Tag: Entrepreneur of the Year®

SA’s top entrepreneurs recognised at 2016 Entrepreneur of the Year® competition

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South Africa’s premier annual entrepreneurial competition, Entrepreneur of the Year® competition sponsored by Sanlam and Business/Partners, has named Johan Eksteen, second-time finalist and owner of Agricon, as the overall winner of the 2016 competition in Johannesburg this morning.

Speaking at the event, spokesperson for the 2016 Entrepreneur of the Year® competition sponsored by Sanlam and Business/Partners, Gugu Mjadu says that Eksteen was selected as the overall 2016 Entrepreneur of the Year® winner due to his strong entrepreneurial attitude and the remarkable growth and expansion that his business has exhibited since first entering the competition two years ago.

“Since being named a finalist in the 2014 competition, Agricon has not only expanded and experienced rapid growth in turnover, but has also made improvements in its business processes which have contributed to its growth,” says Mjadu.

She adds that the high calibre of business acumen and entrepreneurial talent of the finalists this year made it no easy task for the judging panel to decide on six category winners from the 15 deserving entrepreneurs who were selected to advance to the final round of judging.

Other 2016 category winners include:

  • 2016 Emerging Entrepreneur of the Year®:Vanessa Jacobs, founder and owner of Sow Delicious. Sow Delicious® is an edible gardening store, whose easy-to-grow vegetable and herb Slab of Seed® invention is making edible gardening more accessible for the ordinary, non-gardener consumer. www.sowdelicious.co.za
  • 2016 Small Business Entrepreneur of the Year®: Meisie Nkosi, owner of Bella Bonni Guest House. Four star graded Bella Bonni Guest House, based in eMalahleni (Witbank) and encompassing 18 rooms, has managed to stand the test of time during challenging economic conditions since opening its doors in 2006. www.bellabonni.co.za 
  • 2016 Medium Business Entrepreneur of the Year®: Carl Pretorius, founder and owner of Just Trees. Recognised for its economically strong, yet environmentally friendly business practices, Just Trees is a wholesale tree nursery that supplies specimen container grown trees to the trade throughout South Africa, as well as to certain export markets. www.justtrees.co.za
  • 2016 Job Creator of the Year®: Michael Roberts, owner and founder of Khonology. Founded in 2013 in a response to skills shortages in the South African technology sector, Khonology has played a significant role in bridging the gap between academia and corporate expectations for graduates entering the workforce by equipping them with vital technological and financial skills. www.khonology.com
  • 2016 Innovator of the Year®: Stacey Brewer and Ryan Harrison, co-founders of SPARK Schools. SPARK Schools is a network of primary schools dedicated to delivering sustainable, affordable and high quality education by using a blended learning programme, which combines traditional classroom teaching and online learning, to individualise education for all students. www.sparkschools.co.za

Now in its 28th year, the 2016 Entrepreneur of the Year® competition sponsored by Sanlam and Business/Partners aims to honour, recognise and uplift South African small and medium enterprises (SMEs) by providing a platform for entrepreneurs to showcase their achievements and elevate their business profiles – as well as their profits.

Mjadu says that given the current job market and economic landscape, now more than ever, South Africa needs to rally behind and support local entrepreneurs. “Given South Africa’s high unemployment rate of 26.6%, the country needs to promote entrepreneurship and support its main job creators – local entrepreneurs. Agile by nature, entrepreneurs are eternal optimists and will continue to see opportunity rather than challenges when faced with adversity.

“The 2016 group of 15 finalists have created 1071 job opportunities. This is just a small handful of South Africa’s many entrepreneurs. The more we recognise our local economic heroes, the more we can inspire other individuals to embark on their own entrepreneurial journey,” says Mjadu.

The competition provides prizes worth R2 million, with the overall winner receiving a cash prize of R150 000 and the other category winners receiving R50 000 each. Each winner also receives diagnostic analysis of their businesses coupled with valuable mentorship support, networking opportunities and associated marketing and national media exposure to further drive their business’ success. Mjadu says that while the cash prize is always valuable to a business, the true value in the entrepreneurial platform lies in the networking opportunities secured through the competition’s network.

