<p>This paper explores the post-grant phase of the Business Acceceleration for Youth (BA4Y) programme implemented at the Malawi University of Science and Technology (MUST), highlighting the transition from grant-supported initiatives to institutionalised innovation education and business growth for community youths. The study reflects on activities undertaken between September and December 2024, focusing on sustaining the momentum of youth-driven innovations and businesses through capacity-building workshops, bootcamp training, mentorship support, prototype development and community engagement. Specifically, 18 youth-led enterprises were supported during the post-grant phase. Through embedding innovation education within academic and co-curricular frameworks, the programme facilitated experiential learning, entrepreneurial skill development, and social innovation. The MUST Innovation Hub (MIH) which is the University’s platform for incubation and mentorship, played a central role by linking students, faculty, and industry partners. This structure enabled the transition from once-off seed grants to sustained growth of youth enterprises through structured mentorship, and expanded market linkages. After the incubation process and post grant monitoring support and activities, all the youth led enterprises recorded improved financial management practices, improved strategic planning capabilities, employed at least 2 other youths on full time basis, increased income generation through the same enterprises, increased their market reach and customer base and diversified their marketing approaches. The study offers insights into the successes, opportunities and challenges of mainstreaming innovation education in higher learning institutions in low-resource settings and rural based innovative and entreprenuerial youths, providing a model for scaling similar interventions across the Global South.</p>