High school learners across Southern Africa are being encouraged to enter the 10th edition of the Allan Gray Entrepreneurship Challenge (AGEC) — the region’s premier gamified business competition for young people. Marking a milestone birthday in 2026, the challenge promises a bigger, bolder experience, with more activities designed to spark curiosity and ignite entrepreneurial ambition.
Charleen Duncan, Head of Public Affairs & Communications at the Allan Gray Orbis Foundation, says the competition has grown into something far greater than a business game. “As the Challenge celebrates its 10th year in 2026, it’s amazing to see how this competition continues to spark interest and ignite a passion for entrepreneurship in so many young people from all over Southern Africa.”
Duncan adds that the Foundation is proud of the cultural movement AGEC has helped build over the past decade. “This competition’s mission is to get more young people interested in starting on their entrepreneurial journeys as early as possible in life, because entrepreneurship is transformative for young people, their communities, and their economies.”
How the competition works
AGEC began as an online game designed to get learners excited about business and has since grown into a full entrepreneurial movement. Open to students from South Africa, Namibia, Botswana and Eswatini, the competition centres on a deep, scenario-based simulation that places participants in charge of real-world business decisions. Players can choose from five different shop types to build their retail empire, with each session taking just 30 minutes to complete and the game being fully replayable.
The game is free to play and requires 14MB of data, with the option to play online or download for offline use. It is available year-round, although prizes may only be earned within the official competition window. No prior knowledge of business, accounting or finance is required — participants learn everything they need by playing the game and engaging with its activities.
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The AGEC digital platform is designed to be fast, mobile-friendly and easy to navigate. Beyond the online game, the competition includes hands-on tools for teachers, physical card games such as Startup Shuffle, and live in-person pitching events.
“Through fun, relevant and accessible means, AGEC exposes the foundational concepts of entrepreneurship, shifting perceptions and creating a culture that excites and inspires future entrepreneurs,” says Duncan.
Prizes and how to enter
Participants stand a chance to win prizes including cash and Allan Gray Unit Trusts. The top three students in the final Business Pitch Challenge will receive significant rewards, while the Allan Gray High School Game offers a generous overall prize pool. Schools that enter the most participants may also win a special prize.
Top-performing students earn the opportunity to pitch their business ideas live at the AGEC Summit, where business plans can be developed into real ventures.
The competition typically attracts more than 21 000 learners from four countries, alongside more than 800 teachers who participate through partnerships with teacher unions including SADTU, NAPTOSA and SAO.
For more information or to enter, visit theentrepreneurshipchallenge.com.
