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From chasing the numbers to receiving 48 applicant submissions and short listing 23 candidates to attend the Femtech Programme at The Innovation Hub, the process has been exhilarating.
The aim of the Femtech Programme is to stimulate a flow of female innovators to participate in high-tech industry. The aim of the first workshop was to assist aspiring female high-tech entrepreneurs to think laterally and identify potential business concepts that may serve as innovative solutions to some current industry challenges. The two-day programme included various exercises, presentations by top U.S trainer Julie Lenzer Kirk, as well as guest presentations by Robert Caveney and Wayne Costopoulos (Wits Enterprise), Tshidi Moroka (CSIR), Pieter Nortje and Ezzard de Lange (ESKOM), Liezl de Graaff (Deloitte and Touche), as well as Wessel Vlok (I.Cat).
Turcia Boshielo, one of the Femtrepreneurs said of the first day, “It was an information-filled session and I am particularly struck by the Deloitte and Touche presentation on areas for potential IT Software Development. I have a background in IT and Engineering and I am hoping to emerge form the second day of the programme with a solid concept to build a business idea around.”
Dr. Robert Caveney of the University of the Witwatersrand says, “I was not sure what to prepare in terms of a presentation. The main thing concerning IP from an academic point of view lies in the new act that stipulates that innovation must be disclosed by learning institutions. According to the act academic institutions have to make innovative findings known and may not own these concepts.” The Femtech programme provides the perfect platform for such disclosure.
The Femtech candidates, from diverse backgrounds, all agree that the wealth of information presented during the two-day programme provided ample to get the creative juices flowing. The guest presentations, in particular, succeeded to inspire out-of the box ideas related to existing business endeavours (some of these ladies are dynamic business woman already), as well as completely new ideas that warrant further investigation.
Mmatshigo Sihlali comments, “I could not take notes fast enough! There is a myriad of ideas floating around in my head right now and it was especially wonderful to meet so many dynamic women. The afternoon session proved especially useful since, in my role as software engineer and ICT trainer to children, I am searching for a way to use my skills in becoming an entrepreneur in my own right.”
“The program taught me not to be afraid of industries that have traditionally been labelled male owned. Through networking with programme participants, I learnt that there are many women with powerful minds running successful businesses’ comments one Femtecher.
Testimonials about the programme illuminate that the core message most candidates took away from the experience is the knowledge that if you can dream it, you can achieve it and that one need not look too far for opportunities. The programme is labelled “energetic, lively and most informative” and participants are especially impressed by the U.S Trainer, Julie Lenzer Kirk.
Julie Lenzer Kirk is President and CEO of Path Forward International and author of The ParentPreneur Edge: What Parenting Teaches about Building a Successful Business. Ms. Kirk is a sought-after speaker on topics of entrepreneurship, business management, and leadership. This is the second time Julie is collaborating with the Maxum Business Incubator since having been involved with the Professional Development Programme for South African Woman ICT Entrepreneurs that ran in 2008.
Candidate responses to the question of what immediate action will be taken once the programme ends include, “embark on market research about the business concept identified during the workshop. I want to learn more about being a leader in business with a focus on building an efficient team.” The programme teaches concepts such as creating efficient work-teams and identifying potentially viable business ideas.
“The mix of candidates that have established ideas as compared to those who are looking to formulate an idea based on industry presentation is varied, some have established ideas that they want to take further, some are already in business but want to change direction, some have never been in business for themselves but are ready to strike out” says Tina James, Director of icteum consulting and member of the project team.
That is what the Femtech Programme is all about; enabling dynamic woman - with established business knowledge, obvious leadership qualities, or with innovative concepts - by presenting them with world-class training, a glimpse into opportunities in identified markets, and supplying an environment that promotes networking, cooperation and support. |
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