Finz Aquatics wins big at Cape Times entrepreneurship pitch competition

NABILAH Diedericks, founder of Finz Aquatics and Fitness Development has been announced as the winner of the 2025 Cape Times Youth Month Entrepreneurship Pitch Competition.

This follows after the finalists were required to pitch their businesses in front of a panel of judges at the Cape Town International Convention Centre this week. Ten finalists were selected from hundreds of applicants.

Finz Aquatics will receive R100 000 media exposure package from Cape Times, R45 000 Business and Mentorship Fellows Programme offered by the Centre for Entrepreneurship and Innovation at the University of the Western Cape, R50 000 business support from Africa News Agency and R25 000 media value from Fast Company.

A registered swimming school with a difference, Finz Aquatics, focuses and specializes in learn-to-swim for all age groups starting at the age of 6 months up to adults. Diedericks studied sports management and specialised in working with children with autism and Down syndrome.

In second place was Rashaad Sambaba’s Everything Stationery and Bohlale Buzani’s SecureVision AI completed the Top 3.

The 2025 Cape Times Youth Month Entrepreneurship Pitch Competition has officially wrapped — and what an incredible journey it has been! Held at CTICC 2 as part of their annual Youth Expo, the competition was more than just a platform to pitch ideas — it became a beacon of hope for young entrepreneurs across the region.

Organisers said as the competition progressed and the passion of the young finalists lit up the stage, more sponsors enthusiastically came on board, amplifying the impact of the initiative.

“This competition is about more than just prizes — it’s about igniting a generation of entrepreneurs and helping them build a foundation for real impact,” said Cape Times marketing and brand officer, Rehana Rutti.

“As Cape Town’s leading publication for over a century, Cape Times is proud to continue championing innovation and excellence among the youth.”

Cape Times editor Siyavuya Mzantsi said: “ We take this opportunity to thank all the finalists of this competition for sharing with us their ideas on how to take our country forward. It’s these ideas that will eventually contribute towards the development that we all yearn for. We’d also like to express our gratitude to the judges who made time for this event. Indeed, the future of South African entrepreneurship is not only bright — it’s unstoppable.”

Cape Times