Young entrepreneurs have been urged to move beyond simply having business ideas and instead develop innovative ventures that respond to real market opportunities and can remain sustainable after receiving financial support.
Youth Enterprise Revolving Fund (YERF) Corporate Services Manager Banele Nhlengethwa said young people seeking funding should carefully consider whether their proposed businesses could generate income, compete in the market and survive beyond their initial stages.
Speaking during an interview on the Kusile Breakfast Show, Nhlengethwa said YERF was looking for business concepts with realistic prospects of growth and long-term sustainability, rather than ideas that appeared attractive only on paper. 
His remarks come as YERF continues to provide financial support to young entrepreneurs across Eswatini, with 70 young people having received a combined E3 million in business loans this year.
Nhlengethwa said the Fund had seen an improvement in the number of young people benefiting from its financing compared with the previous year.
However, he emphasised that access to funding should be accompanied by careful planning and a clear understanding of the market in which an entrepreneur intends to operate.
Young entrepreneurs, he said, should identify gaps in the market and develop businesses capable of responding to those opportunities in a distinctive way.
YERF considers several factors when assessing loan applications, including the viability of the proposed business, its growth potential, long-term sustainability and the applicant’s creditworthiness.
For sole traders, the Fund provides loans of up to E50 000, with financing available to both start-ups and existing businesses seeking to expand.
Nhlengethwa also highlighted growing interest among young people in agriculture-related businesses, describing the sector as one of the areas offering opportunities for entrepreneurship.
The increasing interest in agriculture comes amid efforts to strengthen local production, food security and economic activity, providing opportunities for young entrepreneurs to participate across different parts of the agricultural value chain.
For YERF, the sustainability of businesses remains particularly important because the Fund operates on a revolving model.
Nhlengethwa said 17 per cent of the money initially provided to beneficiaries had already been repaid.
These repayments allow funds to circulate back into the programme, creating the possibility of supporting additional young entrepreneurs as existing beneficiaries settle their loans.
The Fund also provides mentorship alongside financing, with beneficiaries assigned qualified mentors to guide them as they establish, manage and grow their businesses.
The mentorship support is intended to help entrepreneurs make informed business decisions, address operational challenges and identify opportunities for expansion.
