LERUO FOUNDATION’S YOUTHPRENEURS SUMMIT CELEBRATES COMMUNITY INNOVATION AND AWARDS R100,000 CHANGEMAKER PRIZE

The Leruo Foundation recently celebrated the Young Entrepeneurs with the return of its annual Youthpreneurs Summit 2025, a dynamic gathering designed to ignite opportunity, amplify community-based innovation, and invest in the next generation of changemakers. With support from CRM Enterprise, the free-to-attend event welcomed over 150 young entrepreneurs for a day of inspiration, business building and bold ideas.

This year’s theme “Empowering the next wave of South African innovators and changemakers”, spotlighted a new wave of community-based founders leading not only businesses, but movements. Attendees were equipped with tools, insights and real-world opportunities to build sustainable ventures in an economy where over 45% of youth face unemployment.

Connie Matlejoane, Founder of the Leruo Foundation, opened the summit with a message that set the tone for the day, saying, “Our goal is to ignite something powerful. We see what others often overlook – we see potential, brilliance, hustle. South Africa’s youth aren’t waiting for jobs, they’re creating them. When we invest in young entrepreneurs, especially women, we’re investing in future wealth and stronger communities. Talent is everywhere, but opportunity is not, and this summit is a step toward changing that.”

One of the day’s highlights was the Changemaker’s Pitch Competition, which featured 18 community-based businesses presenting their pitches to a group of esteemed judges. These businesses ranged from tutoring services and kids’ entertainment to plumbing, recycled fashion, bottled water, breakfast kiosks at taxi ranks, wines made from oranges, and more.

The winner, Brian Sakara, delivered a standout pitch for Divine Soft, a proudly South African line of recycled toilet paper manufactured in Olifantsfontein, Johannesburg, under his company B2B Divine Innovation (Pty) Ltd.

“My mission is to deliver dignity through quality, affordability and community-based distribution of hygiene products,” said Sakara. “This prize will help us scale, from stock and logistics to reseller incentives and skills development, while staying true to our purpose of community upliftment.”

Sakara plans to reinvest the R100,000 cash prize into expanding Divine Soft’s community reseller network, launching a campaign titled “Softness with a Purpose”, and increasing job opportunities across the value chain.

The judging panel included Adelaide Matlejoane, Matsie Mpshe and Tukisang Senne, with evaluation criteria covering business viability, innovation and uniqueness, traction and sustainability, pitch delivery and clarity, social or community impact, and proposed use of prize money.

The summit also featured a strong line-up of speakers who shared practical advice and personal inspiration. Brian Mthembu emphasised the need to move beyond customer satisfaction to build loyalty. The MC Azola Mzekandaba challenged delegates to embrace their entrepreneurial timing and lead with courage and purpose. Chris Voysey equipped young founders with practical communication and self-branding techniques to help them express their vision effectively and grow with confidence.

Keynote speaker Dr Mankodi Moitse, CEO of Kagiso Trust, reminded attendees of the broader significance of their efforts, saying, “Eighty percent of global employment is created by entrepreneurs. There are pockets of hope everywhere, and we must support them. Our entrepreneurs must learn to hold complexity without collapsing because we are living in a VUCA time.”

The summit also benefited from the insights of Dr Reuel Khoza, a respected captain of industry, who shared words of encouragement with the delegates. He spoke about the challenges of leadership and entrepreneurship, and the importance of resilience. He reminded participants that history is shaped by those who rise above limitations and act with purpose, regardless of conditions.

Backed by CRM Enterprise’s strategic partnership, the summit reflected a shared belief in the power of youth entrepreneurship to transform communities and the country. As Matlejoane emphasised, “Wealth transcends money. It’s found in people, in their vision, and in their resilience.”

Following the success of the summit, the Leruo Foundation will continue to support young business leaders through its 10-month Changemakers Incubation Programme. This next phase provides participants with expert-led training, one-on-one mentorship, and practical workshops covering everything from financial management and legal compliance to leadership and pitching skills. The programme will culminate in a competitive funding opportunity, where the top three performing businesses will receive seed grants of R250,000, R150,000, and R100,000 respectively. Through this initiative, the Leruo Foundation will ensure that promising Youthpreneurs are equipped not only to grow sustainable businesses but to drive meaningful impact in their communities.

To find out more about the Leruo Foundation, please visit leruofoundation.org.

Ends…

About the Leruo Foundation

The Leruo Foundation is dedicated to empowering women entrepreneurs and young business leaders in South Africa by providing mentorship, funding access, and skills development. The foundation focuses on three areas including women-led enterprises, supporting youth entrepreneurship, and promoting branding companies. By taking a hands-on, grassroots approach, the foundation ensures that aspiring business owners receive practical, tailored support to help them succeed in an increasingly competitive economic landscape.

To learn more about the Leruo Foundation and how to get involved, visit leruofoundation.org or contact the foundation on 077 605 2454 or connect@leruofoundation.org.

About Connie Matlejoane

Connie Matlejoane, an entrepreneur from Klipfontein View in Midrand, has built a thriving business despite facing numerous challenges. After being retrenched, she took a bold step to start her own business – both to support her family and to contribute to local economic growth by creating employment opportunities in her community. What began with just a desk, laptop, and cellphone in the corner of her bedroom has since grown into a successful enterprise.

Her company, CRM Enterprise, offers a diverse range of services, including corporate gifts, promotional products, PPE and workwear, vehicle wrapping, branding and signage solutions. CRM Connect Internet Café also offers small business support services and company registrations.