South Africa`s Internet start-ups, which have enjoyed an impressive track record globally, have been given a further incentive to shine with the launch of online industry forum First Tuesday`s global Internet Excellence Awards.
The South African leg of the awards, sponsored by Cisco Systems, is aimed at highlighting local Internet success and encouraging participation and confidence in the South African economy.
The local awards, which will run from February 2001 to May 2001, will go to entrepreneurs, venture capitalists, service providers, and small and medium enterprises (SMEs) which have made the most outstanding contribution to Internet start-ups in SA. The winners, who will be announced in May, will then participate in the international competition.
Extra boost
Mike Wright, executive, First Tuesday SA, believes the awards will give South African Internet start-ups the necessary extra boost to make them successful. "The awards are expected to complement First Tuesday`s existing community, global network and marketplace, which is directed at assisting the most promising entrepreneurs to grow their businesses and find capital partners for their ideas.
"The international nature of the competition means First Tuesday members, entrepreneurs and investors will be exposed to the power of the Internet`s global arena. The awards will provide a fertile ground on which to learn, grow, network, and create substantive global relationships," says Wright.
"We teamed up with Cisco Systems as the major sponsor of the awards because it is a world leader in Internet technology and has a direct focus on the SME market.
"There is a common misperception that SA lags behind the rest of the world with respect to technology and the Internet," explains Jonas Bogoshi, SME area sales manager at Cisco Systems Southern Africa. "These awards will prove that our market can successfully compete in the global Internet economy. Recognising our local achievements will help drive investment to, and development of, the South African Internet industry."
Exploiting the Internet
Bogoshi adds that the Internet as a tool has incredible scope to be developed and exploited. "This is reflected in the First Tuesday awards, which go beyond merely rewarding a Web presence, but rather applaud companies that are using the Internet to facilitate internal and external communication, as well as increase their profitability by entering new markets or streamlining their business processes," he explains.
Nominations can be made on the Web site, www.firsttuesday.co.za/awards. Entries will be evaluated by an independent panel of judges. Nominations close on 3 April 2001 and the final awards ceremony will be held at Wanderers on 8 May 2001.
"By looking at what has already been achieved on the Internet by South Africans and enabling them to compete internationally will stimulate local businesses to increasingly participate actively in the global economy with greater confidence," says Wright. "We encourage nominations for SA to aid the country in firmly establishing itself on the global Internet map."
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