From the Cape Flats to the world of investment banking, and now to the forefront of entrepreneurship development, Candice Shun journey is one of resilience, reinvention and purpose.
The founder of Gwin, a mobile learning app designed to improve financial literacy among entrepreneurs, recently added another milestone to her growing list of achievements when she was named the overall winner in the business category of the City of Cape Town’s YouthStartCT competition.
Speaking to me after her win, Shun reflected on how her upbringing in Parkwood and Grassy Park shaped the values that continue to drive her work today.
“We didn’t grow up with excess, but we grew up with effort,” she said. “My parents worked incredibly hard, and the greatest gift they gave my brother and me was their belief in education.”
That foundation led her to study finance at the University of the Western Cape and eventually secure a client-facing Corporate Investment Banking role at J.P. Morgan.
“I remember feeling the weight of the application process,” she recalled. “Many of the other candidates came from more prestigious universities and had postgraduate degrees. I questioned whether I belonged in that room. But getting the role taught me that your background may shape your journey, but it does not have to limit your future.”
After five years in Johannesburg, where she worked with major corporates on debt, cash flow and treasury strategies, Shun and her team won the Adam Smith Award for Best-in-Class Treasury Solution in Africa alongside client Motus in 2023.
Yet despite her success in corporate finance, she felt increasingly drawn to the world of small business.
“I loved the work I was doing, but I realised I wanted to apply those financial principles in a way that could directly help entrepreneurs build stronger businesses,” she said.
That realisation eventually led to the creation of Gwin.
At its core, Gwin is a mobile learning app that helps entrepreneurs build practical financial literacy skills, from understanding cash flow and pricing correctly to separating personal and business finances and preparing for funding opportunities.
The idea was born from personal experience.
“My husband was stepping into his family business, which was struggling at the time,” Shun explained. “I started applying some of the same principles I had used in corporate finance, but in a much more practical small-business way. We looked at cash flow, debt, costs and pricing differently, and over time we saw the business improve significantly.”
That experience became a turning point.
“I realised many small businesses don’t fail because the entrepreneur is lazy or not talented. They often fail because they haven’t been taught how to read the financial signals in their business.”
To make learning accessible, Gwin uses a gamified approach with short lessons, quizzes, practical tasks, progress tracking and rewards.
“Entrepreneurs are creative people. They like movement, challenge and progress. We wanted financial learning to feel less intimidating and more like a journey,” she said.
The broader vision, she explained, is not just to teach entrepreneurs, but to help them build a financial track record of learning, behaviour and readiness over time.
“In simple terms, Gwin is about helping entrepreneurs move from fear and confusion around money to confidence, control and funding readiness.”
Her recent victory in #YouthStartCT brought further validation to that vision.
The programme, which marked its 10th anniversary this year, attracted more than 700 entries, with around 145 participants progressing through training, mentorship and pitching rounds.
“It was a very stretching experience,” Shun admitted. “When you build something like Gwin, you live with the idea every day. But a pitch forces you to simplify a big vision into a few minutes.
“The process helped me sharpen how I spoke about the problem we’re solving, who we serve, and why this matters now.”
Winning the competition was a proud moment, but she says the lessons learned were just as valuable.
“Clarity is everything. Validation matters. And personally, I learned that I’m allowed to take up space.”
Shun is quick to acknowledge the “village” behind her success, from her parents and husband to mentors, colleagues, entrepreneurs and programmes such as YouthStartCT.
Looking ahead, she hopes Gwin can play a meaningful role in strengthening South Africa’s entrepreneurial ecosystem.
“My message to young people is: don’t underestimate the power of starting with what you have,” she said. “Keep learning, ask for help, and don’t let where you come from make you believe your dreams must be small.”
For fellow entrepreneurs, her encouragement is equally practical.
“Don’t be afraid of your numbers. Your numbers are not there to judge you; they are there to guide you. And don’t build alone. Find your village, use the resources around you, and keep learning while you build.”
With Gwin, Shun is combining her Cape Flats roots, corporate finance expertise and passion for entrepreneurship into a mission that could help many small business owners build with greater confidence and certainty.