The 67 Minutes of Empowering for Change event was a good opportunity to share knowledge, said Anton Sithole, engineering director at 3verteD. There were 25 different entrepreneurs in Stellenbosch that shared their business ideas with each other in 67 seconds on Mandela Day at the LaunchLab, said Hanli Brink, operations director at Stellenbosch Network. VIDEO: Jess Holing
A local tea manufacturer was voted best pitch of the evening, following a recent networking event meant to showcase local grassroot startup businesses, on 18 July at the LaunchLab, said Hanli Brink, operations director at Stellenbosch Network.
While no official prize was awarded, the event was held to help businesses in Stellenbosch grow, network and support each other, stated Brink. Each participant was given the opportunity to pitch their business ideas in 67 seconds, said Brink. Everyone in attendance was allowed to vote, according to Brink.
“This is the start of good things,” said Vusi Mokoena, whose Mavusana Rooibos Tea business pitch was voted the best at the end of the evening.
The 67 Minutes of Empowering for Change event, recently held in Stellenbosch, was inspired by Mandela Day as a way to help local businesses grow, said Hanli Brink, operations director at Stellenbosch Network, a partner of the event. PHOTOS: Jess Holing
Paving the way
“This is the first time we’re doing this,” said Brink. Many grassroot businesses struggle with effective marketing, but “access to the market is what it’s all about”, she said.
67 Minutes of Empowering for Change, was a partnership event held on Mandela Day, said Brink. The parties involved included Stellenbosch Network, an interdisciplinary membership organisation, Loudhailer, a global startup accelerator program and LaunchLab, a hub for emerging entrepreneurs in Stellenbosch, stated Brink.
While the event was marketed on Stellenbosch Network’s platforms, some of the 25 participants were specifically invited to join, explained Brink.
The businesses were from various backgrounds including agriculture, commerce, food and beverage, technology, and health, said Brink.
A recent event hosted to give local startups the opportunity to pitch their business ideas to an audience was very successful, said Hanli Brink, operations director at Stellenbosch Network, a partner for the 67 Minutes of Empowering for Change event. PHOTO: Jess Holing
The value of networking
“It [was] a good way to learn how to expose our work,” said Anton Sithole, engineering director at 3verteD, a 3D printing business bringing creative possibilities to organisations and individuals.
“The community really helps. It’s the sense that there are other people doing the same thing, slogging along with you, ” said Jason Samuels, co-founder and managing director of GreenX.
GreenX is a company that helps clients improve their energy and environmental impact by understanding, optimising and reducing their electricity usage through data analytics, consulting and energy efficiency interventions, according to Samuels.
“Starting is half the battle,” said Samuels. He encouraged emerging entrepreneurs to “just take a chance”.
Anton Sithole, engineering director at 3verteD, displayed his 3D-printed products at the 67 Minutes of Empowering for Change event held at the LaunchLab on Mandela Day. PHOTO: Jess Holing