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Franchising pioneer leads the way for women
For a long time, women have been a minority in the franchising world. There have however, been a few women who have entered the industry and are paving the way for
The Power of Purpose and Resilience
Two years ago, fresh from a gruelling 25-day, 800km race to the South Pole, motivational speaker, extreme adventurist, author and philanthropist, Braam Malherbe during his talk ‘Nothing is Impossible’ at Sandton Convention Centre brought half the
Brothers stream success with new radio app
When brothers Val and Ayke Ezeani arrived on the tech scene three years ago with their new startup, the duo said it was far from easy. The Nigerian-born brothers are the co-founders
Tech Grants: Boosting Startups in South Africa
Incubation is the current buzzword in entrepreneurial spaces. In South Africa, there has been no shortage of incubators cropping up to offer much-needed support and resources to entrepreneurs looking to
The Pros and Cons of Bootstrapping your Business
Bootstrapping is a term used to describe starting a small business with very little or virtually nothing – both financial and otherwise. Bootstrappers usually rely on personal income and savings, sweat equity,
Takealot acquires e-retailer Superbalist
Online retailer Takealot has acquired 100% of the equity of Superbalist.com, a design and apparel online retailer founded four years ago, reports Tech Central. In May this year, Takealot announced that it
R1.4bn tugboat project to boost SA ports
An ambitious plan by the South African ports authority to get nine tugboats, including the world’s most powerful, over the next four years, has been unveiled. Fin24 reports that nine
SA Banks Safe from S&P Ratings
Moody’s on Tuesday downgraded deposit ratings for Standard Bank, FirstRand, Nedbank and Absa Bank — Barclays Africa Group’s local operation. The move, which was criticised by South Africa’s central bank and some analysts, was the latest blow
Small enterprises set to grow economy: Zuma
President Jacob Zuma says supporting small enterprises and broad-based economic empowerment will be a key strategy in growing the economy to create millions of decent jobs by 2030. The President said
SMEs not taking full advantage of tech support programmes
Struggling techpreneurs are closing shops despite the government’s non-repayable grants that encourage them to stay in commerce Business incubation is the current buzzword in entrepreneurial spaces everywhere nowadays. Those with business knowledge and
Sub-Saharan Africa’s middle class set for growth
While Africa’s middle class may be smaller than the oft-reported figure of 300 million, it is growing at a strong rate – and the broad-based income growth is likely to
Thabile Engineering: Thabile Engineering: A Profile of Success
Entrepreneur QnA Company Profile Name of company: Thabile Engineering Years in existence: 12 Position: Director Can you tell us a little bit about your background – personal, educational and professional? I have a
How SMEs can cash in on their bank’s loyalty programmes
Over the last decade, loyalty programmes have become a norm in South Africa. Local banks and select retail stores have a variety of loyalty offerings. The loyalty programmes are used to encourage certain behaviours among customers
New mobile video-streaming app solves Africa’s bandwith issues
Tuluntulu (Pty) Ltd has launched its Adaptive Real-time Internet Streaming Technology (ARTIST) platform as an application (app) on the Apple iOS and Google Android App Store. The ARTIST platform (also called Tuluntulu) was
SA businesses benefit from new Companies Act: Minister
The Minister of Trade and Industry, Dr. Rob Davies said the implementation of the new Companies Act is progressing and that entrepreneurs and businesses have benefited from it. Davies
SAB Kickstart Bootcamp and De Wet Tshonto’s Unique Idea
Inside the chambers of the Gordon Institute of Business Science in Illovo, Johannesburg, a group of 15 young entrepreneurs sit with all their attention focused on a lecture being given on
SAP to Invest $500m in Africa
Software giant SAP says it aims to invest up to US$500 million in Africa by 2020, as it looks to accelerate growth across five regions with hub anchors in
The Next 10 Biggest Cities in Sub-Saharan Africa and Why They Matter
Economists from PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) believe investors should get excited about what will be the “next 10” biggest cities in sub-Saharan Africa. According to PwC’s latest Global Economy Watch report, the population of
Economists say Capitec won’t become the next African Bank
As Capitec Bank takes a battering from credit rating agencies, its shareholders are becoming jittery and more concerned about the future of their investments in the bank. According to Business Day, rating agency Moody’s cut Capitec’s
Education Startup finds success in an unlikely market
When friends Paul Kim (29)and Gareth Heuer (27) started and self-funded Qurio, they hoped the web-based assessment tool meant to assist teachers and lecturers carry out assessments, mark tests and homework would be a
R2.7-billion youth fund launched
The Industrial Development Corporation (IDC), National Youth Development Agency (NYDA) and Small Enterprise Finance Agency (sefa) have partnered to provide funding and support to youth-owned businesses. The three institutions launched
The cashflow solution more SMEs should be talking about
It’s well known that small and medium-sized businesses often struggle cash flow due to delayed and non-payments for services rendered, or products delivered to their clients, especially government departments.
