Identifying a new generation of South African entrepreneurs

Ltr Kobus Britz and Charl van der Merwe (Blue Square Technologies), Neels Engelbrecht (Artificial Intelligence Products) and Jannie Loubser (Automated Product Development), the entrepreneurs who made it to the pre-final selection for outstanding South African entrepreneurs.

Endeavor sources and screens high-growth, innovative, emerging market entrepreneurs through a rigorous, five-stage, six-month process. Endeavor aims to promote lasting economic development through entrepreneurship. It provides mentoring, training, networks (local and international) and knowledge required by emerging-market entrepreneurs to build sustainable businesses through Endeavor's VentureCatalyst Model (venture capital without the financial capital).

Innovation and entrepreneurship is alive, well, and thriving at The Innovation Hub. This was bourn out again recently when Blue Square Technologies MD, Charl van der Merwe, was selected to participate in the final round of the first-ever local selection of Endeavor Entrepreneurs. These entrepreneurs are set to become the new role models of success, entrepreneurship and innovation in South Africa.

Endeavor is an international, not-for-profit organisation that recently launched its first African affiliate in South Africa. From an initial screening by Endeavor's local representatives amongst high-growth, innovative, emerging market entrepreneurs, six tenant companies at The Innovation Hub were selected to participate in a rigorous selection process to identify six outstanding South African entrepreneurs as the Endeavor South Africa Entrepreneurs. Of those, three entrepreneurs were interviewed for the final round by Endeavor's co-founder Peter Kellner, a well-known international investor and entrepreneur himself.

Charl van der Merwe will now meet the members of the inaugural Endeavor South Africa Selection Panel at the Spier Winery in Cape Town early in December. The panel consists of international and local business experts whose task it is to make the final selection of the first group of Endeavor South Africa Entrepreneurs.

Endeavor Entrepreneurs receive an 18-month, customised work plan based on the feedback generated through the screening process. The entrepreneurs are also matched with mentors from the Endeavor VentureCorps network with relevant industry and functional expertise to help the entrepreneurs take their businesses to scale. In addition, top US business school students are selected to work with the entrepreneurs to generate a targeted deliverable at the end of a three month period, each working at one of the entrepreneurs' businesses.

Endeavor Entrepreneurs also benefit from monthly management workshops, where high-level members of Endeavor's international and local network speak on entrepreneur-relevant topics. Ultimately, Endeavor helps the entrepreneurs to find appropriate partners and investors that can add value to their businesses and help them to grow.

The six companies at The Innovation Hub initially selected to participate in the process included Artificial Intelligence Products, Automated Product Development, Blue Square Technologies, Expertron, the Naledi 3d Factory and World Wide Objects.

For further information about Endeavor South Africa or the Endeavor Entrepreneur programme, contact noah@endevor.org.

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