Nedbank YouthX Awards Top 10 Share What They Wish They Knew Before Entering
If you’re thinking about entering the 2025 YouthX Awards by Nedbank, you’re already one step closer to unlocking your full potential. But the path ahead doesn’t have to be walked alone. Four standout finalists from last year’s Top 10 are stepping up to share the wisdom they wish they had when they first entered – lessons learned from bold decisions, raw ideas, and the courage to just start.
These aren’t generic motivational quotes. They’re real, tested insights from young changemakers who, just a year ago, were submitting their entries with uncertainty and hope. Now, with national recognition and invaluable experience under their belts, they’re offering clear, practical advice to help you do the same.
1. Brandon Mashaba – Focus on Purpose
Winner of the 2024 YouthX Awards, Brandon Mashaba is the visionary behind Reagile Gaming Interactions, a company building coin-operated gaming cabinets for townships. His advice?
“Just be yourself. Show what you’ve built and why it matters. That’s what caught the judges’ attention.”
For Brandon, authenticity and clear purpose were the game-changers that set his entry apart.
2. Queen Malinda – Be Real, Not Perfect
Third-place winner, Queen Malinda, wants you to know that perfection isn’t a requirement.
“You don’t need a polished product or big following. You need a clear idea, a real story, and your own voice.”
It’s a sentiment echoed by fellow third-place finalist Akhona Mtongana, who adds:
“If you’re building something real, just enter. The judges want to see you, not a perfect pitch.”
3. Ngangelizwe Mathunjwa – Start with What You Have
Fifth-place finalist, Ngangelizwe Mathunjwa, founder of Aero Greens, a vertical farming startup using aeroponics and recycled shipping containers, learned that you don’t need a lot to make an impact.
“Start with what you have and be clear about the impact you want to make – that’s what gets noticed.”
His approach to solving food insecurity with limited resources earned him national recognition.
Watch: The Finalists Guide You Through the Entry Process
These finalists also star in a “How to Enter” video series on social media, filmed using their own phones and laptops. They break down their entry process and share how they brought clarity and confidence to their submissions.
🎥 Watch the video below:
YouthX Is More Than a Competition – It’s a Platform
The YouthX Awards are a platform designed to elevate bold ideas. They offer up to R200 000 in funding, tailored mentorship, and national visibility to help winners take their ideas to the next level.
“YouthX was built to empower real ventures from real people. We don’t seek perfection but we want passion, potential, and a clear sense of purpose.”
As John Makgato, Head of Youth Strategy and Client Value Proposition at Nedbank, explains:
Ready to #UnlockYourX?
Entries close 31 August 2025 and are open to South Africans aged 18 to 26 with a MiGoals or other qualifying Nedbank account. Submissions are judged on creativity, innovation, and community upliftment.
👉 Visit youthxbynedbank.co.za to enter.
You don’t have to be perfect. You just have to start.