Mjadu concludes that the success of this year’s winners is testament to the thriving level of entrepreneurial talent and success present in the country. “In addition to celebrating excellence in entrepreneurship, we hope that this impressive group of winners will inspire others to succeed in the competitive and innovative world of business.”

Corporate upskilling entrepreneur awarded Job Creator of the Year

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Michael Roberts, owner of Khonology, has been named the 2016 Job Creator of the Year® at theEntrepreneur of the Year® competition sponsored by Sanlam and BUSINESS/PARTNERS awards ceremony held in Johannesburg this morning. Roberts was recognised due to the significant role he is playing in bridging the gap between academia and corporate expectations for graduates entering the workforce.

Founded in early 2013 in response to the skills shortages in South African technology landscape, Khonology is a multi-faceted African services company that provides world-class business solutions with the vision of empowering Africa through the upskilling of local talent and the creation of employment opportunities.

Khonology is carrying out this vision by allocating local talent to projects, which also drives employment throughout the continent. The candidates that are deployed to projects are trained with a particular focus on technological and financial skills which are required within the broader financial services industry.

Although the chosen candidates already have the relevant academic qualifications, these individuals are often not perceived as being attractive to employers, as they do not have the necessary professional experience. Khonology trains and converts this raw talent into competent and hardworking problem solvers for clients, specialising in delivering projects focused on the following streams; data intelligence and reporting, trade/transaction applications, reconciliation, CRM, finance and accounting systems.

With the company having already directly impacted over 120 individuals, with 100 being employed by Khonology over three years, the judging panel was impressed that Khonology has managed to show impressive results in a relatively short period of time. “Michael is clearly onto something unique here, in that he’s recruiting individuals based on their mind sets and qualifications, and refining their professional skills in order to develop more well-rounded employees that can be better marketed to big corporate employers.

“Certain accountants, for example, have all the necessary qualifications, but cannot meet the clients’ needs because they lack practical exposure. This is a situation where a business like Khonology can make a major difference and literally create employment for individuals who may otherwise be seen as ‘unfit’ for the corporate world,” explains the judges.

Roberts believes that this award brings to light the gap between small and big business in terms of the value chain. “Entrepreneurship in South Africa comes with its share of challenges and requires resilience in tough conditions. I believe small and big business need to embrace the notion of working together to explore emerging trends which will in turn help small and medium enterprises to better contribute to the eco-system.

“Winning this award is a multiplication factor for my business in terms of branding and recognition, and speaks volumes about what we trying to achieve by highlighting the successful change that we have managed to bring about thus far,” he concludes.

For more information on Khonology, please visit www.khonology.com.

Innovative gardening store owner recognised as emerging entrepreneur of the year®

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Vanessa Jacobs, the innovative business woman behind Sow Delicious®, whose inspirational vegetable and herb Slab of Seed® invention is taking edible gardening to a mainstream audience, has been named the 2016 Emerging Entrepreneur of the Year® at the annual Entrepreneur of the Year® competition sponsored by Sanlam and BUSINESS/PARTNERS, held in Johannesburg this morning.

Sow Delicious® began as an online niche gardeningstore in August 2013, through which a gap in the market for “grow-your-own” products was identified. This prompted Jacobs to launch her Slab of Seed® invention in 2014, which quickly evolved into the business’ core offering, changing its focus from an online store to wholesale for retail.  

The Sow Delicious® niche is that its Slab of Seed® only grows plants you can eat with each slab growing a mix of three different 100% Heirloom varieties. Making edible gardening more accessible for the ordinary, non-gardener consumer; the slabs grow just as well in pots as they would in a normal garden, thereby making them ideal for novice gardeners living in flats or townhouses. As the blocks are pre-fertilised with organic fertiliser, they germinate twice as fast and hold water three times longer than soil.

According to the judging panel, Jacobs is deserving of the award as she has tapped into a budding market that has unlimited potential for growth and expansion. “This idea is truly original and embodies everything that our competition stands for – true entrepreneurism in identifying a gap in the market, researching the idea and then capitalising on the opportunity. In our opinion, it is only a matter of time before this product takes off in South Africa and around the world.”

