The Ilembe Chamber of Commerce’s Entrepreneur 2019 competition is back for its ninth year.
Budding entrepreneurs are invited to submit their innovative businesses for this unique competition that celebrates excellence in entrepreneurship, serving as an inspiration to others to succeed in the world of business.
Speaking at the media launch last week Ilembe Chamber of Commerce president Andy Horton said the competition was a platform for entrepreneurs to showcase their businesses and demonstrate their entrepreneurial talents.
“The competition continues to reward successful local business owners for the valuable contributions they make to grow their local communities and economies, and aims to inspire others to do the same.”
Mzozi Mthembu of Enterprise Ilembe, said the agency was committed to supporting and assisting micro and small businesses in catalyzing change in their community.
Talking about the factors that will make your business succeed, guest speaker and past winner Patricia Schroder said:
“The key to successful SMMEs (small, medium and micro-sized enterprises) is to have commitment, resilience and be engaged in your business at all times. True entrepreneurship is a full-time, everyday job.”
Patricia’s invention of a unique project to recycle waste electric lights and save landfills from poisonous mercury and other toxins, landed her first prize in the 2016 Ilembe Chamber Entrepreneur competition.
Her company Reclite was also the recipient of the 2016 Enviropaedia Eco-Logic Awards.
The North Coast Courier‘s managing director Pieter Naudé, one of the partners of the event thanked all the mentors who will be playing an integral role in the competition.
Naudé’s advice to the upcoming entrepreneurs was to put in the hard-work, have genuine passion and most importantly love what you do.
“Successful entrepreneurs are risk takers, problem solvers and have a willingness to learn,” said Naudé who stressed the importance of pushing through failures and ever-present obstacles.
All media coverage will be sponsored by The North Coast Courier with the winner taking home R45 000 in advertising for their business, second place winner will win R20 000 in media coverage while third prize will include R8 000 in media coverage.
To participate selected business owners are required to attend a 10-week mentorship and development programme which starts on 13 July and will take place once a week at the Chamber’s offices.
As part of the programme that was co-designed by the University of KwaZulu-Natal and USA-based Massachusetts Institute of Technology finalists will be exposed to intensive business modelling, both through tuition and practical application.
Competition finalists will also be supported through mentorship by Chamber accredited mentors – “grey-heads” with invaluable business experience.
Winners will be judged on the perceived potential of their businesses, programme participation, attendance and the content of the business plan submitted. The finalists will showcase their business at The Entrepreneur 2019 exhibition where the winners of the competition will be announced.
The winners of the Ilembe programme will be required to compete, at a provincial level, against the winners of other Chambers of Commerce in KZN, should the provincial programme be presented.
Prize money will take the form of business development funding that will be disbursed in line with the submitted business plans being approved by the finalists assigned mentor, who will offer valuable mentorship support throughout the 10-week programme.
The Entrepreneur is presented by the Ilembe Chamber in partnership with Enterprise Ilembe, King Shaka International Airport, The North Coast Courier, Sembcorp Siza Water and ENGIE Peakers Operations.
Application forms can be collected at the Ilembe Chamber offices, The Quarter Centre, 1 Stewart Drive, Ballito, downloaded from www.ilembechamber.co.za or or you can contact Sakhile Khumalo on 087 354 6343 or email sakhile@ilembechamber.co.za.
All applications received will be reviewed against the selection criteria and interviews will be conducted to select the finalists that will participate in the competition.
Late or incomplete applications will be disqualified. Entries close on Friday, 21 June.
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