Tag: Johan Eksteen

What entrepreneurs wish they’d known when they were starting out

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The 2016 Entrepreneur of the Year® winners discuss the advice they would share with their younger selves

In the absence of concrete guidance and mentorship, the path to becoming a successful entrepreneur can be a very lonely one. As such, this path is too often forged solely by way of trial and error – frequently involving costly mistakes and countless sacrifices along the way.

In order to make this path less formidable for ‘up-and-coming’ entrepreneurs, we sat down with the winners of the 2016 Entrepreneur of the Year® competition to discuss the advice that they would share with their younger selves.

Vanessa Jacobs of Sow Delicious® and Emerging Business Entrepreneur of the Year® says that, above all, she would remind her younger self to never trade passion for money. “If you follow the money, it will seem to elude you and leave your life empty, but if you work for the love of it, then the money will follow you instead.

“It is also important to always remain teachable and view every set-back as a gift, because at its very core lies a solution of how to use it to excel to greater heights,” she adds.

This sentiment of remaining teachable is echoed in the advice offered by the owner and founder of Khonology, Michael Roberts, Job Creator of the Year ®. “Understand economics and how the world works, but be open to views, ideas and take advice. Look for inspiration in other people’s success stories and surround yourself with positive and focused people.”

Overall Entrepreneur of the Year®, Johan Eksteen of Agricon, urges young entrepreneurs to realise that they are loose cannons – something that he says is both a good and a bad thing. “Young entrepreneurs have untapped potential as they have not yet been corrupted by the harsh realities of the economy. They dream without limits and are therefore very creative and original. In this lies the caveat that it is both a good and a bad thing to be a loose cannon.

“Many ideas are potentially great ideas, but the key is to implement these ideas in real life. If they listen too much or too often to people with experience, they may be discouraged to even try, and therefore their great innovation may go undeveloped. However, if they do not take up some mentorship and advice, they may have no clue as to how they should turn the idea into a business.”

In this sense, Eksteen points out that strong mentorship encourages and guides a young entrepreneur is important, but also highlights the risk of getting the wrong mentor. “Choosing the right mentor is crucial, as the last thing you need as a young, driven entrepreneur is a passion killer.”

Carl Pretorius, managing director of Just Trees and Medium Business Entrepreneur of the Year®, says that he found having an older mentor whom he could bounce ideas off and get advice from to be very helpful. “When I was younger, I often thought that I knew more about certain matters than I really did. I would encourage young entrepreneurs to be honest with themselves about what they know and do not know, and then get help with or learn about the latter.”

Furthermore, Eksteen says that young entrepreneurs should realise that it can take up to five years to put a solid business concept together and to start making serious money. “In this time, the entrepreneur must remember that they are not managing a ready-made concept, so it requires constant change and sharp entrepreneurial tenacity to succeed.”

Eksteen finishes off with a final piece of advice that can and should be applied at any stage along the entrepreneurial journey: “Most entrepreneurs look down at the road they are on, and forget to check the direction in which they go. So keep your one eye on the potholes and the other on the road.”

Entrepreneurs to take a step back if they are to succeed

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Entrepreneurs can become so immersed in their businesses that they no longer ‘see the wood from the trees’, and that the way in which they are currently operating their business, could be the downfall of their success. 

This is according to Kobus Engelbrecht, spokesperson for the 2017 Entrepreneur of the Year® competition sponsored by Sanlam and BUSINESS/PARTNERS, who says that all entrepreneurs, regardless of their business cycle or success, can benefit from an outsider reviewing their business and its processes.

“A business mentor is one of the most valuable resources for any entrepreneur and business owner, yet is often the most underutilized,” says Engelbrecht.

A study1 conducted in the United States – which surveyed small business owners on the importance of mentoring – showed that of the business owners who use a mentor, 88% find their service invaluable. Furthermore, 70% of small businesses that make use of a business mentor, survive more than five years, which is double the rate of those that don’t use a business mentor.

In South Africa – where the rate of new businesses closing within five years of operation remains high – entrepreneurs should actively be seeking the advice of business mentors, says Engelbrecht.

“An external business professional, coach or mentor takes an outsider’s look into a business and critically reviews all elements of the business, and analyses where improvements can be made to maximise success. This process forces an entrepreneur to be honest about their business idea / concept and its current success, as too often, entrepreneurs become too involved in their business and lose perspective.”

Apart from using the services of a mentor – which can come at a fee depending on the agreement – there are other free avenues to explore that can force an entrepreneur to sit back and reflect on the current success of their business and its processes.

“A business competition is one platform to explore,” says Engelbrecht, “as often the judging panels include well-respected, established business professionals, who on a daily basis, engage with local businesses and the environment within which they operate.” He points to the Entrepreneur of the Year® competition as an example of what entrepreneurs can expect to take away when entering such a platform.