Discussing why Sow Delicious® is a worthy winner of this title, Jacobs says that their innovation has revolutionised the grow-your-own market in South Africa. “We feel that our trademarked invention – the Slab of Seed® – addresses three fundamental issues relevant to our society – health, food security and affordability. We successfully changed 34 000 South African lives last year and now we want to change the rest of the world.”

For more information on Sow Delicious® please visit www.sowdelicious.co.za.

Education company named innovator of the year in national entrepreneurial competition

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Due to their fresh approach to education, combined with their business acumen, Stacey Brewer and Ryan Harrison, founders of SPARK Schools, have been recognised for their passion to provide a solution to the education challenges in South Africa. The duo have been awarded the Innovator of the Year® award at the 2016 Entrepreneur of the Year® competition sponsored by Sanlam and BUSINESS/PARTNERS awards ceremony, which was held this morning in Johannesburg.

SPARK Schools is a network of primary schools dedicated to delivering accessible, high quality education by using a blended learning programme, which combines traditional classroom teaching and online learning, to individualise education for all students. The SPARK Schools model is the first of its kind for primary school students in Africa and the software SPARK scholars use is adaptive, allowing for highly individualised student practice and assessment.

SPARK Ferndale, the first school in the SPARK Schools network, opened in 2013, and achieved tremendous results in its first year of operation. Following on this success, the number of schools in the network has grown by 700%, with the number of scholars and staff members having grown by 1411% and 1300% respectively. The SPARK Schools networkcurrently includes a SPARK Cresta (opened in 2014); SPARK Maboneng and SPARK Bramley (both opened in 2015); SPARK Midrand, SPARK Lynedoch (Stellenbosch), SPARK Rynfield and SPARK Centurion (all opened in 2016).

According to the competition’s judging panel, it was SPARK Schools’ competitive advantage and solid business model that made the business stand out above the rest. “They don’t only have the curriculum right, but also the correct mix of quality and price, thereby making it accessible to all. This is set to make a huge impact on South Africa,” the judges commented.

School fees are benchmarked on what government’s total cost to educate is and the business ensures that “affordable” means affordable to the country. In terms of cost, SPARK Schools are therefore cheaper than government schools and significantly cheaper than private schools, while in terms of quality, the SPARK Schools’ students are outperforming the national standard by at least one level. This combination of lower price and great quality is what sets SPARK Schools apart from competitors.

Stacey and Ryan are true innovators who have taken the current structure of education in South Africa and challenged it. The duo, who are dedicated to making a difference in the future of South Africa’s children, aims to inspire others by their success. “At SPARK, we aim to inspire fellow South Africans to ensure that they address the issues facing the country and to make sure that South Africa is better because of them.  We hope that by winning such a prestige award such as this, other South Africans will be encouraged to serve and address the needs of our country,” the duo concludes.

Visit www.sparkschools.co.za for more information on SPARK Schools.

2016’s top SA entrepreneur revealed

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South Africa’s premier annual entrepreneurial platform, Entrepreneur of the Year® competition sponsored by Sanlam and BUSINESS/PARTNERS, has named second-time finalist and owner of Agricon, Johan Eksteen, as this year’s overall competition winner at the awards ceremony held in Johannesburg this morning.

Internationally acclaimed Agricon is a manufacturer of cost-effective, eco-friendly pelleting solutions for the agricultural and industrial industries. The company was established in 1993 by brothers Andre and Johan, with Johan becoming the sole owner in 2006 and subsequently growing the business to a global specialist.

With over 15 years of experience in the agriculture industry, Eksteen gained a wealth of knowledge and expertise in pelletizing by working in countries such as South Africa, Uganda, Australia, Singapore and New Caledonia.

Pelletizing, involving the processing of materials into small dry pellets, is a common practice in industrial procedures. This process is used globally by manufacturers of animal feed or recycling facilities that specialise in processing materials for reuse, Agricon offering extends to rooibos tea and tobacco dust, fertilizers, animal manure and even chemicals.

