Blue Catalyst, Blue IQ Investment Holding's entrepreneurial and commercial innovation initiative, proudly announces two recent successes in its ongoing effort to assist innovative entrepreneurs access investment, mentorship and markets. Blue Catalyst is a network of mentors, advisers and financiers who engage with innovative entrepreneurs and help them take their smart ideas and innovations to market. Innovative entrepreneurs utilise the network of experts, financiers and potential clients as well as the Web 2.0 video enabled portal to start and advance the commercialisation of their "Smart Idea" based business ventures.
For many years, Blue Catalyst Network members have been able to connect to one another using the social networking tool. The social networking tool is much like that used on Facebook, however the Blue Catalyst Network portal has had this tool since inception. Long before Facebook was made popular by users in the USA and around the world, the Blue Catalyst portal allowed users to search profiles and connect to one another based on common interests or specific needs and wants.
In addition to the social networking tool, entrepreneurs are now able to create and upload short video clips of their Smart Ideas. The uploaded videos, or "elevator pitches", will bring life to innovative concepts and revolutionise the way Smart Ideas are presented to the Blue Catalyst Network.
Recently, Blue Catalyst Network member and innovative entrepreneur Dave Macdonald from Lefika Manufacturing released his video to the network. Within one hour, an international sales agency contacted Macdonald seeking to represent the product in global markets. Not only will a life saving product be sold into markets where it is much needed, much desired foreign currency will flow into South Africa. Further, several other interested parties have contacted Lefika Manufacturing regarding finance and distribution opportunities.
"We are surprised how rapidly we received response to our video. Obviously, the right people are paying attention to the Blue Catalyst Network. Opportunities for customers and finance are coming in. All this from one little short video on the Blue Catalyst portal," says Macdonald of Lefika.
Brian Carl Brown, Chief Operating Officer of Blue Catalyst says: "We will be the YouTube and the Facebook of innovative entrepreneurs and those who wish to assist and fund Smart Ideas to full commercial success. We are looking for innovative, commercially viable, intellectual property based business concepts in a variety of industries including ICT & E, biotechnology, materials science, energy and other industries that seek collaboration, partnerships, investment and markets. Watch this space!"
To view and upload videos on the Smart Stars (video section https://portal.bcat.co.za/C9/Smart%20Stars/Left.aspx?) of the Blue Catalyst Portal, register and logon to the Blue Catalyst Portal (www.bluecatalyst.co.za) and choose the top line menu item "(Smart Stars https://portal.bcat.co.za/C9/Smart%20Stars/Left.aspx?)". There are some initial videos uploaded and Blue Catalyst invites you to upload your videos for your Smart Idea. More information as well as tips and tricks for the use of videos can be obtained by contacting Blue Catalyst.
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Blue Catalyst is a subsidiary of Blue IQ, the Gauteng provincial government's economic infrastructure development initiative, which is focused on advancing innovative entrepreneurs and furthering commercial opportunities throughout the region. By using an advanced Web 2.0, video-enabled Internet portal, as well as regular events, Blue Catalyst promotes innovation and links Smart Ideas to finance, business expertise and global markets. Further information can be obtained by visiting the initiative's portal at: http://www.bluecatalyst.co.za or contacting the Blue Catalyst Chief Operating Officer (COO), Brian Carl Brown (brian@bcat.co.za) on 011 695 4870.
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