CEO of Microsoft solutions provider i5 Glen Ansell has joined the influential Endeavor entrepreneurial network following its 4th Endeavor South Africa International Selection Panel which took place recently at the Spier Wine Estate in Cape Town.
Endeavor is a non-profit organisation that identifies and supports innovative, high-growth entrepreneurs in emerging markets around the world. The organisation providers a network which provides assistance and guidance to visionary entrepreneurs, with daring ideas, who are transforming their communities, their industries, and even their countries. As a result of its initiatives, Endeavor believes it helps create employment opportunities, propel economies, and cultivate rising leaders and role models.
At the recent event, Ansell, together with a further 19 candidates, underwent an extensive interview and evaluation process to determine their suitability for membership of the organisation. Only those entrepreneurs recognised as high-impact by Endeavor's international panel of some 18 leading minds are invited to join the organisation.
Panellists include Adrian Gore, Discovery Holdings CEO and chairman of the Endeavor South Africa Board of Directors, Brian Swette, Burger King chairman and former COO of eBay, Hlumelo Biko Member, founder of Circle Capital and Martin Hall, Deputy Vice-Chancellor of the University of Cape Town.
Endeavor South Africa measures itself based on the impact it has on its selected entrepreneurs. The organisation notes that high-impact entrepreneurs produce significantly more jobs than the average SME; 75% of new ventures in developing and emerging economies employ an average of just two people (GEM 2004), while the average number of citizens employed by Endeavor Entrepreneurs is 214.
High-impact entrepreneurs create high-value jobs that are well paid, with benefits; Endeavor Entrepreneurs on average pay 10 times the minimum wage in their countries. 91% of jobs provide more benefits than those required by law and 86% of Endeavor-aligned companies provide in-house training.
As the founder and CEO of i5, Ansell impressed the panellists with his ambition, passion for creating employment for South Africans and commitment to growing the country's information technology sector both domestically and internationally.
A Microsoft-gold certified partner responsible for the CRM deployments of First National Bank, Hollard Insurance and Sasfin, among other large South African organisations, i5 today offers a wide range of business solutions and services. Says Ansell: "The company has evolved from a Microsoft-based developer, to a solutions company. We have consistently doubled revenues every year, while our headcount continues to grow rapidly, providing excellent opportunities for South Africans seeking exciting careers in the technology environment."
i5 is recognised as a leader in the field of Microsoft enterprise software, particularly CRM, where it has secured an estimated 70% of the South African market. It also focuses on for developing its own value-added intellectual property within the Microsoft environment, such as its Rezonance CRM software solution set.
"Within i5 as a company, there is a hunger for business. People are excited to work here because the company offers limitless, boundary-less solutions; we don't just do whatever is standard," Ansell adds.
His membership with Endeavor will provide access to high value peer networks, marketing and channel relationship expertise and international expansion assistance.
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The i5 group was founded by Glen Ansell in 2003 and started as a technical consulting firm focused exclusively on Microsoft technologies. With the company's rapid growth, it continued to differentiate itself by maintaining a very close working relationship with Microsoft and creating an unmatched pool of expertise in most Microsoft technologies. Our primary competence lies in Microsoft Dynamics CRM and Information Worker, our specialisation in customised CRM, intranets, portals and call centres have secured us prime position in the market as niche specialists with a high level of customer satisfaction and technology optimisation. We have received numerous accolades from Microsoft with our accreditations and awards; winning three at Microsoft Partner Summit 2006 and the Independent Software vendor of the year in 2007.
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