Beyond the Trophy: Scaling Enactus South Africa’s Top Student Enterprises

During the first month of the year, on 22–23 January 2026, South Africa’s top student social entrepreneurs gathered for the SAB Scale-Up Enactus Bootcamp, a high-impact, two-day programme designed to transform national success into scalable growth.

Exclusively curated for the Top 3 enterprises from the most recent Enactus South Africa National Exposition, the bootcamp focused on one critical question: What does it take to move from promising to powerful?

Having already demonstrated excellence on the National stage, these student-led businesses were operating successfully but like many growing enterprises, they faced the challenge of scaling sustainably. The bootcamp created a focused space for strategy, mentorship, and bold decision-making. Participants refined their business and revenue models, unpacked operational gaps, and gained practical guidance on how to strategically invest their prize funding for maximum impact.

Representing the best in student innovation were University of the Witwatersrand, crowned National Champions; University of Cape Town, the 1st Runner-Up; and Nelson Mandela University, the 2nd Runner-Up. Together, they brought energy, ambition, and a shared commitment to building enterprises that create real social impact.

By the end of the programme, each team walked away with clearer strategies, sharper focus, and renewed confidence to scale beyond their current limits. The SAB Scale-Up Enactus Bootcamp was not just a continuation of their journey, it was the catalyst for their next level of growth