2011 has seen the 5th Excelerator Selection episode taking place. The final selection was held on the 24th of November 2011 at Ernst & Young’s Wanderers offices. Winners for this year were selected amongst the five finalists that had been shortlisted.
Finding the right entrepreneurs
The search and selection process for 2011 Excelerator Programme started in early 2011 and five finalists were selected from a pool of more than 50 entrepreneurs. All five finalists went through a rigorous assessment process in the presence of about 20 observers. At the end of the assessment process Endeavor announced three winners at a recognition event that evening held at the Da Vinci Hotel in Sandton.
Life is about to change for these three. The Excelerator is Endeavor South Africa’s initiative which started in 2009 designed to extend Endeavor’s reach to more innovative, early stage entrepreneurs in South Africa. The aim of Excelerator Programme is to revolutionalise the way early stage South African entrepreneurs are developed by leveraging the global skill that makes Endeavor the premier entrepreneurship support network in the world. These early-stage entrepreneurs will have access to training, mentorship, consulting services and strategic introductions. They will be hooked into Endeavor’s unparalleled network of business leaders and role models, who volunteer their time to help selected entrepreneurs to develop and grow their businesses.
Endeavor’s programmes
Endeavor is a global non-profit organisation that supports entrepreneurs, and has differentiated itself by identifying and supporting high-impact entrepreneurs in emerging markets. High-impact entrepreneurs have the biggest ideas and most ambitious plans for high growth businesses. They have the potential to create thriving companies that employ hundreds of people, and generate millions in wages and revenues. And they have the power to inspire countless others. Endeavor targets only these high-impact entrepreneurs by helping them break down a society’s barriers to success, they become role models, encourage others to innovate and take risks, and create sustainable economic growth.