Ten days before the official launch of the third phase in Softstart's growth plan, 100% of the new office space had been snapped up. The 300m2 of newly acquired space, which is adjacent to the current Softstart facility on the CSIR campus, has been refitted, furnished and networked with the existing infrastructure.
This new wing, which constitutes 50% growth in tenant space, is also ready for occupation ahead of schedule, following the demand from businesses that have already signed with Softstart.
The negotiations to obtain the additional space for phase three of the incubator began early in February 2004. The office space acquired to accommodate additional tenants consists of nine offices, kitchen facilities and a meeting room. As at the official launch date 1 May 2004, all of the nine offices are already allocated to tenants, four of which will accommodate the expansion of International Business Dynamics (IBD) operations. The five remaining offices will be occupied by three high-potential enterprises, namely Khotso Information Technology Solutions, Software Anywhere and the University of Pretoria Business Plan Winners - the Retro Rabbit Group.
The Operations Manager of Softstart, Leonie Greyling, says: "Phase two was 100% occupied by December 2003, and the continued demand from prospective tenants has prompted us to launch phase three. We had no idea it would fill up this quickly, and we are delighted that we will have a 100% rate at launch date."
Following the successes of phases one and two, CEO of Softstart, Ben Zaaiman, is delighted with the high early occupancy rate of the phase three incubator.
"We are already in the process of negotiating more space, because the demand from young and dynamic start-up ventures is clearly there," says Zaaiman.
The unabated demand places Softstart in the unfortunate position of perhaps having to place technology concept and start-up entrepreneurs on a waiting list, or to refer them to associated incubators over the next few months. Softstart will officially cut the red ribbon of phase three at a function on 7 May 2004.
Softstart, an ICT incubator, assists early stage software entrepreneurs with the growth and development of their enterprises. Through the provision of "plug and play" offices, shared resources, access to business networks and venture coaching, tenants have a better chance of success and ultimately running sustainable businesses. Softstart is still in a pilot phase and is supported by the GODISA Trust of the Department of Science and Technology and the Department of Trade and Industry, and receives additional financial support from the European Union. Its founder partners include the University of Pretoria, Tshwane University of Technology and the CSIR.
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