Young entrepreneurs get a boost

Youthful Alex entrepreneurs received business skills training, mentoring and exposure to sources of support to enable them to strengthen their businesses.

This was at a recent Start Up Weekend Workshop at the 3 Square Sports Ground Hall conducted by NPO Innovation Hub and the Greater Alexandra Chamber of Commerce and Industry (Galxcoc).

About 30 entrepreneurs, all said to be serious upstart business operators, shunned weekend pleasures associated with the youth to attended the three-day session.

Sihle Mlambo of Galxcoc said the session exposed them to the dos and don’ts of business, how to start a business, business plan models, target marketing, accessing capital and were also coached and mentored to draft business plans for presentation to a panel of expert business operators, company owners and related professional judges.

Nothile Mpisi of Innovation Hub said the initiative was part of an international programme that supported youth in business and followed similar sessions already conducted in Soweto, Tembisa, Vaal, Mohlakeng and Pretoria. “Its conducted under the Hub’s Kasi Lab programme, an incubator of small start-up businesses,” said Mpisi. She added that the programme targeted youth businesses mainly in information and communication technology, green economy, bio-science, digital media and advanced manufacturing (3D printing and other innovative business types).

“Alex has its fair share of these but we also drew in others including the ordinary, like food outlets operators provided they are innovative in their products and services,” Mpisi said.

Raleshaba Moeng of the Hub commended the group of attendees and said they deserved support for their good business ideas. “They just lack knowledge and skills to refine and make a success out of their ideas and to raise adequate funding to ensure start-up,” Moeng said.

He urged them to start with the little they may have which will enable them to learn from the difficulties they will experience. This will also expose their passion, motivation, resilience and commitment to many sources of support they may not know are watching and wanting to help them.

Moeng urged even schoolchildren with business ideas to explore them as there will always be a niche for any creative minds in the business environment.

Three participants judged to have the best ideas will be supported further with funding, coaching and access to the market. The others will also receive commendations and cash prizes.

Details: Sihle Mlambo 062 167 0529

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