South Africa has enough training programmes. Youth Advance builds businesses.
Each cohort takes 1,000 young South Africans from first idea to trade-ready SMME.
A measurable, board-ready investment in the entrepreneurs this country actually needs.
The Opportunity Hiding In A Crisis
Behind that number is the largest untapped pool of entrepreneurial energy in the country young people already building side hustles, spaza shops and digital brands with no capital, no networks and no runway.
Training alone hasn't moved the number. South Africa doesn't lack skills programmes; it lacks businesses. Every new SMME creates income, jobs and supply-chain participation that a certificate never will.
Primestars isn't commenting on the crisis. We're building the exit, one trade-ready business at a time.
What Is Youth Advance?
Youth Advance is Primestars' entrepreneurship accelerator for out-of-school youth aged 18-35, built on the 10-year legacy of Step Up 2 A Startup: 120,000+ learners, 1,000+ schools, R10M+ in prizes.
Each cohort takes 1,000 young entrepreneurs from first idea through workshops, a national bootcamp and pitchathon, into hands-on business development.
The outcome: Trade-ready SMMEs, not certificates of participation.
From 1,000 Ideas To Trade-Ready Businesses
1,000
APPLICANTS
"The doors open"
ALL WORKSHOPS + COMPETITION
"Hustle gets structure"
100
BOOTCAMP
"The pressure test"
30
PITCHATHON
"The moment of truth"
10
FINALISTS
"Business built"
SMMES
TRADE-READY
"The pool"
What Your Partnership Buys
NAMING RIGHTS
B-BBEE Level 2 ESD
SECTION 18A
JUDGING PANELS & ALUMNI ACCESS
ESG & CSI REPORTING
The Track Record Behind The Promise
120,000+
LEARNERS
REACHED
1,000+
SCHOOLS
NATIONWIDE
R10M+
IN PRIZES
AWARDED
10 YEARS
OF
DELIVERY
The pilot cohort is being assembled now. One naming rights slot.
A thousand entrepreneurs waiting for a backer with vision. Let's talk.