Since being named a finalist in the 2014 competition, Agricon has not only expanded and experienced rapid growth in turnover, but has also benefited from the improvement of various business processes – something that stood out to the judging panel. “Johan has managed to take a small business to heights that go beyond what could have been expected by continually improving Agricon’s service offering. This is greater than just generating tangible results from a good business model – this is entrepreneurial passion.”

In addition to the manufacturing of pelletizing machines and equipment, the company provides training and on-site installation for clients, as well as on-going support following a sale, such as the provision of spare parts. Agricon also provides advice on new venture creation and business opportunities for clients within the pelleting sector, and supports the customer from business plan through the financing process and later trade-in assistance and expansion possibilities.

On winning this accolade, Eksteen believes that it will set the business apart from the rest and give it even more traction. “I feel that it is extremely important to benchmark your entrepreneurial skills against the best in business, because without testing your achievements against the realities in the market, you may easily have an inflated perception of your abilities and successes. Apart from the personal achievement and pride, winning an award of this calibre is a great feather in Agricon’s cap,” he concludes.

For more information on Agricon (Pty) Ltd, please visit www.agricon-pelleting.co.za.

Emalahleni woman awarded Small Business Entrepreneur of the Year® award

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Meisie Nkosi, owner of the 100% black woman-owned Bella Bonni Guest House, has been awarded the Small Business Entrepreneur of the Year® title at the annual 2016 Entrepreneur of the Year® competition sponsored by Sanlam and BUSINESS/PARTNERS awards ceremony, held in Johannesburg this morning.

Established in 2006 in eMalahleni (Witbank) and catering for discerning private and corporate guests, Bella Bonni Guest House, has managed to stand the test of time, despite challenging economic conditions since opening its doors.

The judges were extremely impressed by Meisie’s ability to establish and grow a thriving business in the hospitality industry in an area that is not typically a tourist hotspot. “Meisie’s challenge is that, being based in Witbank, she is not able to rely on seasonal tourists like a business in Cape Town may do. However, she continues to grow her brand and satisfy a demand for accommodation in the area and has successfully adapted to her surroundings in order to do this,” commented the judges.

Originally focusing on only serving clients from the mines and power stations, South Africa’s economic downturn had an effect on Bella Bonni Guest House’s business as this clientele declined. This immediately prompted Meisie to research other areas of the market that the guest house could focus on in order to expand. By actively targeting the widespread tourism offices, Meisie has successfully opened the guest house’s reach to more commercial clients, while still maintaining original corporate relationships.

A former teacher, Meisie has been involved in informal businesses from a very young age and never imagined one day owning a thriving formal business. It was only when she was discovered and acknowledged for her passion for service through various business awards, that she realised she was, in fact, an entrepreneur.

Meisie says being selected as a winner in the national competition affirms that the business is on the right path. “This award will provide us with exposure, boosting our brand, and prove that we stand out from the crowd amongst our peers, clients and investors. Additionally, winning this award will be a big motivator internally, making staff proud to be part of the business, which is worth more than any cash reward and makes the whole experience incredibly rewarding.”

For more information please visit www.bellabonni.co.za.

15 finalists named for the 2016 Entrepreneur of the Year® competition

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Following a fiercely competitive preliminary round of the 2016 Entrepreneur of the Year® competition sponsored by Sanlam and Business/ Partners, a shortlist of 15 standout entrants has made it through to the final round of the competition, with the ultimate winners to be announced in September.

We are thrilled to announce that we received 213 entries this year – one of the highest number of entries recorded to date and a steep increase of 40% when comparing the number of entries received for the 2015 competition. We also saw a jump in the number of female entries and we are delighted at the consistent growth in the number of entries from female entrepreneurs which reached a new high growing to more than 38% of the total participant pool, up from 29% of entries in 2015.

This increase in entries is testament to the thriving level of entrepreneurial talent and success present in the country. We would like to congratulate and commend all entrants, as these are the individuals who bring about positive change and fuel job growth – helping the South African economy and communities to grow.

The finalists, in no specific order, are:

Carl and Peter Pretorius – Just Trees

Carl and Peter Pretorius, based in Noorder Paarl, are the entrepreneurs behind Just Trees – a wholesale tree nursery that supplies specimen container grown trees to the trade throughout South Africa.

