Excelerating early-stage entrepreneurs
Endeavor SA launches its Excelerator programme with the selection of six high-potential entrepreneurial enterprises.
Six ambitious, passionate and innovative emerging South African entrepreneurs are set to benefit from the mentorship and input of one of the world’s leading entrepreneurial development organisations.
On 18 June 2009 Endeavor SA, the local chapter of the global Endeavor network, selected six start-up businesses to its Excelerator programme. These early-stage entrepreneurs – the first Excelerator group ever selected – 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.
High-potential becomes high-impact
Endeavor SA launched the Excelerator programme this year with the aim of extending its reach to high-potential, early-stage, predominantly black-owned enterprises that need a developmental boost.
“We recognise that the South African landscape presents a unique set of challenges and high barriers of entry to start-up entrepreneurs, particularly those from historically disadvantaged communities. The Excelertor programme is designed to help Endeavor identify high-potential entrepreneurs and provide them with the development support they need to become high-impact entrepreneurs,” says Malik Fal, MD of Endeavor SA.
Excelerator Entrepreneurs have been earmarked for possible selection as Endeavor Entrepreneurs after completion of the programme. “We hope that, with the right mentorship, training and support, these innovative businesses will be suitable candidates for selection as Endeavor Entrepreneurs,” Fal adds.
A rigorous selection process
The six successful Excelerator Entrepreneurs were announced at a recognition event held in the Michaelangelo Towers in Sandton, on 18 June. They are as follows:
• Kasty Gaming Zone – Musa Maphongwane and Amos Msolongo
• Spoken Ink – Kali Ilunga
• Studio 5 School of Fashion – Cecilia, Bruno and Nashville Mungofa
• Sakhumzi Restaurant – Sakhumzi Maqubela
• Apple Green Holdings – Langa Sangoni and Tim Mohulatsi
• Silulo Ulutho Technologies – Luvuyo and Lonwabo Rani
Their businesses underwent a rigorous selection process, the final stage of which involved interviews and in-depth assessment by a panel of business and entrepreneurial experts.
A ‘club for life’
In welcoming them to the Endeavor family, keynote speaker and serial South African entrepreneur, Vinny Lingham – himself an Endeavor Entrepreneur – said, “You are entering a club for life, a support system like no other that will foster strategic network connections for your business.”
Lingham, who has just raised US $20 million for his Silicon Valley-based web 2.0 start-up, Yola, added, “It was partly because of my connection with Endeavor, that I was able to raise the funding I have. As an Endeavor Entrepreneur I was provided with a Harvard MBA intern, who helped me put together the business plan that landed the funding for Yola.”
“But remember that, like everything in life and business, this opportunity is what you make of it. Take full advantage of the Excelerator programme to grow and develop – your connection to Endeavor may be the most important one you ever make in business. Look at what it did for me,” he concluded.
About Endeavor
Endeavor is a global non-profit organisation that provides mentorship and support to high-impact entrepreneurs in developing nations. Founded in the United States by Yale Law graduate, Linda Rottenberg, Endeavor operates in eleven emerging countries including Argentina, Brazil, Colombia, Egypt, Chile Mexico, Turkey, Jordan, India and South Africa. Endeavor Entrepreneurs have created over 86,291 jobs since inception in 1997 and a total revenue of $2.51 billion in the last financial year.
According to Adrian Gore, CEO of Discovery and Chairman of Endeavor South Africa, “Endeavor's entrepreneurs are high-impact because they are innovative, create jobs and a long term, sustainable middle class that directly affect a country’s GDP.”
Excelerating early-stage entrepreneurs
Endeavor SA launches its Excelerator programme with the selection of six high-potential entrepreneurial enterprises.
Six ambitious, passionate and innovative emerging South African entrepreneurs are set to benefit from the mentorship and input of one of the world’s leading entrepreneurial development organisations.
On 18 June 2009 Endeavor SA, the local chapter of the global Endeavor network, selected six start-up businesses to its Excelerator programme. These early-stage entrepreneurs – the first Excelerator group ever selected – 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.
High-potential becomes high-impact
Endeavor SA launched the Excelerator programme this year with the aim of extending its reach to high-potential, early-stage, predominantly black-owned enterprises that need a developmental boost.
“We recognise that the South African landscape presents a unique set of challenges and high barriers of entry to start-up entrepreneurs, particularly those from historically disadvantaged communities. The Excelertor programme is designed to help Endeavor identify high-potential entrepreneurs and provide them with the development support they need to become high-impact entrepreneurs,” says Malik Fal, MD of Endeavor SA.
Excelerator Entrepreneurs have been earmarked for possible selection as Endeavor Entrepreneurs after completion of the programme. “We hope that, with the right mentorship, training and support, these innovative businesses will be suitable candidates for selection as Endeavor Entrepreneurs,” Fal adds.
A rigorous selection process
The six successful Excelerator Entrepreneurs were announced at a recognition event held in the Michaelangelo Towers in Sandton, on 18 June. They are as follows:
• Kasty Gaming Zone – Musa Maphongwane and Amos Msolongo
• Spoken Ink – Kali Ilunga
• Studio 5 School of Fashion – Cecilia, Bruno and Nashville Mungofa
• Sakhumzi Restaurant – Sakhumzi Maqubela
• Apple Green Holdings – Langa Sangoni and Tim Mohulatsi
• Silulo Ulutho Technologies – Luvuyo and Lonwabo Rani
Their businesses underwent a rigorous selection process, the final stage of which involved interviews and in-depth assessment by a panel of business and entrepreneurial experts.
A ‘club for life’
In welcoming them to the Endeavor family, keynote speaker and serial South African entrepreneur, Vinny Lingham – himself an Endeavor Entrepreneur – said, “You are entering a club for life, a support system like no other that will foster strategic network connections for your business.”
Lingham, who has just raised US $20 million for his Silicon Valley-based web 2.0 start-up, Yola, added, “It was partly because of my connection with Endeavor, that I was able to raise the funding I have. As an Endeavor Entrepreneur I was provided with a Harvard MBA intern, who helped me put together the business plan that landed the funding for Yola.”
“But remember that, like everything in life and business, this opportunity is what you make of it. Take full advantage of the Excelerator programme to grow and develop – your connection to Endeavor may be the most important one you ever make in business. Look at what it did for me,” he concluded.
About Endeavor
Endeavor is a global non-profit organisation that provides mentorship and support to high-impact entrepreneurs in developing nations. Founded in the United States by Yale Law graduate, Linda Rottenberg, Endeavor operates in eleven emerging countries including Argentina, Brazil, Colombia, Egypt, Chile Mexico, Turkey, Jordan, India and South Africa. Endeavor Entrepreneurs have created over 86,291 jobs since inception in 1997 and a total revenue of $2.51 billion in the last financial year.
According to Adrian Gore, CEO of Discovery and Chairman of Endeavor South Africa, “Endeavor's entrepreneurs are high-impact because they are innovative, create jobs and a long term, sustainable middle class that directly affect a country’s GDP.”