Access to business financing is a major challenge for entrepreneurs and could mean the difference between starting and sustaining a business. According to the Small Enterprise Development Agency (SEDA) 72% of micro-enterprises and 40% of small enterprises are currently owned by women in South Africa.
As such government and the private sector has established programmes and funds primarily aimed at empowering female entrepreneurs in South Africa.
Nasedi Media & Communications will host the Women in Business: Financing your Business Panel Discussion in partnership with Wits Business School and Absa Enterprise Development on 2 November 2016 at Wits Business School, Donald Gordon Auditorium from 17:00 -20:30 to discuss the various financing options available to female business owners. Tickets cost R500.
“We would like to invite all female entrepreneurs to attend and to explore the various possibilities open to them to start or scale their businesses,” says Karabo keepile, Managing Director of Nasedi Media & Communications – event organisers of the event.
“We are really excited to be hosting this event in partnership with Wits Business School, one of Africa’s most reputable business schools as well as Absa Enterprise Development, and believe our guests will gain immensely from the information that they will receive on the day,” adds Keepile.
Confirmed speakers of the event include: Charlton Thangalan – Provincial Manager, Absa Enterprise Development, Gauteng South, Justice Kganyago – Chief Operations Officer, at IDF Capital and Conny Phaswana – Enterprise Development, Business Relationship Manager, at The Innovation Hub.
“Absa has a Women Empowerment Fund available to South African female citizens who reside permanently in South Africa,” says Charlton Thangalan.
“We look forward to sharing our Enterprise and supplier Development value proposition with the women owned businesses as well as information on our developmental funding solutions and how funding applications are accessed,” adds Charlton.
Absa will also offer the women owners free one-one-one consultations with an Absa Enterprise Development Consultant to render a full needs analysis. While The Innovation Hub does not offer financing it facilitates access to funding by linking entrepreneurs to relevant funding institutions. “The Innovation Hub supports female entrepreneurs through the various incubation programmes such as Climate Innovation Centre (CIC), MAXUM, eKasi Labs and BioPark.
The programmes support business with non-financial support at different stages of the businesses,” adds Phaswana. Phaswana encourages entrepreneurs who will be attending this not to be missed event to gather as much information as possible.
“This is an opportunity to engage with the relevant stakeholders and to get clarity where it’s needed. Networks are very important in business and anyone starting a business or in business understands that networking opportunities are the way to go as meeting people always leads to business leads.” Phaswana adds I would encourage the women attending this to use this platform to work with other women in their different industries.
To purchase tickets for the event contact Nasedi Media & Communications on info@nasedimedia.com or contact 010 593 0595/ 081 868 8201.
For media interviews contact karabok@nasedimedia.com or call 073 940 5715.