Rival Pioneers

It doesn’t take a rocket scientist to work out that 2011 was a hard year. Business was hard, stockmarkets were hard, the property market was hard and backing South Africa in major sporting events was hard.

There were plenty of times where many of us felt like saying: “It is just too hard to keep going”.

It is nothing to be ashamed of.

With everybody working so hard, it was only at the end of the year when December rolled around that many of us could stop for a moment, lift our heads above the water and actually try and work out if we were ok. I met up with entrepreneurs and work colleagues and many of them were quite simply dead on their feet… Adrian and myself included.

I read this piece of advice from entrepreneur Mark Cuban and it makes real sense to me:
“Effort is measured by setting goals and getting results. What did I need to do to close this account? What did I need to do to win this segment of business? What did I need to do to understand this technology or that business better than anyone? What did I need to do to find an edge? Where does that edge come from, and how was I going to get there?”

For me the first sentence is the most important: Set goals, get results.

Sometimes I get the sense that we’re looking for big wins rather than a series of small / specific wins and this holds back many entrepreneurs and their businesses.
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While the holidays are a time for most of us to relax, there are thousands of young people across South Africa hoping to enjoy a break of a different sort: the chance to start a career. From December 20 to January 14, a unique five-ton truck – outfitted with 10 free Internet stations and a walk-in meeting area – will travel to five South African coastal cities to meet matriculants and univeristy students to talk to them (and their parents) about the idea of being an entrepreneur or an ‘intrapreneur’.

“We’re looking for those interested in creating (rather than just finding) a job,” says Judi Sandrock, CEO of the Micro Enterprise Development Organisation (MEDO), the organiser of the tour. “We want to hear from those who have business ideas or existing businesses, to see where help can be provided.”

United Kingdom Trade & Investment (UKTI) , an organisation focused on growing the economies of the UK and South Africa by facilitating more connections between small and micro businesses, is sponsoring the summer road trip.

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The team from Springleap have partnered with Marmite to come up with a design competition that has a R10000 prize for the winning design.

Visit the Springleap site now

The mission
Use your powerful design skills to create a Marmite inspired design that works perfectly for Valentine’s Day. We want to see which designers can best illustrate their intense passion and undying love for Marmite in the most effective, most inspiring and heartwarming way. Please keep it fun and quirky. No emo stuff allowed.

The Do’s and Dont’s:

1. Designs must include at least 1 of the Marmite brand elements – logo, colours, fonts, brand theme. The design must clearly identify with Marmite and be recognisable as such.

2. Designers can use ANY colour from the Springleap.com t-shirt submission kit

3. The Marmite corporate colours are yellow, red, white, green and black. However, designers are welcome to experiment and come up with their own interpretations, as long as the design includes some or other element of the Marmite brand to make it clearly identifyable

For a little inspiration check out this classic Marmite advert:

Leading South African financial news publication Finweek and business development and acceleration firm Aurik have joined forces to promote entrepreneurship in South Africa. Up for grabs are 10 entrepreneurship bursaries – each valued at R250000 – for promising Gauteng entrepreneurs who are serious about growing their businesses. The bursaries involve expert business development tools and skills and have a focus on doubling the businesses revenue over a two year period. The progress of the finalists is to be tracked through Finweek and there will be regularly feedback through the print, online and entrepreneur events. “I don’t believe that we as South Africans celebrate our entrepreneurs enough. If they are the answer to job creation and innovation, something we witness daily, then surely we should celebrate them?” says Aurik CEO Pavlo Phitidis. Read the rest of this entry »

A new initiative launched by Queens University in Belfast may help throw some light on the role that social and environmental enterprises play in poverty alleviation and social development in Africa.

Called “Trickle Out Africa”, the project was introduced at a recent lunchtime seminar at the UCT GSB by Dr Diane Holt, lecturer in management and sustainability at Queens University. It aims to find out how social and environmental enterprises cascade economic and social benefit out into local communities.

“This is a very interesting project that has a sort of synergy with the work being done at the school. The insights the project will gain into entrepreneurship and social enterprise in Africa would be of great interest to us,” said Ralph Hamann, research director.

Social and environmental enterprises are believed to be significant drivers of poverty alleviation and positive social development for communities at the bottom of the pyramid. But exactly how they fulfil this role is mostly unknown.
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Another great success story from the team from Ad Dynamo – a fantastic SA entrepreneurship story!

Ad Dynamo is pleased to announce the partnership with Glam Media International as their premium partner for South African inventory. Glam Media International is the 14th largest online destination worldwide and No.1 in the lifestyle category. Senior Director at Glam Media International, Julieta comments, “Glam Media International is very excited to be able to offer our product to the South Africa market and look forward to working with Ad Dynamo in a mutually profitable partnership”.

