In partnership with economist Dawie Roodt and musician Majozi, Koa Academy will host a free-of-charge five-week online Entrepreneurship Challenge for South African youth aged 9 to 16, accredited by Pranary Business School.

This initiative, available in both English and Afrikaans, aims to cultivate entrepreneurial thinking from an early age, equipping young learners with the skills and mindset needed to create and sustain successful businesses.

The programme is open to all learners, regardless of their school or location, and offers young aspiring entrepreneurs the opportunity to learn from industry leaders.

The course teaches learners how to identify problems, develop solutions and turn them into profitable ventures. Live coaching and mentorship will be provided throughout the course, offering personalised feedback and guidance to help learners refine and launch their business ideas.

Participants present their concepts to a panel of investors for review, and the most promising business proposals will be awarded a cash injection towards launching their business and coaching to sustain their momentum.

Studies indicate that 60% to 80% of small businesses in South Africa fail within their first 12 to 24 months due to inadequate business planning and knowledge, managerial experience and financial management skills. The Online Entrepreneurship Challenge aims to equip young people with the necessary tools to overcome these barriers and develop sustainable business models.

Roodt said the course aims to create a hunger among the youth to start thinking like entrepreneurs.

“Most small businesses are in survival mode. The real benefit of small businesses is their potential to grow into medium and large enterprises that contribute to the economy. To do that, you need to start thinking like an entrepreneur from an early age. It’s about trusting yourself and learning the fundamentals of taking your idea to the next level. Many entrepreneurs learn on the job, and our mentorship program aims to share invaluable life and business lessons to encourage learners to take bold steps and surprise themselves with what they can accomplish.”

Majozi says that according to the latest Global Entrepreneurship Report the fear of failure is one of the highest contributing factors to small businesses not getting off the ground.

“People fearing failure is one of the biggest barriers to starting a business. Many people are afraid of the unknown, but entrepreneurship is a process of learning, failing and growing. Facing challenges head-on builds resilience and confidence.”

“Practical exposure such as testing your ideas through a side-hustle provides a low-risk environment to develop skills and build confidence. It’s not enough to have a skill or an idea. You need to equip yourself with knowledge and a network of entrepreneurs from whom you can learn. I’ve learnt as a musician that I am a business - there is so much more to my career than performing.”

The flexible course structure allows learners to complete the projects and lessons at their own pace. Weekly live mentorship sessions will provide progress updates, valuable insights, guidance and strategy refinement in preparation for the final investor pitch.

The course covers theoretical and practical essential entrepreneurial concepts such as business principles, identifying personal strengths and values, creative problem-solving techniques, practical steps on initiating your business, marketing and how to prepare and deliver an impactful pitch to clients and investors.

Mark Anderson, Koa Academy’s Principal, said the course aims to encourage a culture of entrepreneurship.

“Entrepreneurship is about innovation, critical thinking and sustaining a competitive edge. It requires curiosity, grit and a willingness to co-create solutions that address community challenges.”

“We strongly believe in the transformative power of entrepreneurship. By exposing the youth to entrepreneurship skills training, we are supporting learners to become resilient and adaptable, drawing from a wealth of knowledge and experience from the mentors and investors.”

Upon successful completion, learners will earn a Level 1 Entrepreneurship Certificate, accredited by Pranary Business School.

Sandras Phiri, CEO of Pranary Business School, says entrepreneurship education builds essential life skills—problem-solving, resilience and financial literacy.

“Beyond job creation, entrepreneurs see opportunities where others see obstacles. This course will prepare learners to identify opportunities, develop solutions and execute them—whether they choose to start their own business or not.”

“Towards the end of the course, we will look for clear problem identification, viable solutions, practical implementation plans and early traction. Passion and determination are just as important as the business idea itself.”

Registration for the Online Entrepreneurship Challenge is open, closes on 1 May and launches on 5 May. Kickstart your journey as an entrepreneur by registering online.