The cashflow solution more SMEs should be talking about
It’s well known that small and medium-sized businesses often struggle cash flow due to delayed and non-payments for services rendered, or products delivered to their clients, especially government departments.
Yahoo launches new e-commerce platform for small businesses
Yahoo has announced the relaunch of its e-commerce platform, which allows small businesses to easily set up online retailing. The company said in a blog post that the new Yahoo Stores system
Tried and tested motivation techniques that work
Recognition! We are so often focused on fixing the weaknesses in our businesses that we often forget to recognise our successes and the people who make them happen. This does not
New management for government’s R9bn jobs fund
The government’s R9 billion jobs fund, which is aimed at supporting job creation, will transfer its management to the newly established Government Technical Advisory Centre from the Development Bank of
Best SA business apps of the year celebrated
The MTN Business App awards, celebrating local talent and highlighting the innovation of South African developers, were held yesterday in Johannesburg. The winning app was LIVE Inspect, designed for insurance underwriters and
How to protect yourself when using banking apps
More and more consumers are taking advantage of mobile banking apps to check their balances, deposit checks, pay bills and, most importantly, avoid a trip to their local bank branch
Reasons Why your Competitor is your Friend
One of the most important aspects of running a successful business is knowing as much about your competition as possible. Not only is it important to develop a competitive analysis
Government to create 100 black industrialists
The government will create 100 black industrialists in the next three years to contribute to the economy and create jobs, Deputy Trade and Industry Minister Mzwandile Masina said on Thursday. “These industrialists…
Unemployment behind 70% of informal businesses – Stats SA
According to Stats SA, almost 70% of people who start an informal business do so because they are unemployed and have no alternative source of income, and they are self-funded. Among
The DTI’s Textile Grant Explained
To help combat the decline in the South African textile industry, including the loss of jobs and revenue, the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) established a Clothing and Textiles
Reforms in Retirement Funds Cause Fears Among Workers
The government has moved in to clarify its retirement reform policy amid workers’ hysteria and mass resignations in a rush to access their pension funds before the state gets its
What you can do today to maximise your business’ growth potential
“You may have a great product that’s innovative and appealing to consumers, but if it is not easily accessible, the prospects for growth can be bleak,” says Ravi Govender, Head of Small Enterprises at
What you can do today to maximise your business growth potential
“You may have a great product that’s innovative and appealing to consumers, but if it is not easily accessible, the prospects for growth can be bleak,” says Ravi Govender, Head of Small Enterprises at
Entrepreneurship still the long-term solution to unemployment
Small Business Development Minister Lindiwe Zulu says the long-term solution to South Africa’s unemployment crisis is to create a nation of entrepreneurs and not a nation of job-seekers. “South Africa is a
All Your Crowdfunding Questions Answered
Crowdfunding is becoming an increasingly popular alternative for small to medium enterprises (SMEs) to raise capital. Now entrepreneurs no longer have to rely on banks or public funding institutions,
How To Be Productive in Any Office Setup
For entrepreneurs who have yet to find office spaces for their startups, their humble home or local coffee shop is usually the company’s first headquarters. This is usually followed
‘It takes unshakable faith in your own abilities, sometimes raw guts’ – Wendy Ferguson
Company Profile Name of company: Brilliant Skincare (Pty)Ltd. Years in existence: 3 years Position: Founder Can you tell us a little bit about your background – personal, educational and professional?
