For some students, university is the start of a career. For others, it is where they discover that they can create their own careers and even create jobs for others. Eight North-West University (NWU) students recently took their business ideas and ventures to the regional stage of the EDHE Absa Entrepreneurship InnoVarsity 2026, showing the creativity, determination and potential of the university’s young entrepreneurs.

Representing the NWU were Precious Sethole (PK LabClean), Kagiso Pilane (Lowe Institute), Louis du Plessis (3D Application), Kutloano Maekane (Swaynet), Zander van der Watt (Positech), Anga Nkhwashu (Fundisa), Kgolela Shaun Tamane (Tamane Wood & Steel Works) and Samuel Khumalo (Mtungwa Corporation). 

Their participation is about more than starting a business. In a country where unemployment remains a major challenge, entrepreneurship gives people an opportunity to create income, solve problems and create jobs.

The regional round brought some exciting news for the NWU, with Zander from Positech winning his regional category and earning a place at the national competition in November. He will now represent the NWU at the national finals, where he will compete against some of the country’s top student entrepreneurs.

The national competition offers more than the opportunity to showcase these businesses. Student entrepreneurs are competing across five categories: Tech, Social Impact, General, Academic Research Commercialisation and Innovative Industries. 

Winners in each category will receive R100 000, with R40 000 and R20 000 going to the first and second runners-up respectively. Each of the 30 national finalists will also receive R5 000, while the overall Studentpreneur of the Year 2026 will receive R400 000. In total, the competition has a prize pool of R1,35 million. 

At the centre of NWU’s entrepreneurship support is the bhive Enterprise Development Centre (EDC), which helps students turn their ideas into real businesses. Through mentorship, skills development, business support and access to opportunities, the bhive EDC gives aspiring entrepreneurs a place to learn, test their ideas and grow their businesses. The EDHE InnoVarsity competition adds another valuable opportunity, giving student entrepreneurs a platform to showcase their businesses, learn from others and gain experience that can help them take their ventures further.

Prof. Chantel Muller, who represents the NWU Powerhub, also competed at the highest level alongside the student entrepreneurs, adding to the strong showing by the NWU delegation. 

As Zander prepares for the national finals, the NWU community will be behind him every step of the way. We are rooting for him and wish him all the best as he takes Positech to the national stage and competes for national honours.

Every successful business starts somewhere. It may begin with a simple idea, a problem that needs solving or someone who believes there is a better way of doing things.

Through the bhive EDC’s entrepreneurial support and initiatives such as InnoVarsity, the NWU is giving these ideas a chance to grow. More importantly, it is helping to develop young entrepreneurs who have the potential to build sustainable businesses, create jobs and make a meaningful contribution to the economy.

In the back from left are Kutloano Maekane, Kgolela Tamane, Precious Sithole, Kagiso Pilane, Dr Annelie Steenkamp, Louis du Plessis, and Prof. Chantel Muller. In the front from left are Zander van der Watt, Samuel Khumalo, and Anga Nkhwashu.