Small Starter business Boot Camp is a programme that focuses on empowering small businesses that are still in the foundation phase around Tshwane(Pretoria), under the theme: ‘starting small businesses in the city of Tshwane’. The programme was initiated in July after Tshwane Youth Development, and the programme aims to give the youth of Tshwane a chance to be exposed and engaged in businesses. The Small Starter Business Boot Camp Summit is a three days programme where selected entrepreneurs get mentorship and exposure to entrepreneurial opportunities.
Skills At Work is the founder of the Small Starters Business Boot Camp. “I initiated this endeavour after along with my team we noticed that there was a gap when it comes to relief opportunities for start-up businesses in Tshwane”- Christopher Ngobeni. He said Tshwane Youth Development only took about a thousand young entrepreneurs and mentor them, but he saw that was not doing any justice to the youth. “We felt that more could be done for the youth in business thus we formed this three days boot camp”, said Christopher.
The young entrepreneurs who get to attend the booth camp summit are selected through their response to the invitation that is posted on small starter’s business booth camp programme’s social media platforms. “We have received applications from all corners of Tshwane and it was always going to be a difficult task choosing just a mere 30 entrepreneurs amongst the large scale of applications we received”- Christopher. He said they invited motivational speakers like Dr Ben Matemane to come and give the youth who are in business or willing to get into businesses keynote advice about how to be successful and stay successful once they kick start their businesses.
On the last day of the summit entrepreneurs are expected to pitch to the panel of judges, and there is a grand prize that is awarded to the winner. The top three will have R 15 000.00 worth of resources which they need to advance their business invested by the event funders. Along with the former the chosen entrepreneurs will receive mentoring from prominent and respected entrepreneurs and business owners who will guide them into reaching their potential in their entrepreneurial endeavour.
“We have invited all this speakers to instil sense of direction to this aspiring entrepreneurs in hope of advancing the youth to become sufficient in the development and the future of the city”- Christopher. The boot camp was an effort of the City of Tshwane in collaboration with Skills At Work, it was held at the Sammy Marks Square library on 25-27 September 2018. On the third and final day of the boot camp entrepreneurs participating had to present their businesses and the judges would afterwards select the top three businesses which stood out and showed promising potential of development.
TshepoSedi, Surreality Dezynz, Basadi Productions, Eco Culture Training and Consultancy, Runway_21, Boi.Co Enterprise, Built Environment & Sustainable Development, Construction – Action, eJIM Fitness Lab, Zoe Exoctic Creation, Zenzele and Ntaniseng Bakery, EL Decks Catering, Kagiso’s Bakery, Masiqhameni Eco Green Enterprise, Afrosanaa, Bokamoso Administration Solutions, PRO-ELL design, Keng Clothing, Corner Royal Media, Tsa Pitori Media, Mountain Youth Legacy Corp, Solar Energy Retail Company, GreenWave Mobile Car Was, Greenlight Cleaning Service and Projects, Sincerely Soft, Arts, Culture and Heritage, Kwenalite Properties, Cover Up, Black Bull Building and Projects 11, Corporate Carw (Pty) Ltd, these are the businesses that were selected to represent future top entrepreneurs in City of Tshwane.
Tsa Pitori Media walked away the champion of the boot Camp closely followed by Corporate Carw (Pty) Ltd in second place and Bokamoso Administration Solutions in third place.
By: ZANELE MAGAGULA
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