In an effort to drive and support early-stage tech and women entrepreneurs, Seed Academy is offering sponsored entrepreneurial training to the value of R2.4 million.
The initiative hopes to nurture South Africa’s next app success story with the likes of Vinny Lingham, techpreneur and founder of Gyft, a mobile gift card company, which last year sold for over $50 million.
The courses are available in both Cape Town and Johannesburg. The focus is on tech but other ideas which are scalable are welcome.
Seed Academy provides fast-track and practical training. They also offer mentoring to startups and early-phase entrepreneurs.
Lara Rosmarin, CEO of Seed Academy, says the course is aimed at helping entrepreneurs realise their ideas and grow their business. “The material is neither theoretical nor academic, and the training is carried out by entrepreneurs who have built their own businesses. They know what works.”
Together with practical training like problem-solving, risk-taking and communication techniques, as part of the course, entrepreneurs are also coached on interpersonal skills and on personal development.
The Academy is targeting entrepreneurs working full-time, with classes taking place over ten weeks between 6 pm and 9 pm.
Jermain Kallideen, CEO of Kallideen Technologies, a Johannesburg-based software development company, attended Seed Academy and says he would recommend the programme to other early-stage startups. “The programme helped my business dramatically”.
His sentiments were echoed by Nonqaba Stamper of FundBabies: “I met other entrepreneurs facing many of the same challenges that I faced. We were also guided by other entrepreneurs. The course highlighted many aspects that new entrepreneurs don’t know about.”
Applications are open with courses starting regularly.