Dillon Jearey – Kilowatt Audio Visual Pty Ltd

So much more than your ordinary tech supply company, Kilowatt AV is a high-end audio visual equipment specialist company in Cape Town, founded by finalist Dillon Jearey.

Michael Roberts – Robhur Management T/A Future Talent

The Future Talent training course is an innovative platform created by Michael Roberts from Gauteng, on which critical financial and life-skills are taught and practiced.

Barry Nigel Gould – CAPCO

Established in 1989 by finalist Barry Gould, CAPCO is a stockist and manufacturer of ceiling and partition systems and components.

Cara Nortman – SSQ Exhibitions

Gauteng-based Cara Nortman began SSQ Exhibitions, a design and project management agency that specialises in targeted brand experiences such as exhibition stands, mall displays, sets, roadshows, activations and permanent interiors.

Nerina Smith – Smithland Guest Apartments

Nerina Smith, owner of Smithland, saw a need in Cape Town for self-catering accommodation and took the initiative in 1992. Over the years Smithland Guest Apartments has grown into a successful business with 24 units of which she owns 14, managing the others on behalf of property investors.

Johan Eksteen – Pelleting Machinery T/A Agricon

Based in Bloemfontein, Johan Eksteen’s company, Agricon, specialises in the design and manufacture of pelleting solutions for the agricultural industry. Johan is also a reigning competition title holder having clinched the Small Business Entrepreneur of the Year® title in 2014.

Mishje Cooper – ZooZoo Land Daycare

Mother of two, Mishje Cooper is the founder of educare business, ZooZoo Land Daycare – providing a nurtured environment where children can build a foundation for continued learning.

Gali Gaon Segall – Yemaya Group

Gali Gaon Segall is the entrepreneur behind the successful beauty and wellness services company, Yemaya Group, based in Cape Town.

Meisie Nkosi – Scarper Traders T/A Bella Bonni Guest House

Bella Bonni Guest House – situated in Witbank, Mpumalanga and founded by finalist Meisie Nkosi – is a 100% black woman owned establishment that offers luxury, business-like accommodation in a modern, contemporary design.

Lucas Frederick Van Wyk – Advance Fenestration

Based in Gauteng, Lucas Frederick’s business, Advance Fenestration, specialises in the design and manufacture of architectural aluminium systems for the local and export market.

Stacey Brewer – Spark Schools T/A eAdvance

Stacey Brewer’s company is dedicated to pushing the boundaries of education innovation – from pioneering blended learning to reimagining high expectations, eAdvance is empowering teachers and inspiring families.

Corrie Van Der Wath and Nelisiwe Magubane – Matleng Energy Solutions

Matleng Energy Solutions is a South African black woman owned company led by Nelisiwe Magubane, in association with Corrie van der Wath, that strives to solve clients’ energy related challenges through the effective implementation of new and/or existing technologies.

Chanette Goosen – Rush Extreme Sports

Chanette Gooden is the founder of Rush Extreme Sports, an indoor extreme Trampoline Park situated in Cape Town with 1500-2500 square meters of adventure, excitement, fun and challenges.

Vanessa Jacobs – Sow Delicious

Western Cape-based Vanessa Jacobs is the woman behind the innovative edible gardening store, Sow Delicious, which specialises in heirloom seed and garden gadgets.

The 15 finalists operate in various sectors throughout South Africa, with the majority originating from the Western Cape (47%) and Gauteng (33%), and include a strong representation from the manufacturing and services sectors. Given the manufacturing sector is vital to job-creation, it is always encouraging to see driven entrepreneurs occupying this space, as unemployment in South Africa continues to be a major challenge.

The services sector with entrants operating in the health, beauty, education and training industries was also well represented this year, following by entrants in the hospitality industry.

The next step in the judging process is the selection of the overall 2016 Entrepreneur of the Year® winner, as well as winners for each of the five categories, namely emerging, small business, medium business, job creator and innovator. The judging process is completely independent, and the evaluation process runs through three different filtering stages, which ensures that everything is checked multiple times to remove any human error or preference which may have otherwise crept in.

