The five-year-long association with CITI, the Bandwidth Barn and UUNET SA has changed its scope as Verizon Business (previously UUNET SA) re-aligns its corporate sponsorship programme.
Although Verizon will continue its sponsorship on a reduced level, this move is significant as for the first time in five years the Bandwidth Barn will be in a position to court a new primary corporate sponsor.
In addition to the corporate backing of UUNET, CITI is currently funded by the Cape Provincial Government and the City of Cape Town. These bodies remain committed to funding the initiative which has consistently delivered on its mandate to grow IT in the Western Cape.
Proving to be the most successful ICT incubation programme in the Southern Hemisphere, the Bandwidth Barn has matured into a fully self-sustainable business. The additional corporate sponsorship allows the Barn to implement value-adds for its tenants such as the mentoring programme and other business assistance.
"CITI has tripled its membership in the last year and our aggressive global initiative for 2006 will undoubtedly see that figure rise even further. We have had a long and successful relationship with UUNET and we will most certainly continue our relationship with Verizon, albeit on a different level," says Dr Raven Naidoo, Chairman of CITI.
CITI will be looking for additional sponsorship to fill the gap left by Verizon, and Naidoo says the organisation has already begun investigating a number of avenues.
"We are looking to forge ties with a company which has a similar ethos to us. CITI is passionate about developing and growing ICT in the region, and therefore in the country as a whole. We are wholly committed to the upliftment of previously disadvantaged companies and as well as the furtherment of women in ICT."
Similarly, IT incubator Bandwidth Barn`s funding will also be re-visited and Barn MD, Odette Potter, says the company which fills this gap will need to embrace the vision and passion intrinsic to both the Barn and its tenants.
"We see this as an amazing opportunity. The Barn has grown from strength to strength over the last five years. 142 businesses have passed through our doors, 111 of them are still in operation. There is no doubt that the Barn is a phenomenal success. The company which chooses to get involved with the Barn will be contributing to ICT skills development and play a part in furthering empowerment at the highest level," Potter comments.
Share
Editorial contacts