Botswana’s big break!
Govt, private sector commit P11 million in Forbes Under 30 Summit Summit convenes next month
The wait is finally over!
The Forbes Under 30 Africa Summit will be hosted for the first time on African soil in Botswana next month, April 24 to 29, after it was put off in 2020 owing to the devastating Covid- 19 pandemic.
Some of the participants, who at the time were under 30, are now 30 and some even 30+, however, they will be allowed to continue participating, as preparations were already in motion when all was stopped by the pandemic.
Founder and CEO of Onias Industries, 30 year- old Jeremayi Onias never in his wildest dreams thought he could be a nominee in the Forbes Under 30.
He is in the Business and Technology Category. With high statistics of unemployment plaguing young people, armed with a Degree in Applied Geophysics, he started his own business.
Another in the Business and Technology Category in the Forbes Under 30, is 31 year- old Fhoster Manyaapelo. He is a Brand and Business Strategist and Founder of Erbarmin Prints and Co- Founder of both The Real Manyaapelo ( TRM) Group, a company that specialises in providing products and services in line with Safety, Health and Environment, and New Ark Properties, a real estate company.
Twenty- eight year old Michelle Letsoalo is the founder of Rich Creations, hospitality, tourism and protocol management company that provides services including, waiter and ushering services, protocol management services, and training on fine dining etiquette. Her company, Rich Creations has been nominated under the Business Category
Under the Creative Category, is CEO of Transilience Production House Thuto Modibedi who believes that the Fourth- Industrial Revolution demands unconventional people who will not allow their qualifications to box them in.
The 24- year- old Accounting and Finance graduate founded Transilience - a media company that is aimed at providing bespoke media solutions.
Ambitious Thobo Kgathola of Lion Tutoring, a company that provides private tutorials to students in their homes, schools and at the company’s centres, across the country and beyond Botswana’s borders is also a mover and shaker. The 29 year old strongly believes that entrepreneurs should solve current problems.
These are some of the crème de la crème young entrepreneurs Botswana hopes will propel the economic landscape of the land to greater heights.
The government in partnership with the private sector will spend approximately P11 million, US$ 250 000 drawn from government and US$ 750 000 from the private sector in a summit that is expected to bring together 600 participants, 200 from the Under 30 Africa community, 200 from the host Botswana, and 200 from the Under 30 community worldwide for mentorship, networking and important conversations built around sustainability, innovations and entrepreneurship.
When it was first announced to take place in April 2020, the Ministry of In
vestment, Trade and Industry had confirmed that over 200 applications were received from local entrepreneurs, and internationally applications had been received from at least 37 countries.
According to the Minister of Investment, Trade and Industry at the time, Peggy Serame, Botswana stands to benefit from the hosting of the Summit firstly, because the Summit places the host country as a centre of entrepreneurship. Secondly, it sends a message to the world with Forbes putting its full media muscle behind the event. On the other hand participants will have access to Forbes network, benefit from worldclass speakers, global attendees and top investors. They will be equipped with new ideas from the continent and the rest of world. The local entrepreneurs will gain the confidence and capabilities to expand their business ideas by benchmarking from some of their best peers in the world.
Serame added that the successful hosting of the Summit would allow Botswana to host it in the future.
The prestigious event is meant to promote youth development and entrepreneurship and provide a platform for networking for young entrepreneurs. It is to also position Botswana as a preferred destination for meetings, conferences and exhibitions and presents economic benefits for service providers. Hosted in partnership with the Botswana President’s Initiative, the six- day event will convene Botswana business leaders, government officials, venture capital and business role models, alongside the world’s most influential young entrepreneurs and innovators, to foster entrepreneurship locally and network with like- minded innovators who are changing business around the world.
It presents an unrivalled opportunity for cultural immersion, inspiration and networking on an international scale.
The first two days of the Summit will be hosted in Gaborone, where government, venture capitalists and business role models will provide inspiration for the next generation of leaders.
Half way through the event, it will move to Chobe National Park, the world’s largest elephant sanctuary. In Kasane the Summit will focus on sustainability.
Across four days, guests will explore the best of Africa and harness the power of entrepreneurial capitalism on the continent whose growth will help define the 21st century.
Randall Lane, Chief Content Officer, Forbes said they are glad to bring the Under 30 Summit to Africa for the first time, with the continent’s growth set to play a driving role in the global economy over the course of the 21st century. “We are especially excited to bring together the world’s top young entrepreneurs in Botswana, not only one of the world’s most beautiful countries, but one which is poised to become a global hub for innovation and start- up acceleration.”
President Mokgweetsi Masisi on the other hand said the Forbes Under 30 summit highlights Botswana’s commitment to opening its doors for business.
“It is an opportunity for our young entrepreneurs to showcase their businesses and will also play a key role in unearthing ideas from our young people that will put Botswana at the centre of entrepreneurship in the regional and global business landscape,” he said. The summit will focus on the theme of The African Century: Inspiration, Innovation, and Exploration, exploring how the world can invest in and engage with the growing potential of entrepreneurism across the region. Attendees will see first- hand how Botswana harnesses the power of entrepreneurial capitalism and cultivates critical conversations that help solve global problems, foster entrepreneurship locally and network with likeminded leaders. Each of the 200 selected candidates representing Botswana will be paid for by DeBeers at US$ 2 100 per delegate to enable their participation and so that they are not constrained by lack of funding.
The Forbes 30 Under 30 local Africa list is part of the overall Forbes Under 30 franchise, which comprises lists around the world, five summits in the U. S., Asia, Europe, Israel and now Africa, and an Under 30 channel on Forbes. com.