The 2016 finalists stand the chance to win prizes worth R2 million, which include cash prizes to the value of R425 000. Beyond monetary prices, previous finalists have benefitted greatly from the various networking opportunities and associated media exposure that the competition offers. Past winners have also gone on to win international awards and form valuable partnerships as a result of their success in the competition.

Winners will be announced on 1 September 2016 at the official awards breakfast in Johannesburg.

We eagerly await the final stages of this year’s competition and wish all the finalists the best of luck!

Are you thinking of scaling your business?

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We discuss when it is the right time to do so

By Christo Botes

Executive director at BUSINESS/PARTNERS and spokesperson for the 2016 Entrepreneur of the Year® competition sponsored by Sanlam and BUSINESS/PARTNERS

The urge to convert and scale up a small business to a medium to large enterprise is one of the most common goals among business owners. However, contrary to popular belief, scaling up a business is not just a goal for most entrepreneurs, but also a necessary step to running a business successfully.

Many entrepreneurs incorrectly believe that their business will grow organically, and that the necessary resources can simply be added to match current demand. However, once a business has grown to a certain size, the owner must consciously choose to scale up rather than simply reacting to a growing market share.

When facing this cross road of whether to scale up or not, there are a few things business owners should first consider:

1. What is the true reason for wanting to scale up

Businesses often want to scale up to become self-sustainable, but starting this process without the necessary preparation and research can be detrimental for a business, as growing too fast can backfire.

2. Upscaling is a lengthy procedure that involves complex introspection at almost every level

Business owners should be cautioned against the temptation to grow too quickly, and should aim rather to grow sustainably to ensure that the business continues to be a viable operation. As part of this sustainable growth there should also be a good balance between the management of regular operations and the expansion.

3. A change in mind-set is needed

Apart from the various processes and measures that need to be put in place to grow a business, it is crucial that business owners also adapt their mind-set.

Small business owners need to stop thinking and acting like a small business, but rather as a medium-size business and be cognisant of the fact that forward planning and measures – from anticipated turnover and management structure, number of jobs that can potentially be created and improving business processes – will need to be addressed in order to achieve the business results needed to run and maintain a larger scale business. Planning for revenue growth is a good example of the necessary forward planning that needs to be considered, as growing revenue by 10% is considerably easier when you have an annual revenue of R10 million in comparison to turnover of R30 million.

4. An execution strategy needs to be carefully assessed

While a brilliant product or service offering can increase competitiveness and grow market share and revenue, a clear and achievable execution strategy will ensure ongoing success. A business owner will need to deliver on his/her intent of taking the business from a small operation to a mid-sized business.

5. A clear idea of cash flow and accurate forecasts must be in place

With growth and expansion, larger volumes of money and transactions will need to be closely managed.

Most importantly though is the need to return to the original vision of the business. Having a clear vision in mind makes internal and external changes less distracting from the broader business goals.

Side note:

Have you consciously chosen to scale up your business? Make sure you tick these 4 key boxes before embarking on your expansion strategy:

  1. Set goals: Business owners should create a list that details why they have made the decision to scale up their business. These should also be linked to the business’ goals, with at least one overall long-term goal (achievable in 15 – 25 years), as well as short-term goals (achievable in 3 – 5 years) which will serve as tangible measurables for the long-term goal.
  2. Have an implementation plan: This plan should list actions that must be taken with responsible persons allocated to each action. Empowering the team of staff to manage their own tasks and responsibilities is vital, and business owners should take heed to equip all staff to effectively work toward one, collective goal.
  3. Analyse the finances: Before embarking on an expansion journey, entrepreneurs are advised to increase their financial reserves. Each business’ cash conversion cycle should provide a good indication of how long an investment takes to convert into a return – the shorter this timeframe, the better.
  4. Communicate: One of the most important aspects during an upscaling journey is to communicate with staff throughout the process. Business owners should keep the whole team informed of the vision, strategy and steps of the process. This will ensure that all parties feel involved and are encouraged to work towards achieving this one common goal.

