South African Entrepreneur, 30, Makes Forbes Africa List

A South African entrepreneur is proving that investing in young people can transform entire communities.

Rayhaan Survé was named to the Forbes Africa 30 Under 30 list this week, recognized for his work building opportunities for the next generation of African business leaders. The honor celebrates young Africans making real impact across business, technology, and innovation.

Survé's mission centers on creating pathways where none existed before. Through iAccelerate SA, his youth entrepreneurship program, he brings business education directly to public high school students in Cape Town, teaching them skills that traditional classrooms often skip.

His work extends beyond the classroom. Through the Survé Family Office, he's tackling food security through sustainable aquaculture projects while building systems that help emerging talent access the resources they need to succeed.

The Ripple Effect

When young people learn to build businesses, entire families benefit. Students in Survé's accelerator program don't just learn about entrepreneurship in theory. They create real ventures, gaining practical experience that opens doors in South Africa's competitive job market.

Sekunjalo Investments Group CEO Lucien Jacobs called the recognition well deserved, noting that Survé's approach demonstrates how education and entrepreneurship can create lasting change. By focusing on public schools rather than elite institutions, the program reaches students who might never otherwise access these opportunities.

The Forbes Africa 30 Under 30 list highlights leaders who aren't just succeeding personally but lifting others as they climb. Survé's response to the honor reflected that mindset: he pointed to Africa's unrealized potential and the need to keep building systems that help it flourish.

His work addresses a critical gap. While Africa brims with entrepreneurial energy, young people often lack mentorship, networks, and seed funding to transform ideas into sustainable businesses. Programs like iAccelerate SA provide exactly those missing pieces.

From Cape Town classrooms to continental recognition, Survé's journey shows what's possible when someone commits to creating opportunities rather than just seizing them. His focus remains firmly on the work ahead, knowing that recognition matters less than results.

One young entrepreneur at a time, he's helping write Africa's next chapter.