Nigerian-born entrepreneur Sam Apata founded 67CEOs Foundation to connect established business leaders with emerging entrepreneurs who need mentoring and coaching from people who have actually built something. A decade later, the foundation has grown from five volunteer CEOs into a continent-wide network of business leaders.
An early lesson in what entrepreneurship actually costs
Apata began helping in his parents’ businesses at 13, and remembers being sent to hawk goods at a market as a teenager and coming home in tears after selling nothing all day. That early encounter with hardship taught him that entrepreneurship is fundamentally about solving problems, a lesson that shaped the foundation he would eventually build.
Recruiting CEOs was far harder than expected
Apata assumed CEOs would rush to volunteer once the initiative launched. Instead, he faced rejection after rejection, sometimes getting only one “yes” out of a hundred invitations sent to JSE-listed company leaders. The first cohort had just five participating CEOs. Persistence, not a clever pitch, is what grew that number over time.
What the foundation actually does
67CEOs Foundation focuses on mentorship, entrepreneurship education, investment and enterprise development, hosting workshops, masterclasses and networking events covering topics from financial management to BBBEE and enterprise and supplier development readiness. Corporate sponsors and CEO volunteers back the programmes, and the foundation now runs an annual Global Entrepreneurship Week event alongside other flagship gatherings.
Frequently asked questions
Is it realistic to get busy corporate CEOs to volunteer time for entrepreneur mentorship?
It is difficult, based on 67CEOs Foundation’s own experience, but persistence over years turned a handful of early volunteers into a substantial ongoing network of business leaders.
What kind of support does 67CEOs Foundation actually offer entrepreneurs?
Mentorship and coaching from experienced CEOs, alongside workshops and masterclasses covering financial management, compliance and enterprise development readiness.
Does this kind of mentorship network only help early-stage founders?
No. The model pairs entrepreneurs at various stages with CEOs who have relevant experience, and the foundation’s events and masterclasses are open more broadly to the entrepreneurship ecosystem.
Persistence built a network rejection almost killed
67CEOs Foundation’s growth from five CEOs to a continent-wide network shows that a good idea for connecting entrepreneurs with mentors still requires years of persistence to actually take hold.
Further reading: Enterprise and Supplier Development: What It Looks Like When Done Right | Department of Trade, Industry and Competition for official small business support information
Originally published in April 2019. Updated September 2026 to confirm 67CEOs Foundation’s continued growth into its tenth year. The founding story remains the same.