“During the judging process for the Entrepreneur of the Year® competition, the judges look at every aspect of the business – from its business strategy, manufacturing processes, marketing and sales plans, to its financial statements – to obtain a holistic view of how the business is running.

“The judges pose questions to the finalist entrepreneurs about their business. The line of questioning often prompts the entrepreneur to critically look at certain aspects of their business, and rethink certain processes within their business.”

2016 Entrepreneur of the Year® and MD of Agricon, Johan Eksteen, who also won the 2014 Small Business of the Year® category, explains that the feedback obtained during the judging process in 2014 enabled him to strengthen aspects within his business that he had overlooked, which ultimately aided him in strengthening his business, and clinching the overall title in 2016.

From his experience, Eksteen says the criteria for the judges was to decipher how entrepreneurial the business owner is in terms of how unique the product or service was, as well as the business model. “It’s important to see how my business is distinguished from the other businesses that entered. Being able to test my business against other entrepreneurs in South Africa was a great learning curve for me.”

Engelbrecht stresses that although entrepreneurial competitions are a good way for business owners to start the review process, accessing the services of a mentor is strongly advisable to conduct a regular, in-depth review of their business’ overall strategy. “Not only will a mentor guarantee that no stone is left unturned in the business, thereby eliminating oversight in potentially important areas, but a mentor will also hold the entrepreneur accountable for the business’ goals – both short and long-term – thereby ensuring the business continues to thrive and grow, ” concludes Engelbrecht.

Entrepreneurs to take a step back if they are to succeed

Posted on by Webmaster

Entrepreneurs can become so immersed in their businesses that they no longer ‘see the wood from the trees’, and that the way in which they are currently operating their business, could be the downfall of their success.

This is according to Kobus Engelbrecht, spokesperson for the 2017 Entrepreneur of the Year® competition sponsored by Sanlam and BUSINESS/PARTNERS, who says that all entrepreneurs, regardless of their business cycle or success, can benefit from an outsider reviewing their business and its processes.

“A business mentor is one of the most valuable resources for any entrepreneur and business owner, yet is often the most underutilised,” says Engelbrecht.

A study conducted in the United States – which surveyed small business owners on the importance of mentoring – showed that of the business owners who use a mentor, 88% find their service invaluable. Furthermore, 70% of small businesses that make use of a business mentor, survive more than five years, which is double the rate of those that don’t use a business mentor.

In South Africa – where the rate of new businesses closing within five years of operation remains high – entrepreneurs should actively be seeking the advice of business mentors, says Engelbrecht.

“An external business professional, coach or mentor takes an outsider’s look into a business and critically reviews all elements of the business, and analyses where improvements can be made to maximise success. This process forces an entrepreneur to be honest about their business idea/concept and its current success, as too often, entrepreneurs become too involved in their business and lose perspective.”

Apart from using the services of a mentor – which can come at a fee depending on the agreement – there are other free avenues to explore that can force an entrepreneur to sit back and reflect on the current success of their business and its processes.

“A business competition is one platform to explore,” says Engelbrecht, “as often the judging panels include well-respected, established business professionals, who on a daily basis, engage with local businesses and the environment within which they operate.” He points to the Entrepreneur of the Year® competition as an example of what entrepreneurs can expect to take away when entering such a platform.

“During the judging process for the Entrepreneur of the Year® competition, the judges look at every aspect of the business – from its business strategy, manufacturing processes, marketing and sales plans, to its financial statements – to obtain a holistic view of how the business is running.

“The judges pose questions to the finalist entrepreneurs about their business. The line of questioning often prompts the entrepreneur to critically look at certain aspects of their business, and rethink certain processes within their business.”

2016 Entrepreneur of the Year® and MD of Agricon, Johan Eksteen, who also won the 2014 Small Business of the Year® category, explains that the feedback obtained during the judging process in 2014 enabled him to strengthen aspects within his business that he had overlooked, which ultimately aided him in strengthening his business, and clinching the overall title in 2016.

From his experience, Eksteen says the criteria for the judges was to decipher how entrepreneurial the business owner is in terms of how unique the product or service was, as well as the business model. “It’s important to see how my business is distinguished from the other businesses that entered. Being able to test my business against other entrepreneurs in South Africa was a great learning curve for me.”

Engelbrecht stresses that although entrepreneurial competitions are a good way for business owners to start the review process, accessing the services of a mentor is strongly advisable to conduct a regular, in-depth review of their business’ overall strategy. “Not only will a mentor guarantee that no stone is left unturned in the business, thereby eliminating oversight in potentially important areas, but a mentor will also hold the entrepreneur accountable for the business’ goals – both short and long-term – thereby ensuring the business continues to thrive and grow, ” concludes Engelbrecht.

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.”

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.

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!