SA’s leading entrepreneurial competition now open for entries

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We are excited to announce the launch of the 2016 Entrepreneur of the Year® competition sponsored by Sanlam and BUSINESS/PARTNERS!

Now in its 28th year, this renowned competition pays homage to courageous South African entrepreneurs who dedicate themselves to their enterprises / businesses driving growth, creating much needed jobs and contributing towards economic development in the country.

The contribution of local entrepreneurs to the South African economy is widely underestimated: small and medium enterprises (SMEs) contribute close to 50% of South Africa’s gross domestic product (GDP) and generate more than 60% of new jobs created in the economy.

While the country has recently experienced tough economic conditions that may not necessarily enable SMEs to grow, opportunities do exist for those entrepreneurs who continue to identify gaps in the market and transform these into viable businesses. We need to make a concerted effort to recognise and honour these entrepreneurs who continue to inspire others to venture into the world of business.

Last year’s competition winners are examples of those who have succeeded in their industry and possess true entrepreneurial spirit – persevering no matter how impossible it may seem at times.

The 2015 Entrepreneur of the Year® overall competition winners, Gil Oved and Ran Neu-Ner, co-owners and founders of The Creative Counsel (TCC), were recently awarded the All Africa Business Leaders Award (AABLA), which recognises game changers on the continent. They were also acquired last year by French advertising giant, Publicis, in a deal understood to be the biggest in South African agency history. Most importantly, this year TCC launched an incubator programme for black-owned businesses as a way to inspire and grow the next generation of entrepreneurs.

2015 Innovator of the Year and Medium Business Entrepreneur of the Year® title winners, Nadir Khamissa & Ahmed Shaazim Khamissa – owners and founders of Hello Group – were also recognised by the EY Southern Africa World Entrepreneur awards platform due to their remarkable tenacity and determination in building a leading business in the local fintech space.

Why do we run this competition? Let’s look at the statistics…

The average level of employment generated per entrepreneur is very low, with only 4.5% of South African entrepreneurs offering employment to 20 or more employees. However, the positive impact that entrepreneurs can have on job creation is huge (as illustrated above), and in order to activate this potential, SMEs need more support and acknowledgement.

This is supported by the latest Global Entrepreneurship Monitor (GEM) 2015 / 2016 Global Report which states that while, on average, 42% of working-age adults in the monitored economies see good entrepreneurial opportunities in their markets, as many as one-third of potential entrepreneurs are constrained from starting a business due to the fear of failure.

This reveals that South Africa needs to pro-actively address this fear of failure by creating an entrepreneurial ecosystem that celebrates entrepreneurs’ hard work and achievements. An environment where entrepreneurship is promoted as an aspirational career path and viable employment option, rather than a back-up plan to unemployment.

With this competition, we want to celebrate and promote excellence in entrepreneurship. When SMEs are established and grow, new employment opportunities are created, staff is trained and skills are developed, company profits increase and ultimately the economy flourishes as a result.

Why should entrepreneurs enter?

The Entrepreneur of the Year® competition, sponsored by Sanlam and BUSINESS/PARTNERS, is a platform to reward and acknowledge entrepreneurs’ hard work. Prizes valued at R 2 million can be won, which includes cash prizes of R425 000. Competition winners will also receive valuable mentorship support, networking opportunities and national media exposure.

What are the categories?

  • Emerging Entrepreneur
  • Small Business Entrepreneur
  • Medium Business Entrepreneur
  • Job Creator of the Year
  • Innovator of the Year

There are also two additional Entrepreneur of the Year® award categories that can be awarded at the discretion of the judging panel, namely:

  • Lifetime Achiever
  • Judges Prize

Please see more on each of the categories’ requirements here.

What are the judges looking for?

The competition will continue its search for entrepreneurial talent in all sectors of the economy. The judges are looking for entrepreneurs that have succeeded against the odds, either by carving out a niche market for the product or service offering, or by succeeding in a very competitive environment. Perseverance and endurance, innovation and agility are some of the qualities we look for in the entrepreneur.

There are also a number of quantitative competition measures, such as turnover growth, profitability, owners’ equity growth, positive cash flows and job creation that play a part in the competition’s judging process.

