Left: Mr Raymond Matlala (Chairperson of Y20), Diana Fakhritdinova & Meri Oganesyan, Babongile Bidla, João Pedro Novochadlo, and Ms Reddy.

At the University of the Western Cape (UWC), student entrepreneurship isn’t just alive — it’s thriving. And now, with the launch of the award-winning Briidg17 platform, student-led businesses have a powerful new springboard to scale their ideas, grow their ventures, and make their mark on the economy.

At the recent BRICS Youth Innovation Summit, UWC Political Studies Master's Babongile Bidla presented and showcased the business she co-founded, under the theme “Digital Transformation for Economic Growth.” Bidla, Sibabalo Mbele, and Lwande Ndabezitha - both UWC BCom Law students are the founders of Briidg17.

Briidg17 is a connector platform that empowers student entrepreneurs to build and run successful businesses that continue after they graduate. The solution is rooted in peer-to-peer partnerships, which is the initial starting point for growth and success. Bidla said: “We found it very surprising that so many students didn’t know that there's a Centre for Entrepreneurship and a Small Business Clinic on campus. We find people and bring them closer to these resources and closer to their peers so that they are not going through this journey alone."

The Briidg17 team is currently developing a prototype for a platform that puts peer-to-peer connections at the heart of the user experience so aspiring entrepreneurs can either launch or grow their businesses. Bidla said: “There’s a lot of innovation going on out there, even within campus, and we realised it would be a shame for anyone trying to build something and they just drop it because it feels like there’s nowhere to turn.”

This business aligns with Sustainable Development Goal 17 (SDG 17), which focuses on "Partnerships for the Goals" and emphasises the need for increased international cooperation and multi-stakeholder partnerships to achieve all 17 SDG’s. Bidla and her team were first runners-up for the best presentation under the theme “Digital Transformation for Economic Growth” at the BRICS Youth Innovation Summit 2025. 

Another UWC student, Adolph Mojapelo, pitched his business CaReady. This entrepreneurial effort aims to make healthcare more accessible and convenient through the use of a digital platform to deliver pharmaceutical products and connect users to medical professionals. 

As platforms like Briidg17 and innovations like CaReady take root, they signal a new era of student-driven enterprise at UWC — one defined by collaboration, creativity, and real-world impact. With the right support, resources, and peer connections, UWC’s student entrepreneurs are not only building businesses — they’re shaping the future of inclusive, sustainable economic growth in South Africa and beyond.

The message is clear: if you’re a student with an idea, now is the time to act. Whether you’re just starting out or looking to grow, UWC offers a supportive ecosystem to help you succeed. Step forward, connect with your peers, and turn your vision into something that lasts. Your journey could be the next success story.