SAB kickstarts young business

18 MONTH PROGRAMME: TEN FINALISTS GET SUPPORT

Now everyone waits for November to see who comes out tops.

As Youth Month draws to a close, the South African Breweries (SAB) has announced the top 10 finalists for the 2016 class of youth entrepreneurship programme, SAB KickStart Boost. Up to R3.1-million in business support and funding has been awarded between the top 10 finalists.

KickStart Boost provides established businesses assistance with expansion and support during an 18-month programme geared towards the development of youth entrepreneurship. The class of 2016 began their Kickstart journey in June 2016 when the #StartupTruck toured South Africa in search of attractive businesses needing growth opportunities. The 25 selected candidates, drawn from a broad range of industries including health and wellness, marketing, agriculture, cleaning and manufacturing, embarked on an intensive business skills training journey tailored to develop business growth.

The top 10 finalists are:

Bahle Nteleki, MB.co Podiatrist, Soweto (picture right); Cleopatra Simelane, The Recess Youth Movement, Soweto; Lebogang Lekalakala, B-Ma Services, Pretoria (picture below); Litha Ndabula, The Venclean Group, East London; Jafta Skosana, Renabo Plastic Moulders and Furniture, KwaMhlanga; Mbali Bhengu, Mind Switch, Westville; Nthabiseng Lemena, Lemena TN Solutions, Welkom; Tshepo Mdake, Shangilia Boutique Spa, Hammanskraal; Tumelo Pholwane, Botshelo Wellness and Fitness Club, Thaba Nchu and Zama Buthelezi, The She Creative House, Baynesfield (picture left).

The finalists, aged between 22 and 35, “are now focussed on working through their businesses with their assigned mentor to unlock opportunities in their businesses that will take them to the next level,” said Nirishi Trikamjee, SAB Corporate Affairs Director.

“Eleven months into the programme, these entrepreneurs are entrenched in their training and we are waiting in anticipation to see who will come out tops come November 2017.”

The top 10 finalists currently employ 48 staff members between them, with 26 part-time workers, and are projected to grow this to more than 100, with 20 part-time workers.

“The next six months will see the group receiving business mentoring through our partner The Awethu Project, in which the mentor will work through at least eight one-on-one mentoring sessions to work through a growth strategy tailored for their individual business, receive a portion of funding which includes either grant capital or an interest-free loan and overall personal development tools,” Trikamjee said.

Furthermore winners of the programme will be provided additional market access opportunities to expand their customer base, including exposure to big business.

SAB’s involvement with helping entrepreneurs develop successful businesses aligns with government’s goals to transform the small business sector.

Nirishi Trikamjee SAB Corporate Affairs Director