Vanguard business and technology incubator, SoftstartBTI, argues that the single most important activity entrepreneurs and start-up businesses need to undertake is the development and expansion of their 'knowledge networks'.
The Midrand-based organisation, which has been successfully supporting and growing entrepreneurs for five years, suggests that helping early phase companies build the network of expertise and skills required to grow into successful businesses is the most important of the incubation services it provides.
"It's an often observed truth that building a business can be lonely and tough on your own," explains Leon Lourens, CEO of SoftstartBTI, "but by joining an incubator, you get plugged into a network of skilled and diverse people who can help you transform your vision into a reality."
Lourens cites the case of recently graduated company, Flat Rock Communications, to support his point. Flat Rock, which recently merged with Gauteng-based KNR Technologies to form KNR Flat Rock, graduated from SoftstartBTI in March this year following the merger and after 18 months with the incubator.
"We are very proud of Flat Rock's success," he enthuses. "The company has grown from a fledgling Cape Town-based concern into a thriving, significant player in the digital accessories industry in under two years and a big part of that was building an appropriate knowledge network."
Flat Rock's former MD and now marketing and business development director at KNR Flat Rock, Allan Wilson, agrees. "We approached SoftstartBTI because we'd recognised that Gauteng province was an important market for us to penetrate," he explains. "After assessing a number of options, we decided to make use of the network and resources that SBTI has to offer and base our satellite office at their headquarters in Midrand."
Wilson confirms that it was quite an easy decision to make. "We realised that SBTI would make a strong partner almost immediately; they extended their network to us right away and those early introductions proved extremely helpful and informative," he notes. "We also liked the fact that our staff would be working in such an exciting, technologically-oriented environment and the potential synergy between ourselves and several of the other young technology companies being incubated there."
Another aspect of the incubation process that Wilson identifies as significant was the mentoring they received during their 18-month residence. "Towards the end of our stay, the mentoring service there was really starting to gather momentum and the advice we received has proved tremendously beneficial," he observes. "The SBTI coaches added immediate value during our strategy and planning discussions and used the insight they gleaned to put us in touch with other organisations and people who could help."
Having recently graduated from the incubator and merged to strengthen its national footprint and influence in the mobile digital accessories industry, Wilson argues that Flat Rock is proof of the benefits of incubation and the support offered by SoftstartBTI.
"I see us very much as an alumnus of the organisation," he enthuses. "I am still in contact with the SBTI people and network and, once our merger with KNR has properly bedded down, I am keen to look at the other start-ups in our space that are being incubated there and see if there are ways we, in turn, can help them out."
He concludes by echoing Lourens' sentiment: "As our experiences so clearly illustrate, the networking and cross-pollination opportunities you are exposed to in an incubator of SBTI's calibre are exactly what you need as an entrepreneur."
Entrepreneurs interested in joining the SoftstartBTI community and taking advantage of the organisation's range of services and facilities should contact Simphiwe Mabaso (simphiwe@sbti.co.za) on (011) 695 4800 to arrange a meeting to discuss their plans.
Please note that SoftstartBTI is focused solely on the needs of start-up and early stage entrepreneurs in the ICT and electronics markets.
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SoftstartBTI is a real estate and networked technology incubator focused on the needs of early phase entrepreneurs in the ICT market. The incubator receives financial support from the Departments of Science and Technology, and Trade and Industry through the SEDA Technology Programme. SoftstartBTI supports hi-tech entrepreneurs in starting and growing their businesses by offering innovative products and services to the entrepreneurial community, backed by local and international partners and associates.
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