Access is often synonymous with opportunity and abundance, yet it remains elusive for many—especially young entrepreneurs trying to break into the business world. Merriam-Webster defines access in several ways:
These definitions point to an underlying truth: access can unlock doors to opportunity, but not everyone holds the key, particularly youth trying to turn their business ideas into reality. What does access to resources for youth-led businesses look like in practice? Is it genuinely available, or are young entrepreneurs left to face insurmountable barriers due to a lack of funding, support, or guidance?
Read: Empowering Youth Entrepreneurs: The Key Role of Mentorship
The struggles of youth entrepreneurship are multi-faceted, ranging from limited access to capital to a shortage of reliable information. Speaking with a group of Pretoria-based young adults who have ventured into entrepreneurship, two challenges stand out prominently:
Noxolo Nkosi, a young entrepreneur with a passion for hydroponic farming, explains this struggle well:
It’s so difficult to break through into entrepreneurship when the only information available to me is success stories of pseudo-trust fund babies or tales of failure. Everything else requires money—whether it’s attending a seminar or a course targeted at mid- to senior-level entrepreneurs
Noxolo dreams of expanding her business beyond South Africa, but like many others in her position, she finds herself hitting a wall.
For young entrepreneurs like Noxolo, the information gap is enormous. While there’s plenty of content about high-profile successes or catastrophic failures, there’s little practical guidance tailored to beginners who don’t have financial backing or extensive networks. Most learning opportunities, such as business seminars or mentorship programs, are out of reach for those just starting, creating a vicious cycle of inaccessibility.
Access to educational resources is crucial for young entrepreneurs. However, many are locked out due to financial constraints. Seminars, workshops, and networking events are often expensive, excluding those who could benefit most. For instance, young entrepreneurs who cannot afford a ticket to an industry conference miss out on valuable insights, connections, and opportunities that could help their ventures grow. This disparity often leads to young people being left behind in the entrepreneurial ecosystem, forcing them to rely on scattered information or trial and error, which can be costly in both time and money.
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Access to information is another critical struggle. Young entrepreneurs are often bombarded with content that isn’t useful for their specific needs. Stories of success, while inspiring, usually don’t reveal the nitty-gritty details of how to get a business off the ground with limited resources. On the other hand, focusing on failure can be discouraging, creating a narrative that entrepreneurship is only for those with financial security or privilege. This makes it difficult for youth to navigate the entrepreneurial landscape, as they lack access to practical, step-by-step guidance that could empower them to start and grow their businesses.
When faced with these challenges, a key question arises: Who creates opportunities for young entrepreneurs? Should the government step in with more robust support programs? Should the private sector be more involved in mentoring and funding youth-led initiatives? Or do young entrepreneurs need to take matters into their own hands?
The truth is that building an environment that supports youth entrepreneurship requires a collaborative effort. Governments can and should play a role in creating policies that make it easier for young people to access funding, training, and mentorship. Meanwhile, the private sector is responsible for creating inclusive spaces that provide young entrepreneurs with the tools they need to thrive. But we, as a society, also need to shift our perceptions. Youth-driven entrepreneurship can be a powerful driver of economic growth, but it requires an ecosystem that believes in the potential of young people and invests in their future.
While structural changes are necessary, young entrepreneurs can take small but meaningful steps to improve their access to resources. Here are a few ways to gain access to valuable information, mentorship, and funding opportunities:
The struggle for access in youth-driven entrepreneurship is not just about money—it’s about the ability to obtain information, mentorship, and opportunities that can set the foundation for success. While the barriers may seem high, there is hope in the form of collective action. Governments, the private sector, and society at large all have a role to play in ensuring that young entrepreneurs have the resources they need to turn their ideas into thriving businesses.
At the same time, young entrepreneurs must actively seek opportunities and build networks, even in adversity. By doing so, they can create a future where access to opportunity is no longer a privilege but a right shared by all.
If you’re a young entrepreneur seeking access to resources, mentorship, or funding, consider joining our community. Follow us on social media to stay updated on upcoming events and competitions, like our Pitch Your Business competition. You never know—your groundbreaking opportunity might be just around the corner.
Written by Kabelo Milton.
The views expressed herein are those of the writer and not I Am Youth.
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