More SA consumers are giving unknown brands a chance
Small, individual private brands are no longer being seen as cheap alternatives to big well-known brands in the fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG) category, as new unknown brands are suddenly enjoying consumer
Simple Ways SMEs Can Implement Corporate Governance Structures
Corporate governance structures are as vital to SMMEs as it is for large corporations. Implementation of cost-effective and simple mechanisms and processes will establish structure, improve operations, contribute to business growth
Startup Gyft keeps on giving
Two years ago, with two successful tech startups already under his belt, South African entrepreneur Vinny Lingham founded a the digital gift card company Gyft. According to Lingham, he launched Gyft because he believed mobile payments were the
Gauteng property revitalisation plans to help small businesses
Small and informal businesses in Gauteng can look forward to a facelift if the provincial government’s efforts go according to plan. The Gauteng provincial government has identified more than 37,000 properties, many of
This is how Tshwane is using its free Wi-Fi
Last year the City of Tshwane together with Project Isizwe, a non-governmental organisation, launched the free Wi-Fi network as part of the City’s vision of providing universal access and connectivity. The project has made the city one
Coffee served with a dash of empowerment in Khayelitsha
Three entrepreneurs are leading by example in the poverty-stricken community of Khayelitsha, Cape Town. The co-owners and coffee baristas at Department of Coffee (DOC), the township-based and black-owned coffee shop in Khayelitsha are currently engaged in
It’s time South African entrepreneurs said yes to the African Dream
I am now at a place in my entrepreneurial journey, where I only attend events that speak to my highest priorities. I was recently invited to a workshop where the
New startup to create 100 000 microjobs
South African companies such as TomTom, 1Life and Telesure have partnered with new micro jobbing platform M4JAM (money for jam) to make over 100,000 micro jobs available. M4JAM, which goes live on Monday 11 August, is
Township Advertising Mogul Moves Back to Soweto
Bontle Molefe has great plans for her township advertising company. As a media specialist, the 32-year-old single mother established a go-to business for businesses looking to extend their marketing and advertising
City of Joburg launches tech startup incubator bootcamp
The City of Joburg, together with Microsoft, is looking for 40 young people running tech startups to join the Softstart BTI Incubator boot camp programme. The programme which is being sponsored by the DTI’s Small Enterprise Development Agency (SEDA) Technology Programme (STP)
Secrets to a Successful Product Launch
At this point in the economy, there are many individuals who are taking on the long journey of entrepreneurship and deciding to offer a product or service to a specific
Transnet secures R6bn in funding
US-Exim for the funding of the diesel locomotives the company is buying from General Electric (GE), reported Business Day. The group CE of the state-owned ports, rail and pipeline company, Brian Molefe,
Jozi@Work: Facts and Figures You Should Know
The City of Johannesburg earlier this year announced its R1 billion scheme called Jozi@Work. This is part of the City’s efforts to increase the level of skills and job opportunities in its
Believing in Purpose over Passion – Tuming Lee
Company Profile Name of company: Tuming Lee Studios Years in existence: 5 years Position: Founder and publishing editor of KICKSTART Magazine Can you tell us a little bit about your background – personal, educational
Nedbank hits 6.9 million clients
According to a CNBC Africa report, Nedbank is attributing the increase to its new money send product, Send-iMali and the roll-out of 144 intelligent depositor devices as well as establishing 52 additional branches in the