Financial services entrepreneurs will receive a much-needed boost with the launch of AlphaCode, a collaborative hub located in Sandton, Johannesburg by Rand Merchant Insurance Holdings (RMI). The hub provides a platform for members to engage and work alongside experienced entrepreneurs, technology investors and industry experts. This they hope will result in accelerated growth and access to market.
According to a press statement by RMI, the concept is modelled on the leading fintech development hub, Level 39 in London’s Canary Wharf, which has become a successful catalyst for emerging fintech players.
There is no charge for fintech entrepreneurs to belong to the hub. It is fully funded by RMI.
Publicis Groupe is providing 90 projects or startups with funding
PublicisPublicis Groupe has announced that it will be providing mentoring, support and funding to 90 entrepreneurial projects in the digital field in celebration of its 90th birthday.
The selected projects will be mentored by Publicis Groupe experts in marketing, communications, management and technology.
The finalists chosen will also receive funding in the form of an investment ranging from 10,000 euros for projects about to be launched to 500,000 euros for startups that are already ramping up.
This call for projects is opened to students, startups or just people who have a good idea. To take part, projects have to be submitted via the Publicis90 platform. The closing date is 28 February.
SA startups chosen at regional Get in the Ring finals
Two South African startups Newtech Rail and Adfire Creative M3dia’s iMORPH3D app succeeded against other startups from central and southern Africa at the Get In The Ring entrepreneurship challenge in Johannesburg last week, to secure their places in the international Get In The Ring finals in Colombia later this year.
Newtech Rail is the brainchild of Jan Jooste. The company has developed power line breakthroughs with the intention of taking on the power industry. iMORPH3D is a mobile app that enables users to create anamorphic 3D illusions. (IT News)
Innotribe Startup Challenge for Africa is open for applications
The Innotribe Startup Challenge for Africa will for the second year be part of SWIFT’s African Regional Conference (ARC) held in Mauritius from 17 to 19 May 2016.
The challenge gives young African fintech startups the platform to showcase their products and receive expert coaching and mentoring, after which 12 startups will be selected to compete in the event.
Three finalists will receive the opportunity to attend Sibos, SWIFT’s annual global financial services conference, in Geneva, Switzerland where they will compete for a $10 000 cash prize each.
Attitude is more important than IQ in determining success
New research from Stanford University has found that your attitude can better predict your chances of success better than your level of intelligence.
Psychologist Carol Dweck has found that people’s core attitude falls into two categories: a fixed mindset or a growth mindset – with people in the former group being more resistant to change, therefore, prone to feeling “hopeless and overwhelmed” while the growth mindset group believe that everything can be improved with effort. (Forbes)
