The South African Breweries (SAB) has announced the top three winners in its youth entrepreneurship programme, SAB KickStart Boost 2016.
First place
The top accolade was awarded to Inga Vanqa, 33, owner of quantity surveying company, Inga Vanqa Quantity Surveying and Project Management, based in Queenstown in the Eastern Cape.
The business offers Construction Project management and Green Building Consulting. Since participating in the SAB KickStart Boost programme, the business has increased capacity and is able to procure more clients and sizable contract work.
Management of employees and client relations have been improved and better internal systems have streamlined processes. Inga notes that he has matured as a leader during SAB KickStart Boost and can better communicate and negotiate.
He is now more focused than before on the growth of his business and is aware of its financial performance, planning ahead. Inga received a R500 000 grant for further investment into his business.
Second place
Second place was presented to Pravashen Naidoo, 33, owner of e-Waste Africa, which specialises in the sustainable and environmentally-friendly disposal of lamps and bulbs, based in Pietermaritzburg in Kwa-Zulu Natal. Pravashen notes that the structure of his business’ sales team and growth model was strongly influenced by the training and mentoring received during his participation in SAB KickStart Boost.
A R1-million loan from SAB KickStart Boost enabled the purchase of equipment for the business and to expand its footprint across the province of Gauteng. Pravashen receives R400 000 for further investment into his business.
Third place
And, third place awarded to, Thuli Radebe, 29, owner of Eyam Projects, offering project management of exhibition stands and shop fittings, based in Roodepoort, Gauteng. Since her participation in SAB KicKStart the business has a new factory where stock is stored and distributed from, a function previously outsourced.
The financial security of the business has been improved over the last six months. Thuli receives a further R300, 000 investment into her business.
In addition to the financial investment received in prizes, the top three winners will also benefit from an additional 6-months business training and mentorship.
Job Creation
During 2016, the eight SAB KicKStart Boost entrepreneur finalists created 25 full-time and part-time jobs, all the while retaining 62 jobs as a collective.
According to SAB Enterprise Development Specialist (Youth Business), Simphiwe Mntambo, their increased job creation potential is supported by their positive transformation over the duration of the programme. This is reflected in the positive and steady growth in key business areas such as revenue and assets and an increase in their client base.
A number of the SAB KickStart Boost entrepreneurs managed to introduce new product lines and open new sites during the year with the support of the programme.
“We have been particularly impressed by the way in which the finalists have managed to operationalise their growth plans, anchored in healthy sales pipelines and strategic management as a means of maintaining a healthy business. This will ensure that good advisory structures are available to finalists to help them grow further and to remain on the right track,” shares Mntambo.
Much of the support to the SAB KickStart Boost finalists has focused on providing them with the tools to access new and larger clients; imperative for the survival and growth of all SMEs. This included opportunities to interact with buyers, as well as learning how to solve business challenges, to better prepare them to work as suppliers to big corporates.
“Our purpose through SAB KickStart is to build on the support structures provided to local SMEs, by delivering innovative mechanisms that present them with real growth opportunities. This commitment is anchored in our support of the annual Global Entrepreneurship Week 2016 and the integral part that we will play in the Global Entrepreneurship Congress taking place in South Africa in March 2017,” says Mntambo.
The SAB KickStart Boost finalists’ businesses all represent some of South Africa’s core industries and sectors, including, Agriculture and Food Processing, Renewable Energy, as well as Mining and Minerals.
- Silindile Dube, 31, owner of Duo Glass
- Pravashen Naidoo, 33, owner of eWaste Africa
- Brian Ramufhufhi, 35, owner of Mukhwama Manufacturing
- Thuli Radebe, 29, owner of Eyam Projects
- Philip Ndamase, 30, owner of Ndamase Investments
- Donald Valoyi, 30, owner of Zulzi
- Inga Vanqa, 33, owner of Inga Vanqa Quantity Surveyors
- Mamorajane Lephoto, 31, owner of LephothoMakwelele Farmeries.
The finalists, who were announced at the beginning of the year, were provided with a combination of business support including business skills training, business development support, mentorship and grant capital, as well as low interest seed capital loans.
“Most entrepreneurs struggle with attracting adequate capital into their enterprises and the skills to utilise this capital well. The aim, through SAB KickStart Boost, is to provide them with the support and the environment they need to turn their ambitions into reality and to create sustainable entities that make a tangible contribution to economic development,” Mntambo explains.