It’s time to celebrate the young entrepreneurs of South Africa who are not only making their mark in the business world but also creating jobs and bridging the gap in youth unemployment. The highly anticipated Top 16 Youth Owned-Brands Awards are back for their second year, and the excitement is palpable!
The awards launched on the 2nd of February 2023 at Solo Restaurant in Sandton with the multi-faceted Pamela Manga as the host. The event, taking place on the 14th and 15th of June, 2023, is set to be a two-day exhibition, with the main event taking place on the evening of the 15th.
Sadika Fakir, Head Chairperson of the jury and Digital Director of Tiger Brands, highlights the importance of empowering the youth, “With 60% of South Africa’s population being under 25 years old, it’s crucial that we support youth-owned businesses and entrepreneurship. These businesses are the future of South Africa and provide new career opportunities for the next generation.”
The awards were founded by Pat Mahlangu and consist of 16 categories, ranging from Top Travel and Tourism Brand to Top Personality and Influencer. Last year’s winners included Tshepo Jeans for overall Top Brand, Bathu for Top Footwear Brand, and Pamela Mtanga for Top Personality and Influencer. The new addition to this year’s awards is the Top Health and Wellness Brand.
Pat Mahlangu spoke on the significance of the Top 16 Youth-Owned Brands Awards, saying, “This is the second year of the Top 16 Youth-Owned Brands Awards and we’re making sure it’s the best one yet. It started off as an online portal to celebrate youth-owned brands and has now become a platform to commend the youth for creating opportunities in seemingly impossible situations.”
The Top 16 Youth-Owned Brands Awards is a recognition of young entrepreneurs and a commemoration of the youth who fought for freedom before them. The future of South Africa is in good hands, and this event is a celebration of that.
Mark your calendars for the 15th of June 2023 and be a part of this exciting celebration of the future of South Africa!
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Meet your 2023 Top16 Youth-Owned Brands Awards judges!
May 15, 2023 at 9:36 pm[…] “We are thankful for the industry giants for taking time off their hectic schedules to join our judging panel. It is encouraging to have people of their calibre support youth initiatives,” said Pat Mahlangu, the founder and CEO of the Top 16 Youth-Owned Brands Awards. […]