Future business leaders awarded for innovative ideas
“We wish the winning teams the best of luck on their journey to becoming successful entrepreneurs."
The Step Up 2 A Start-Up learner entrepreneurship award winners were recently announced.
Watch the video here:
I've learnt so much from these kids. Teenage entrepreneurs finding solutions to our problems. Yazi our world is in good hands with the future the kids are creating ❤ #StepUpAwards2017 pic.twitter.com/msALnU2UDC
— Kitso Rantao (@Kitsorantao) December 5, 2017
Minister in the presidency Jeff Radebe, small business minister Lindiwe Zulu and sponsors attended the glittering event at the Southern Sun hotel in Arcadia.
The learners had participated in a 5-month entrepreneurship development programme and competition for high schools.
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#StepUpAwards2017 teachers awards being announced @primestarsSA pic.twitter.com/Pb2DdncpDV
— McLean Sibanda, PhD (@mcleansibanda) December 5, 2017
“With input from industry leaders and experts, the top nine entrepreneurial teams who were chosen demonstrated the most innovative social or environmental business model. They were then selected through a national competition and 3-stage adjudication process,” said the organisers.
“The teams were then brought to Johannesburg for a 5-day intensive entrepreneurship boot camp followed by the announcement of the national winners.”
The finalists shared a R1.5 million prizemoney pool.
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Step Up sponsors include Standard Bank, Sasol, MTN Foundation, SEDA, Sizwe IT, Wits, Regenesys Business School, Tsogo Sun, Innovation Hub, Uber, Kulula, Dow, WDB, Raizcorp, Putco, Gearhouse, Quickbooks, UTS, Afrika Tikkun, Allan Gray, Tourvest Travel Services, Seed Academy, 3M, Bigbite Consulting, Nutri-Fruit, Rothe Plantcapers, Sematra, GroundUp Media, Altech Radio Holdings, Baypoint, Proudly SA, Khuphulanani, and Bardill Entertainment.
#StepUpAwards2017 sponsors @RegenesysB COO Leoni Grobler w director William Vivian shine at the award ceremony pic.twitter.com/N3SdD7Zr5I
— Regenesys (@RegenesysB) December 5, 2017
Prizes included business incubation, bursaries, cash, gadgets and more.
Head of the Standard Bank Incubator Jayshree Naidoo said it was imperative that Standard Bank instilled the right mindset for growth and provided essential support to develop ideas that would grow into highly successful businesses of the future.
“At Standard Bank, we are committed to youth entrepreneurship and enabling the youth to achieve their next big dream,” she said.
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Jeff Radebe reminding us yet again that innovators always seek to make a difference and that business leaders are to strive to be in the forefront of economic change. #StepUpAwards2017 pic.twitter.com/7G8dWoEW73
— WDB Investments (@WDBinvestments) December 5, 2017
CEO of WDB Investment Holdings Faith Khanyile said: “We believe that we need to empower young people who want to start sustainable entrepreneurial businesses by providing entrepreneurial skills and the tools they need to succeed. Initiatives such as Step Up allow us to do this.”
MD of sponsor Primestars Martin Sweet said promoting and enabling the next generation of African entrepreneurs was both a business and a moral imperative.
“Step Up’s, now in its fourth year, aims to inspire a culture of entrepreneurship and wealth creation early on in the career development path.”
The awards recognise participants and teachers who displayed entrepreneurial flair and commitment to solving a social or environmental problem in their community.
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Sipho Mlambo and his team were declared winners for their solar umbrella, an affordable product used to collect and convert solar energy into electricity.
“A fantastic innovation for communities to save on electricity costs. Sipho and his teammates experienced a once-in-a-lifetime trip to the US to the 3M Innovation Centre.”
At this year’s Step Up launch in July, Mlambo addressed an audience of about 300 guests on how he published his book, which is sold on Amazon.
“We wish the winning teams the best of luck in their journey to becoming successful entrepreneurs,” said Primestars.
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