How can you enter?

Entrepreneurs interested in entering the competition can download entry forms online at https://eoy.adclickdev.comentry-form/ as well as interact with fellow entrepreneurs and entrants on the competition’s social media platforms www.twitter.com/@EOY_SA and www.facebook.com/EOY.SA.

The closing date for the competition is National Youth Day, 16 June 2016.

SA’s leading entrepreneurial competition now open for entries

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The contribution of local entrepreneurs to the South African economy is generally underestimated. Small and medium enterprises (SMEs) contribute close to 50% of South Africa’s gross domestic product (GDP) and generate more than 60% of new jobs created in the economy. This is according to Ben Bierman, chief financial officer at Business Partners Limited (BUSINESS/PARTNERS), who was speaking at the launch of the 2016 Entrepreneur of the Year® competition sponsored by Sanlam and BUSINESS/PARTNERS, in Johannesburg today.

Now in its 28th year, this renowned competition pays homage to courageous South African entrepreneurs who dedicate themselves to their enterprises / businesses driving growth, creating much needed jobs and contributing towards economic development in the country.

The latest Global Entrepreneurship Monitor (GEM) 2015 / 2016 Global Report states that while on average, 42% of working-age adults in the monitored economies see good entrepreneurial opportunities in their markets, as many as one-third of potential entrepreneurs are constrained from starting a business due to the fear of failure.

Speaking at the event, Bierman says that South Africa needs to pro-actively address this fear of failure by creating an entrepreneurial ecosystem that provides support and business finance and celebrates entrepreneurs’ hard work and achievements. “When SMEs are established and grow, new employment opportunities are created, staff is trained and skills are developed, company profits increase and ultimately the economy flourishes as a result.”

Bierman says that while South Africa has recently experienced tough economic conditions that may not necessarily enable SMEs to grow, opportunities do exist for those entrepreneurs who continue to identify gaps in the market and transform these into viable businesses. “We need to make a concerted effort to recognise and honour these entrepreneurs who continue to inspire others to venture into the world of business.”

He points to last year’s competition winners as examples of those succeeding in their industry and possessing true entrepreneurial spirit – persevering no matter how impossible it may seem at times.

“The 2015 Entrepreneur of the Year® overall competition winners, Gil Oved and Ran Neu-Ner, co-owners and founders of The Creative Counsel (TCC), were recently awarded the All Africa Business Leaders Award (AABLA), which recognises game changers on the continent. They were also acquired last year by French advertising giant, Publicis, in a deal understood to be the biggest in South African agency history. Most importantly, this year TCC launched an incubator programme for black-owned businesses as a way to inspire and grow the next generation of entrepreneurs.

“Our 2015 Innovator of the Year® and Medium Business Entrepreneur of the Year® title winners, Nadir Khamissa & Ahmed Shaazim Khamissa – owners and founders of Hello Group – were also recognised by the EY Southern Africa World Entrepreneur awards platform due to their remarkable tenacity and determination in building a leading business in the local fintech space.”

The Entrepreneur of the Year® competition, sponsored by Sanlam and BUSINESS/PARTNERS, is a platform to reward and acknowledge these entrepreneurs’ hard work. Prizes valued at R 2 million can be won, which includes cash prizes of R425 000. Competition winners will also receive valuable mentorship support, networking opportunities and national media exposure.

Bierman says that in 2016 the competition continues its search for entrepreneurial talent in all sectors of the economy. “The judges are looking for entrepreneurs that have succeeded against the odds, either by carving out a niche market for the product or service offering, or by succeeding in a very competitive environment. Perseverance and endurance, innovation and agility are some of the qualities we look for in the entrepreneur.”

Bierman adds that there are also a number of quantitative competition measures, such as turnover growth, profitability, owners’ equity growth, positive cash flows and job creation that play a part in the competition’s judging process.

Entrepreneurs interested in entering the competition can download entry forms online at www.eoy.co.za as well as interact with fellow entrepreneurs and entrants on the competition’s social media platforms www.twitter.com/@EOY_SA and www.facebook.com/EOY.SA. The closing date for the competition is National Youth Day, 16 June 2016.