Competing under the team name "Hume-Cowden Capital", Brent Cowden and Matthew Hume of Bishops Diocesan College achieved the highest portfolio growth in a field of over 1,000 teams from more than 500 schools who signed up to take part.
Each champion received R30,000 in Coronation investment vouchers to kick-start their own investment journeys, with a further R60,000 cash prize going to their school.
Cowden already has plans for his winnings. “I’m aiming to keep the money invested until I’m older and I really need it, rather than spend it while I’m still in high school.”
Strong growth in participation year-on-year
The Top Investor Challenge saw significant growth in its second year, with school participation up 654%, team registrations up 265%, and learner registrations up 252% year-on-year.
"The Challenge was designed to broaden access to investment thinking and the industry for learners and schools across the country," says Kirshni Totaram, global head of institutional business at Coronation. "It is incredible to see young people from such diverse environments taking part, broadening their horizons and discovering a field they may not otherwise have encountered at this stage of their lives. Our ultimate goal is to inspire young South Africans to dream big and consider the investment profession and broader financial services industry as a potential career path."
While Bishops took the top spot in this year’s competition, strong results were recorded by schools across the country, with Deutsche Schule Johannesburg in Gauteng placing second, Abbotts High School Rondebosch in the Western Cape third, Parel Vallei in the Western Cape fourth, Grey College Bloemfontein in the Free State fifth and seventh, St Francis College in the Eastern Cape sixth, Welkom High School in the Free State eighth, Kimberley Technical High School in the Northern Cape ninth, and Afrikaanse Hoërskool Germiston in Gauteng tenth.
About the Top Investor Challenge
The Challenge invites high school learners from across South Africa to step into the role of a fund manager and experience the world of investing. Learners participate virtually through an investment simulation game that they can play on their phones, tablets or computers.
Armed with R1m in virtual capital, learners work in teams to build their own investment portfolios in response to a series of fictional market scenarios. No prior investment experience is required, and the programme is designed to be a fun, interactive introduction to financial literacy and investment thinking.
Julian Vincent, head of Economics at Bishops, says experiences like this help bring classroom theory to life.
"When learners can see the practical applications of subjects like economics in the real world, it improves their engagement,” says Vincent. “Financial management is a critical life skill and, regardless of what career path learners choose to follow one day, it’s something young people should have some understanding of.”
Building the foundations of investment thinking
The challenge forms part of Coronation’s long-term commitment to building a more inclusive investment industry, supporting young people at different stages of their education and early careers through bursaries, early career development, workplace experience and industry partnerships. Since launching its Exceptional Student Bursary Programme in 1993, Coronation has invested more than R100m in youth development in South Africa.
For Totaram, that starts with giving young people greater exposure to the industry while they are still at school. “A young person can’t consider a career they don’t know exists. By introducing learners to investing early, we want to broaden their sense of what is possible and encourage more young South Africans to see the investment industry as a place where they could build a future.”
