YES! News

From the 3-4 December, we are bringing the Youth Energy Summit to Accra, Ghana for a day of educational, inspirational, and interactive content, designed to benefit 500 youth from different educational backgrounds. Whether learning about electrifying Ghana and Africa’s communities and industries of tomorrow, developing critical skills for the working world in our interactive training and development workshops, finding employment or funding opportunities for entrepreneurial projects, or simply networking with current and future business leaders, this platform offers positive impact to any ambitious youth looking to forge their future career. Working with key organisations in Ghana who are crucial to bridging

From a student project born out of personal struggle to a vision for powering underserved communities, SPARKY is redefining what renewable energy can look like in Africa. Created by Amanda Sphokazi Mwelase from University of Western Cape, the project draws on Amanda’s background in biotechnology to design a bacterial-powered electricity system that is both sustainable and affordable. Supported by the visibility, networks, and encouragement of YES!, Amanda has turned an idea into a growing movement that highlights the role of youth-led innovation in solving Africa’s energy challenges. In this interview, she shares the inspiration behind SPARKY, the hurdles she has faced,

In this follow-up interview, Leandro shares what the win means for his young company, why portability and community-led design matter, and how the team plans to turn their “Mission 300” vision into The “Powering Up” stream was proudly hosted and sponsored by Infinity Power. The session was opened by Mr. Mohammed Ismail Mansour, known for his appearances on Shark Tank Egypt. He moderated a high-impact panel discussion alongside Infinity Power’s CEO, Engineer Nayer Fouad, and CTO, Engineer Ashish Ranjan. Following a rigorous review process, four youth-led energy startups were shortlisted to pitch for the $5,000 grant: Brian Munene Njeru – ARK (Africa Renewables Katalyst): A

Cape Town, 19 June 2025 – The Youth Energy Summit (YES!), co hosted alongside the Africa Energy Forum at the Cape Town International Convention Centre from 18–20 June, today brought together more than 6000 young professionals, graduates, and entrepreneurs. As one of the world’s largest forums for youth engagement in the energy sector, YES! aims to empower Africa’s emerging talent through mentorship, interactive workshops, and opportunities to connect directly with industry leaders. YES! delivered a programme structured around storytelling, project finance, critical minerals, and green job pathways. This year’s theme emphasised “ownership of the energy transition” by Africa’s youth, building on

How is M300 using innovation and entrepreneurship to drive youth job creation at scale? Mission 300’s electrification plans are designed to help drive economic growth and create new jobs that will lift people and countries out of poverty. It’s not just about the new energy projects that will create jobs, but we have to focus on how that electrification will enable small businesses and new industries in Africa to grow. What types of jobs does M300 believe youth will need in the next 10 years, and how are you preparing them today? The growth of AI is without borders. As Africans

With the 2025 Youth Energy Summit (YES!) fast approaching, three participants offer advice on how to turn conference connections into academic and professional opportunities The world’s largest gathering for young people in the energy sector takes place in Cape Town between 18 and 20 June this year. It’s an opportunity to learn from the best, meet recruiters and pitch ideas to investors. But if you’re attending for the first time, the sheer size of the event and choices available can seem daunting. Three former participants share their tips on how to prepare for the Summit and make it work for you.   The entrepreneur

Where We Started: In 2020, as the world retreated into the comfort of their homes amidst the pandemic, Madhu Basu, a Venture Client Manager (presently) at Siemens Energy, whilst spending time with her then three-year-old child sparked an inspiration — a vision to create a virtual game that would illustrate the complexities of energy transition. With the invaluable support of colleagues, including Philip McNally, a talented graduate, and Sabrina Mercer, the head of UK&I Strategy, Basu embarked on an exhilarating journey of innovation. The development process was marked by countless iterations, where the team embraced cycles of learning and unlearning. They

EnergyNet is excited to welcome Nedbank CIB to this year’s Youth Energy Summit in Cape Town, where the bank is playing an important role in supporting Africa’s next generation of energy professionals. As a leading financial institution committed to sustainability and inclusive growth, Nedbank CIB is investing in Africa’s future by empowering the continent’s youth to take a leading role in the energy transition. Anél Bosman, Group Managing Executive of Nedbank CIB, will take part in the summit as a featured speaker, joining a lineup of influential voices from across the energy and finance sectors. Bosman’s participation underlines the bank’s belief