his business Aero Greens, a vertical farming venture that uses aeroponics and recycled shipping containers to grow produce sustainably with minimal water. His innovative approach to food security earned him recognition as one of the top changemakers. ‘Start with what you have and be clear about the impact you want to make – that’s what gets noticed,’ he says.
Together, these 4 finalists appear in a ‘How to Enter’ social media video series that guides potential entrants through how they approached their submissions with clarity and confidence using their own personal devices such as phones or laptops. Step by step, they break the process down while empowering others to show up as they did.
Their message is consistent: Don’t overthink it. You don’t have to be perfect. You just have to start.
Watch the video and learn from those who’ve done it here: https://www.instagram.com/p/DMcSdWxRZrT/?hl=en
The YouthX Awards are more than a competition; they are a platform designed to support youth who are bold enough to step forward. That support includes up to R200 000 in funding, tailored mentorship, and the kind of national visibility that can push your idea to the next level.
As John Makgato, Head of Youth Strategy and Client Value Proposition at Nedbank,
explains, ‘YouthX was built to empower real ventures from real people. We don’t seek perfection but we want passion, potential as well as to see a clear sense of purpose. The stronger your entry, the more likely it is that someone sees your vision and backs it.’
If you’re ready to #UnlockYourX and take a chance on your potential, here’s what you need to know:
Entries close on 31 August 2025 and are open to all South Africans aged 18 to 26 with a MiGoals or other qualifying Nedbank account. Submissions will be judged on creativity, innovation and the potential to uplift your community.
Visit https://www.youthxbynedbank.co.za/potential/youthx/youthxawards to enter and find out more.
