Coronation is bringing the world of investing into South African high school classrooms, giving learners the chance to develop new skills and explore a potential career in financial services.
The Coronation Top Investor Challenge: Schools Edition is open to all high school learners in the country and carries a total prize pool of R120 000. Now in its second year, the free-to-enter competition uses a virtual simulation game to introduce young people to the fundamentals of investing.
“The idea is simple. We want to give more young people access to the kind of knowledge and opportunities that can change how they think about money and their future,” says Kirshni Totaram, global head of Institutional Business at Coronation. “For some, this may be their first exposure to investing. For others, it could be the beginning of a career in investment management.”
Participating learners form teams of two to five members and receive a virtual sum of money to invest through a simulation game playable on a phone, tablet or computer. A series of short videos imagining how the world might change in the future prompts teams to decide how to allocate their funds, with participants building financial knowledge as they progress. The team whose portfolio records the strongest growth by the end of the challenge is declared the winner.
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No prior knowledge of investing is required. The challenge is designed to introduce key economic, financial and investing concepts in a practical and engaging way, meeting learners where they are.
Open to all
The challenge is free to enter and runs from 1 June to 31 July 2026, structured to fit around school schedules. Learners can participate at their own pace during this period and there is no limit to the number of teams a school may enter.
“We believe that understanding how investing works is a valuable life skill,” says Totaram. “This challenge is about building that foundation, while also opening the door to possibilities that may have previously felt out of reach.”
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The top-performing team nationally will win R60 000 in Coronation investment vouchers, shared equally among team members – designed to give learners a financial head start by taking their first real step into investing. The winning team’s school will also receive R60 000.
Beyond the financial rewards, participants stand to gain a meaningful addition to their CVs, demonstrating initiative, teamwork and an interest in financial decision-making.
How to enter
Schools and parents can register their teams on the Top Investor Challenge website: www.coronation.com/en-za/institutional/topinvestor/.
