Young Business Achiever of the Year


Awarded to:


A business person who is achieving in a young business, either their own company or as an employee, who is an inspirational leader, recognised in their field and is or could be a role model to anyone starting a new business.

The candidate has:

  • Exceptional talent
  • Rapid achievement
  • Achieved recognition or shown leadership
  • Been an inspiration to others in and outside of their industry


The judges will be looking for evidence of:

  • Challenges that they have faced and overcome
  • Hard work and determination that continues to drive their business on an upwards trajectory
  • An ability to become a significant contributor to their organisation and/or the wider business community



The candidate has:

  • Exceptional talent
  • Rapid achievement
  • Achieved recognition or shown leadership
  • Been an inspiration to others in and outside of their industry


The judges will be looking for evidence of:

  • Challenges that they have faced and overcome
  • Hard work and determination that continues to drive their business on an upwards trajectory
  • An ability to become a significant contributor to their organisation and/or the wider business community


Young Business Achiever of the Year

1 / 4
Eiren Drake

Founder, Tin Stuf

Eiren Drake is the 28 year-old founder and aspirant entrepreneur behind the development of a world-first canned product concept, inspired by his humble up-bringing on a farm in rural Limpopo Province, South Africa. Growing up with chicken feet and pap (maize) as one of his most-loved childhood meals, later evoked an interest for him in the dominant foods, staple diets and different time-consuming methods used by the diverse mix of cultures in South Africa, to prepare their favourite meals.

In an attempt to contribute towards finding a solution for the global food security crisis, Drake has started trying to solve some of the everyday challenges faced by millions of people in Africa, who are forced to travel long distances to and from limited points of access to frozen meat supplies, further compounded by the costly electricity required to store it - this has created an innate awareness within the young entrepreneur, whose solution has been to start his own canning company, commissioned to produce the widely enjoyed and consumed traditional South African dish of chicken feet and necks.

Drake's vision for the future of his business, includes the development of a turn-key, modular canning factory concept, that can easily and swiftly be commissioned at any location with a sufficient supply of water and electricity. He plans to franchise the concept, attracting investors by offering them a profitable business model that empowers the community that surrounds it. Procuring all of its raw materials from local small businesses, as opposed to fuelling the further growth of large corporations that dominate the industry. Furthermore, the model aims to drive employment opportunities in every region where a modular facility is located - each of which are to be strategically situated as close as possible to the end consumer, where the need and demand for these products are the greatest. This further reduces the CO2 emissions and the costs involved in shipping these consumer goo
2 / 4
Athi Rwexu

Founder and CEO of Beta SigmaX

Beta SigmaX is a tech startup incubated by the Edinburgh Business School to scale in the UK. The software aims to help children all around the world understand maths and learn it in a fun way. She launched the product to support learners in joining STEM careers (science, technology, engineering and maths). She was selected to be a delegate at the World Bank Youth Summit in Washington DC in 2018 which focused on meeting the sustainable development goal of increasing human capital through educational technology.

In South Africa the startup partnered with Barloworld, Teach South Africa and First National Bank Schools and she is an entrepreneurship co-head of IWFSA-Young Leaders Connect. In 2021, Athi presided over the UN Women, She Reigns Tech awards aimed at supporting and motivating women to participate in the Tech Sector as part of the Paris Generation Equality Agreement.

Athi holds a Master's degree in Actuarial Science from Heriot Watt University in the United kingdom and a BSc in mathematical statistics from the University of Cape Town. Professionally, she has worked as an actuarial specialist at MMI holdings and Alexander Forbes where she specialised in retirement annuities and pension fund work. Her other roles include internships at Citi Bank Group. While at Alexander Forbes she was nominated to join the Alexander Forbes junior board of directors.
3 / 4
Christo Kritzinger

COO of ShareForce

Christo is originally from Johannesburg and completed his Masters in Electronic engineering in 2010. He is the COO of ShareForce, an online employee incentive management platform which he co-founded in 2015.

In April 2021, he relocated to the UK with his wife and two boys after he received the Global Talent visa. He is currently expanding ShareForce's product offering to the UK and European markets.
4 / 4
Mayo Twala

Founder & Executive Director, Stock-Up Ltd

Mayo's Cardiff University Masters project in collaboration with Tramshed Tech helped her to develop the ideas which have blossomed into a start-up venture. After reaching out to Fintech Wales they met with her every week to discuss the business development of her start-up.

Stock-Up is a micro-investing tool for the working class global citizen to save and invest tax-free.

It brings about financial freedom, security and ease of access to the global stock market in an inexpensive, cost-effective and sustainable way.

Prior to that, Mayo joined a global financial PR firm: Prosek Partners, in its London office as an Account Executive.

The beginning of her corporate career was as a Personal Finance Editor and Social Media Manager at Intellidex, a capital markets and financial services research house.


Young Business Achiever of the Year

Eiren Drake

Founder, Tin Stuf

Eiren Drake is the 28 year-old founder and aspirant entrepreneur behind the development of a world-first canned product concept, inspired by his humble up-bringing on a farm in rural Limpopo Province, South Africa. Growing up with chicken feet and pap (maize) as one of his most-loved childhood meals, later evoked an interest for him in the dominant foods, staple diets and different time-consuming methods used by the diverse mix of cultures in South Africa, to prepare their favourite meals.

In an attempt to contribute towards finding a solution for the global food security crisis, Drake has started trying to solve some of the everyday challenges faced by millions of people in Africa, who are forced to travel long distances to and from limited points of access to frozen meat supplies, further compounded by the costly electricity required to store it - this has created an innate awareness within the young entrepreneur, whose solution has been to start his own canning company, commissioned to produce the widely enjoyed and consumed traditional South African dish of chicken feet and necks.

Drake's vision for the future of his business, includes the development of a turn-key, modular canning factory concept, that can easily and swiftly be commissioned at any location with a sufficient supply of water and electricity. He plans to franchise the concept, attracting investors by offering them a profitable business model that empowers the community that surrounds it. Procuring all of its raw materials from local small businesses, as opposed to fuelling the further growth of large corporations that dominate the industry. Furthermore, the model aims to drive employment opportunities in every region where a modular facility is located - each of which are to be strategically situated as close as possible to the end consumer, where the need and demand for these products are the greatest. This further reduces the CO2 emissions and the costs involved in shipping these consumer goo
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