A group of pupils is stepping into entrepreneurship with solutions aimed at real-world problems in their communities.
iAccelerate SA hosted its 2026 Pitch Day on Saturday, May 2, at Workshop 17, V&A Waterfront, where 24 high school pupils presented innovative startup ventures developed over a four-month entrepreneurship and innovation programme.
The event marked the culmination of a learning journey in which Grades 9 to 12 pupils from public schools identified local challenges and developed business solutions through mentorship and applied entrepreneurial training.
According to iAccelerate SA, this year’s Pitch Day featured five student-led startups, each delivering a 7–10-minute pitch followed by a Q&A session with judges from education, entrepreneurship and investment backgrounds.
The startups included STEEP’D, Rent a Buddy, Algebrain, Career Connect Hub, and Anchor of Hope, covering issues ranging from health choices and mobility access to education support and community safety.
Following evaluation and audience voting, Algebrain was named the standout winner, securing both the Best Overall and People’s Choice Awards. Career Connect Hub received the Most Innovative Pitch Award, while Rent a Buddy took Best Pitch.
For Alakhe Tshingana, co-founder of Algebrain, the experience gave the team a platform to present their solution and highlight the problem they are working to address.
“We wanted to solve a real problem, and Algebrain gave us a platform to speak about it and raise awareness,” he said. “I’m really appreciative that iAccelerate SA creates opportunities for young people like us to develop ideas that can actually make an impact in our country.”
Founder of iAccelerate SA, Rayhaan Survé, said the Pitch Day reflected a growing shift in how young people are developing skills that extend beyond entrepreneurship.“What’s been incredible in this second chapter of iAccelerate is seeing how much the standard has been raised, particularly in the depth of the pitches and the level of research the students have done,” said Mr Survé.
“That kind of analytical thinking and problem-solving doesn’t just apply to building a business; it applies to everything, from schoolwork to job interviews to identifying and solving problems in their communities. What we want them to take forward is that mindset and the confidence to execute solutions,” he said.
Find Capetowner on TikTok @thecapetowner or Instagram @ccmonlineza
