Soapbox South Africa has launched the Twin Transition Challenge, an eight-week innovation program in which multidisciplinary student teams from the University of Cape Town, the University of the Witwatersrand, the Cape Peninsula University of Technology and the University of the Western Cape are working with leading private and public sector partners to solve real business challenges at the intersection of digital innovation and sustainability.

The teams are now deep into the formation phase, ahead of the grand finale in Cape Town on 26 June 2026, where they will present to their respective partners and a jury panel.

The program responds to a national paradox: youth unemployment in South Africa exceeds 60%, while more than 45,000 AI and data science roles remain unfilled. Research from Synesis cited in the Daily Maverick estimates that failing to close this skills gap could cost the economy R124bn by 2027.

The Twin Transition Challenge is built on the premise that the world's two great transitions: digital and green are not hidden problems. South Africa already has proof of concept: ABALOBI, a local non-profit, has created a mobile app that allows small-scale fishermen to sell directly to buyers at fair prices while generating the data needed to protect coastal ecosystems. One digital tool, two transitions.

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We strongly believe that partnership is at the heart of this programme. Our partners are not observers; They have opened their doors and brought young people straight into the rooms where real business decisions are made. Give youth a seat at that table, present with a real challenge, the right methodology and access to the best AI tools, then the results will speak for themselves” – Amelia Francis, Country Manager, Soapbox South Africa.

South Africa's brightest minds tackle industry's digital and green challenges

4 challenge partners, 4 real problems

Over eight weeks, teams of five have been working directly with their challenge partners, moving from problem discovery to working prototypes.

Sanlam Investments, South Africa's largest black-owned, sustainability-driven asset manager, challenged its team to create a digital SDG Scorecard tool that brings to life its proprietary impact methodology for portfolio managers and SMEs across all 17 UN Sustainable Development Goals.

PETCO, South Africa's leading producer responsibility organization for the collection and recycling of PET and liquid board packaging, has tasked its team to transform its dormant data systems into intelligent tools that serve its entire recycling ecosystem from buy-back centers to producers.

“The recycling value chain generates vast amounts of data every day, but often that information is not accessible or actionable to those who need it most. Through the Twin Transition Challenge, we are excited to work with young innovators to explore how digital tools and AI can help unlock more value from data, improve decision-making in the recycling ecosystem and ultimately power South Africa’s circular economy. “This challenge is a powerful example of how fresh thinking and technology can help solve complex sustainability challenges.” Cara Rohleder, Marketing Manager, Petco

TUHF21 confronts a paradox at the heart of South African housing: green affordable housing finance exists, but the township-based small-scale developers who need it most cannot access it. His student team is developing solutions to overcome those barriers.
The Atlantis Special Economic Zone, Africa's first dedicated greentech SEZ, is challenging its team to strengthen the digital infrastructure connecting the Atlantis community to the economic opportunities being created by the region.

“Atlantis SEZ proves that the green economy can provide real jobs and real investment. The next step is to ensure that the community around us is digitally connected to those opportunities. These students are not just building a prototype, they are helping to build a bridge to the community.” Michael Webster, Community Integration Specialist at the Atlantis Special Economic Zone

From Design Sprint to Grand Finale

The program began with two Design Sprint Days, held at the Craft Design Institute (CDI) Cape Town and online, where teams used Soapbox South Africa's structured design thinking methodology to map pain points, challenge assumptions and present a first prototype directly to their partner. Five masterclasses covering AI and IoT, data analytics, ESG, circular business models and visual communication are supporting the building phase, with students creating rapid prototypes using leading AI tools including Cloud by Anthropic and Lovable.

At the grand finale on June 26, teams will present their solutions to a jury of industry leaders. The winning team will get Rs 15,000 and the runner-up will get Rs 10,000.

“The transformation is a global priority, but its solutions must be local. By supporting South Africa's young innovators to work on challenges with key partners, we are investing in the entrepreneurs who will drive the digital and green economy of tomorrow.” Geerten Schurink, Program Advisor Youth Employment and Entrepreneurship at the Netherlands Enterprise Agency (RVO)

South Africa's brightest minds tackle industry's digital and green challenges

The Twin Transition Challenge SA 2026 is run by Orange Corner, the Netherlands Enterprise Agency (RVO) and the Dutch Embassy in South Africa as part of a broader commitment to support South Africa's transition to a digital and green economy.

Organizations interested in becoming a 2027 challenge partner can contact Soapbox South Africa az.oc.acirfahtuosxobpaos@nebur And az.oc.acirfahtuosxobpaos@AILema.

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