Glam Media International offers the South African advertiser the opportunity to reach a stylish, sophisticated and influential user base. With verticals such as Style, Family, Living, Entertainment, Luxury and Health and Wellness on www.glam.com and Sports, Entertainment, Lifestyle, Tech and Auto’s on www.brash.com to offer to the South African marketplace. Ad Dynamo are certain that Glam Media International with their female offering www.glam.com and male offering www.brash.com, will offer brands a welcome alternative platform to spend their budgets and reach the savvy South Africa Online user.

Sean Riley comments, “Glam Media is a world class publisher that offers advertisers the opportunity to reach a sophisticated audience in a highly targeted manner.  We’re very excited about our partnership.”

Hello entrepreneurs!

In putting together the cover story this week for Finweek, one thing has become apparent – for those willing to take a few risks, invest in quality businesses and see beyond the negative news headlines at the moment, there are some incredible assets and opportunities up for grabs.

The whole theory behind promoting small businesses is that it is a major driver of creating employment. Check out the Rival Pioneers Facebook group and you will see that mobiflock is looking for a PHP developer. Finweek is also still looking for a junior Afrikaans sub-editor and re-writer and a junior layout artist – CV’s can be sent to marca@finweek.co.za

Before I touch on some community activities it has occurred to me that Adrian and I haven’t given away something in a while. With that in mind we’re going to give away a bundled advertising package (mobile, SMS and online) valued at more than R1200 to anybody who invites somebody to join the Rival Pioneers Facebook group or forwards on our mailer.

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FNB Business Banking and Talk Radio 702/576 Cape Talk have launched the Entrepreneurs SA campaign for the second year running. The campaign runs from the 3rd October till 7th November.

Entrepreneurs SA will be identifying and interviewing a wide range of entrepreneurs who represent a diverse selection of business ventures within South Africa. These entrepreneurs will get the opportunity to convey live on air, their aspirations and challenges, along with what they believe would help smooth the path for fellow entrepreneurs.

According to Sanjeev Orie; Head of Acquisitions for Business Banking, entrepreneurship is a fundamental driver of the South African economy. The FNB and Talk Radio 702/567 Cape Talk campaign creates a platform for entrepreneurs to inspire each other as well as offer support, education and provide expertise.

“At FNB, we understand that innovation plays an enormous role in any successful business, and never more so than those of an entrepreneur. This campaign is an ideal opportunity for budding entrepreneurs to engage with successful entrepreneurs, to find out what has motivated their decisions and ultimately their success. FNB believes in creating platforms for entrepreneurs, by offering not only a platform to network but also a support base where ideas and plans can be shared across the country. With over 1 000 entrants last year, Entrepreneurs SA has proven to be an ideal tool for this initiative hence our commitment to be part of the campaign again this year,” says Sanjeev.

Once again all start-up businesses (3 years or more in operation) are encouraged to nominate themselves online via the Entrepreneur SA microsite on www.702.co.za and www.capetalk.co.za and provide a background on their business, their successes and challenges. Individuals will then be identified and entrepreneurs get the opportunity to go live on air and share their aspirations and challenges.

“Entrepreneurs SA was initially conceptualised as a response to a challenge laid out by Minister of Finance, Pravin Gordhan to help create employment,” said Talk Radio 702 Station Manager, Pheladi Gwangwa.

“The campaign offers not only the entrepreneurs who go to air, but also all those who listen to the shows, a chance to get great advice on improving their businesses – ultimately enhancing their potential to employ more staff, transfer skills and boost our economy,” concludes Gwangwa.

Hello entrepreneurs

I trust we have had a productive week.

Before I get into the activities of our entrepreneurs this week I’d like to highlight something that might be of interest to those interested in getting involved in Socially Responsible investing in South Africa. If this appeals to you then I would suggest a look at www.sasix.co.za which is the SA Social Investment Exchange – there are some excellent projects there definitely worth investing in.

1.       Technology entrepreneurs keen to learn more from experts who have either successfully raised money or sold their businesses to corporates pay attention: Mzansi Gold and Rival Pioneers are holding an event on 29 October at Microsoft in conjunction with Enablis. You can RSVP here – http://www.mzansigold.com/events. If you would like more information around distributing marketing material at the event please e-mail marc@rivalmoney.co.za or contact us on 082-5611-585

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While most businesses experience their fair share of daily challenges, owners of SMEs often operate in isolation without the benefits of resources available to larger organisations.

Now in a South African first, a new SME communications platform, Quisme, is currently being piloted and represents the ideal interactive online solution for SMEs – a dynamic space where like-minded entrepreneurs are able to research business-related content; engage with one another with the view of seeking advice from other like-minded business owners and assist one another in solving common dilemmas that are part and parcel of running a small business.

According to Nicole Brown, MD of Submarine Depth Research who developed the site, Quisme provides small-to-medium business owners with access to a particularly tight-knit community of successful business minds, solutions to common issues — as provided by peers — and the opportunity to be part of refining this new platform for business thought leaders.
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