Computing giant IBM has partnered with local business incubator Raizcorp to unveil the Aspiring Entrepreneurs Initiative.
The organisations are searching for revolutionary innovators who have disruptive technology ideas that have the potential to change an industry, a province, a country, and the world.
IBM SA is investing R700 million in the programme and will provide entrepreneurs with access to its labs, as well as specialists, who will work closely with them to develop their ideas and make them become a reality.
The programme is targeted at potential entrepreneurs who have innovative ICT-related business concepts or ideas, and will enable the entrepreneurs to build their business solutions into bankable feasibilities, which can later be pitched to financiers for investment, so that the final business solutions can be developed to the start-up phase.
Best of the best
Only the cr`eme de la cr`eme will be chosen to join this elite programme, says IBM. Successful candidates, who are accepted for the programme, will receive business development, technology development and personal growth support via coaching and mentorship from Raizcorp, as well as access to skills and business education.
A level of financial support will also be provided, to enable the entrepreneurs to dedicate their time exclusively to the programme for its full duration.
IBM believes a cloud computing, mega data analytics, mobile enterprises, social business, and security (CAMMS) strategy is central to the industry transformation demands of a country - such as SA.
It adds that SA requires world-class skills and innovation through ground-breaking research, culminating in a new foreground intellectual property and know-how which has the ability to be commercialised globally, making a significant contribution to a country's digital competitiveness.
The company notes this programme is more than a standard ICT programme for enterprise development in SA, because it offers entrepreneurs - who may not have studied technology, or worked in it - the chance to work with a global firm and its resources to create their own disruptive technology that will catapult SA forward as a leader in the ICT industry.
Transformational impact
Gavin Pieterse, executive director for IBM's Equity Equivalent Investment Programme, says: "We have goals to graduate 36 aspiring entrepreneurs, 30 start-ups and eight mature black-owned and controlled entities over the duration of the programme."
He points out the programme is a uniquely South African phenomenon flowing from the ownership element of the BBBEE Codes of good practice.
"South Africa's economic development and transformation as well as social services delivery ambitions will require the adoption and implementation of solutions that encompass these CAMMS technologies," Pieterse says.
"South Africa needs a more powerful ecosystem surrounding the ICT industry. This programme goes a long way to provide those tech entrepreneurs with big ideas, with the requisite support to become global players," says Allon Raiz, CEO of Raizcorp.
"IBM has been at the forefront of delivering these new disruptive technologies to its clients around the world, and is now focusing on South Africa and the potential ICT discoveries and offerings that it has to offer the rest of the world. This is an exciting opportunity for anyone who isn't necessarily qualified or employed in the technical field, but has a disruptive tech idea that will transform each of our lives, the way we do things, and our digital economy."
Big ideas, big dreams
The programme is looking for entrepreneurs who have a technology-related business concept or idea that is based on ICT.
They must also be dedicated to put in the hard work to become an entrepreneur, be hungry for growth, and be black South African citizens, who are 18 years or older, and have completed Grade 12.
The candidates must have access to accommodation in the Johannesburg region while they are on the programme, and should be willing and able to participate in the programme for six months, on a full-time basis.
To find out how to apply to participate in the programme, click here.
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