Microsoft is calling for the development of an ecosystem to support the growth of small businesses in South Africa.
Microsoft SA MD Zoaib Hoosen says the country needs to build a culture of entrepreneurship to help fight high youth unemployment, which he calls "dire".
He was speaking at a round-table discussion in Johannesburg today, along with a number of entrepreneurs from Microsoft's BizSpark programme.
"There are many good intentions when it comes to fostering entrepreneurship, but South Africa needs a better ecosystem to support this so start-ups can flourish."
Microsoft's BizSpark programme is one way to offer this support. It provides early-stage tech start-ups with the opportunity to join a vast local and global network of entrepreneurs, partners and advisors. It provides over 1 600 South African start-ups with access to Microsoft software development tools and training, connecting them with key industry players and giving them the marketing visibility they need to grow.
Hoosen says Microsoft SA decided to invest in BizSpark because it realised there was not enough support for small businesses in SA, especially in the technology sector.
The BizSpark programme is global but what makes the local chapter different is a collaboration with government's Jobs Fund. Microsoft has put its money where its mouth is by matching the R96 million investment from the Jobs Fund for the BizSpark programme.
"Our hope is that by providing the crucial technology and business support tools needed at this early stage, we will help prepare the next generation of start-ups in South Africa to become leaders in exporting technology IP, and also, in turn, help drive South Africa's growth," says Hoosen.
South Africa has the highest level of youth unemployment in Africa and the third highest unemployment overall on the continent. Hoosen says this is why it is more important than ever for private and public organisations to come together to help create jobs.
"We all know the state of the country when it comes to unemployment. It's very real, and we need to deal with it," he adds.
This comes as Microsoft announced it would cut 7 800 jobs globally, or nearly 7% of its workforce, and write down about $7.6 billion related to its Nokia phone business.
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