MBOMBELA– South Africa’s higher education sector has taken a major step in advancing student entrepreneurship with the official launch of the EDHE Absa Entrepreneurship InnoVarsity 2026 at the University of Mpumalanga on Thursday, 16 April 2026.
The initiative, led by the Entrepreneurship Development in Higher Education (EDHE), an arm of Universities South Africa, brings together all 26 public universities to support student-led business innovation.
Now in its eighth year, the competition has evolved into a more integrated platform following the merger of the EDHE Entrepreneurship Intervarsity and the EDHE Absa Innovation Challenge in 2025. The unified programme aims to help student entrepreneurs transform ideas and existing ventures into viable, scalable businesses.
Participants will receive support through bootcamps, mentorship programmes and access to prize funding of up to R1.2 million. The initiative is delivered in partnership with Absa Group, with additional support from the SAB Foundation, reflecting a broader collaboration between higher education, the private sector and development partners.
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This year’s theme, “Entrepreneurship in Action: From Vision to Implementation, From Policy to Impact,” focuses on encouraging students to develop businesses that address key challenges such as economic inclusion, social inequality and environmental sustainability.
Speaking at the launch, Regional Manager: Public Sector Banking at Absa, Alfred Nkosi highlighted the role of entrepreneurship in shaping the country’s future. “At Absa, we believe that entrepreneurship is one of the most powerful drivers of inclusive growth and sustainable development. This platform is about moving from ideas to impact and ensuring that student entrepreneurs are equipped to build businesses that are both commercially viable and socially relevant,” he said.
From a higher education perspective, Dr Edwell Gumbo, Director: Entrepreneurship of Universities South Africa, underscored the strategic importance of the initiative. He stated that the EDHE Absa Entrepreneurship InnoVarsity is a cornerstone of our efforts to embed entrepreneurship within the higher education sector.
“ It enables universities to play a more active role in developing graduates who are not only employable but are also capable of creating employment. This initiative reflects our commitment to aligning academic innovation with national development priorities and ensuring that student potential translates into tangible impact.”
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The launch event brought together stakeholders from government, academia and industry, alongside aspiring entrepreneurs, and marked the official opening of entries for the 2026 competition. Among those hoping to benefit from the initiative is 24-year-old Uyanda Mazibuko, a first-year Bachelor of Arts student at the University of Mpumalanga. She runs a youth empowerment organisation, Phakama Mntomusha, which provides after-school tutoring programmes for TVET learners.
Despite facing challenges in securing funding, Mazibuko said the competition offers an opportunity to grow her initiative. “The reason I entered the competition is to learn more about building a successful business and to open doors for financial support,” she said.
Entries for the EDHE Absa Entrepreneurship InnoVarsity 2026 officially opened on 16 April 2026, setting the stage for a new generation of student entrepreneurs to turn ideas into impactful businesses.
