Innovation and entrepreneurship is alive, well and thriving at The Innovation Hub. This was bourn out again recently when Blue Square Technologies MD, Charl van der Merwe, was selected to participate in the final round of the first-ever local selection of Endeavour Entrepreneurs. These entrepreneurs are set to become the new role models of success, entrepreneurship and innovation in SA.
Endeavour is an international, not-for-profit organisation that recently launched its first African affiliate in SA. From an initial screening by Endeavour's local representatives among high-growth, innovative, emerging market entrepreneurs, six tenant companies at The Innovation Hub were selected to participate in a rigorous selection process to identify six outstanding South African entrepreneurs as the Endeavour South Africa Entrepreneurs. Of those, three entrepreneurs were interviewed for the final round by Endeavour's co-founder Peter Kellner, a well-known international investor and entrepreneur.
Charl van der Merwe will now meet the members of the inaugural Endeavour South Africa Selection Panel at the Spier Winery in Cape Town early in December. The panel consists of international and local business experts whose task it is to make the final selection of the first group of Endeavour South Africa Entrepreneurs.
Endeavour Entrepreneurs receive an 18-month, customised work plan based on the feedback generated through the screening process. The entrepreneurs are also matched with mentors from the Endeavour VentureCorps network with relevant industry and functional expertise to help the entrepreneurs take their businesses to scale. In addition, top US business school students are selected to work with the entrepreneurs to generate a targeted deliverable at the end of a three-month period, each working at one of the entrepreneurs' businesses.
Endeavour Entrepreneurs also benefit from monthly management workshops, where high-level members of Endeavour's international and local network speak on entrepreneur-relevant topics. Ultimately, Endeavour helps the entrepreneurs to find appropriate partners and investors that can add value to their businesses and help them to grow.
The six companies at The Innovation Hub initially selected to participate in the process included Artificial Intelligence Products, Automated Product Development, Blue Square Technologies, Expertron, the Naledi 3d Factory and World Wide Objects.
For further information about Endeavour South Africa or the Endeavour Entrepreneur programme, contact noah@endevour.org.
Share
