Young Entrepreneurs begin intensive business mentorship

South African Breweries (SAB) youth entrepreneurship development programme, SAB KickStart, has selected its Top 18 National Finalists of 2014, each of whom will receive a business grant of between R100 000 and R200 000; as well as business development support over a 12-month period.

The finalists were selected by an independent panel of adjudicators following an intensive two-week business training course facilitated by the University’s Gordon Institute of Business Science (GIBS).

SAB KickStart, one of the longest running initiatives of its kind which started in 1995, is focused on developing and supporting sustainable youth-owned businesses, as well as high impact entrepreneurs who are able to make a contribution to South Africa’s job creation needs.

“It is important that big business in South Africa use their resources, experience and knowledge to help small business become sustainable and strong contributors towards the country’s economy. This means investing more than just capital but offering the support and guidance needed to carry these businesses through to success,” said Boipelo Nkadimeng, SAB acting Head Enterprise Development and Community Partnerships.

A needs analysis conducted on the finalist businesses helps define a growth strategy for each. This strategy in turn informs the seed capital awarded for the benefit of each business, as well as the programme and terms of the entrepreneur’s individualised business mentorship for the remainder of the year.

The final top three winners of the national finals will be awarded additional grant funding for their businesses later this year during Global Entrepreneurship Week. They are selected by an independent panel of judges, who take into consideration the overall business performance, business sustainability and its potential, as well as the effective implementation of growth strategies during the SAB KickStart mentorship and business development phase.