Student Wins Regionals of Entrepreneurship Intervarsity Competition

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Ms Ayavuya Sibisi, final-year Bachelor of Arts student, has won the provincial rounds of the Entrepreneurship Development in Higher Education (EDHE) Intervarsity Competition, making her the only student from UKZN to make it to national competition this year!

The EDHE Intervarsity competition is a platform designed to identify, recognise and showcase the top student entrepreneurs at South Africa’s public universities.

Sibisi - who is no stranger to the competition, having entered last year - said she was compelled to enter again due to her desire to continuously grow and improve. ‘Being part of the competition for a second time around has been a huge learning experience. I was able to put my mind and heart into it, which resulted in me winning the regional rounds, a significant achievement that has validated all the hard work I’ve put into my business!’

The 23-year-old said she started Tropical Paradise Smoothie Bar, a mobile smoothie bar after noticing the lack of healthy, affordable, and delicious food options available on campuses. Raised in what she calls the “tropical paradise” of Venda, Sibisi’s smoothies are made with family-inspired recipes that pay tribute to the province of Limpopo.

Her entrepreneurial journey began in high school where she sold sweets to classmates and later in Grade 11 and 12 as a money-lender to her peers. ‘By the time I got into university, I was ready to solve bigger problems, however, I wanted to do something different, by creating a scalable business that could be passed on from generation to generation.’

Sibisi uses skills acquired from her majors in Psychology and Linguistics to better understand customer behaviour, effectively communicate the value of her products, build strong relationships, and create marketing strategies that resonate with her target audience. She balances her studies and her business by using effective time management and prioritisation skills.

A seasoned competitor, she has won competitions, including UKZN’s Battle of the Campuses Start-up Booster category, eThekwini Municipality’s Business Challenge, the KwaZulu-Natal Bambelela Business Awards hosted by the Hollywood Foundation, and the Absa Young African Entrepreneurs Youth Innovation Challenge.

She acknowledged UKZN InQubate for being instrumental in providing mentorship, business development support, and access to a network of industry experts. ‘InQubate has helped me refine my business model and improve my pitching skills, all of which are qualities that I plan to use at the nationals to highlight Tropical Paradise’s impact and scalability potential.’

Sibisi said her biggest challenge had been securing a dedicated manufacturing space, as her business currently operates from a temporary setup, which limits its production capacity.

With plans to establish a manufacturing unit, expand her presence to other campuses at UKZN, and scale her mobile units across other KwaZulu-Natal Higher Education Institutions, her goal is to secure additional funding and investment to grow.

Sharing some wise words for student entrepreneurs, she said, ‘Don’t wait for the perfect moment - start with what you have and build from there. The journey will have challenges, but every obstacle is an opportunity to learn and grow. Be persistent, stay true to your vision, and always be willing to adapt.’

She also thanked the Innovate Durban team, her family, customers as well as her mentors and advisors who believed in her and supported the mobile smoothie bar dream. ‘Their guidance, encouragement, and resources have been invaluable in getting the business to where it is today.’

Mr Khutšo Ramontja, Interim Officer at UKZN InQubate, said Sibisi had displayed classic entrepreneurial characteristics such as resilience and a positive attitude. ‘Ayavuya didn’t make the Intervarsity Regionals last year, but that did not deter her, hence her becoming a finalist now. I hope that she makes good use of the mentor we have appointed to assist her in preparing for the nationals, and I’m confident that she’ll be one of the top contenders at the finals.’

Sibisi will represent the KwaZulu-Natal region at the nationals in Johannesburg on 21 November 2024.

Words: Hlengiwe Khwela

Photographs: Supplied