MBABANE – Young entrepreneurs and creatives are set to converge at the upcoming Capital Leap Expo 2026 as organisers seek to bridge the gap between ambition and access to funding in the Kingdom of Eswatini.
The expo, themed Young and Funded, is an initiative of the Youth Chamber of Commerce and Industries Mbabane Chapter. It aims to bring together policymakers, funding institutions, innovators and business development agencies under one roof to unpack what it takes to build bankable enterprises.
Among the headline acts are Qibho Intalektual, Zinia and Ace Julz, who will use music and poetry to demonstrate the economic value of the creative arts industry. 
Qibho Intalektual is expected to use his craft to remind participants that the creative sector remains a significant economic driver in the country. Zinia will explore how music goes beyond entertainment, positioning it as identity and economic value within Eswatini’s growth agenda. Ace Julz will present culture as commerce, showing how stories from the streets can translate into viable enterprise.
Chairperson of the Youth Chamber of Commerce and Industries Mbabane Chapter, Mzwandile Nxumalo, said the expo was deliberately structured to serve as a meeting point for industry players across funding, scaling, equipping and capacitation.
“Specifically and perfectly with the Youth Chamber of Commerce which has the the mandate of making sure that excuse me it becomes a cross intersection of all of these I’d say industry players from funding to scaling and to equipping and capacitation. So we were very intentional as we got into office because we are here until 2028,” he said during a media interview.
Nxumalo said the current executive, whose term runs until 2028, wanted to ensure proper frameworks were in place before engaging the public.
He explained that the Chamber worked closely with the Local Economic Development Office of the Mbabane Municipal Council and secured the necessary municipal support before rolling out the initiative.
“We can’t let that happen without having i-blessing yamasipala because we are operating in the local governance context which is the local economic development office of the Mbabane Municipal Council,” he said.
The Youth Fund has also been brought on board to ensure long term collaboration and to clarify what young entrepreneurs must do to access available funding.
“Yes, the fund is there, but what exactly needs to be happening in terms of dotting the I’s and crossing the tees as a young entrepreneur operating in the kingdom of specifically Mbabane,” he said.
Small Enterprise Development Company is expected to guide participants on compliance and procurement readiness so that youth owned businesses are not left behind when tenders and expressions of interest are issued.
“umtsetfo ngumtsetfo, kute kutsi ngumthetho we youth lona, ngumthetho wabantfu labadzala,” Nxumalo said, stressing the importance of equipping young entrepreneurs to operate within existing regulatory frameworks.
He added that excluding the creative arts industry from youth economic conversations would be a mistake.
“Kungaba liphutha lelikhulu kakhulu Zwide kutsi sitawubita i youth sishiye i creative arts industry,” he said.
The Capital Leap Expo 2026 comes at a time when many young entrepreneurs in Eswatini say ideas are abundant but access to funding, markets and networks remains limited. Organisers say the event is designed to move youth from ambition to execution by creating direct engagement with institutions and decision makers.
Attendance is limited and interested participants are required to register in advance through an online form circulated by the Youth Chamber of Commerce and Industries Mbabane Chapter.
