Key Enablers and Barriers Influencing the Sustainability of Youth-Owned Ventures
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.51137/wrp.ijarbm.740Keywords:
Youth Entrepreneurship, Enablers, Barriers, Sustainability, Higher EducationAbstract
Youth entrepreneurship in South Africa plays a critical role in addressing unemployment, promoting innovation, and advancing sustainable development. This study investigates the key enablers and barriers influencing the sustainability of youth-owned ventures within a higher education context, focusing on the Durban University of Technology (DUT). A mixed-methods approach was adopted within a pragmatic paradigm using a sequential exploratory design. Qualitative interviews were conducted to identify dominant themes, which informed the development of a quantitative questionnaire administered to 253 student entrepreneurs selected through simple random sampling at a 95% confidence level. The findings reveal that access to finance, mentorship, business support services, and networking opportunities are the primary enablers of entrepreneurial sustainability. Conversely, inadequate funding, limited market access, crime, and insufficient entrepreneurial skills constitute major barriers. The study highlights the need for targeted financial support mechanisms, structured mentorship programmes, and stronger institutional ecosystems to enhance the long-term sustainability of youth-owned ventures. The findings contribute to youth entrepreneurship scholarship and inform institutional and policy interventions aimed at fostering sustainable entrepreneurial development.
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