Aspiring SA entrepreneurs acquire essential skills, funding to kick-start new ventures

<!-- wp:heading {"level":3} --><h3>Business Partners Limited announces winners of annual national Business Plan Competition</h3><!-- /wp:heading --><!-- wp:paragraph --><p>According to the Global Entrepreneurship Monitor (GEM) 2020/2021, having confidence in one’s own abilities, together with the courage to overcome the possibility of failure are critically important factors in determining whether aspiring entrepreneurs take steps to put their ideas into practice. To address these and other challenges, the <em>SME Toolkit-Business Partners Ltd Business Plan Competition for Aspiring Entrepreneurs</em> provides critical skills training to help build an active and thriving SME sector.</p><!-- /wp:paragraph --><!-- wp:paragraph --><p>The competition, which is run by business financier Business Partners Limited, is now in its 12th consecutive year and is dedicated to providing aspiring entrepreneurs with the tools they need to get their business off the ground. All entrants have the opportunity to learn how to start a business through free training, access to mentorship and the opportunity to win a cash prize to help fund their business.</p><!-- /wp:paragraph --><!-- wp:paragraph --><p>After a grueling judging process, Zama Ngwenya, the owner of a newly established seasoning and spice business, has won the&nbsp;<em>2021</em>&nbsp;<em>SME Toolkit-Business Partners Ltd Business Plan Competition for Aspiring Entrepreneurs</em>, after beating out 510 entrants.&nbsp;</p><!-- /wp:paragraph --><!-- wp:paragraph --><p>Ngwenya, who previously owned a shuttle tour business, started Zama’s Choice Spices &amp; Herbs after Covid-19 and the associated lockdowns forced her to close her tourism business down. But now, after taking the top spot in the competition, she’s been given a second chance at entrepreneurship with a R30 000 mentorship voucher and R30 000 in seed capital.&nbsp;</p><!-- /wp:paragraph --><!-- wp:paragraph --><p>Through her online spices and herbs wholesale business, Ngwenya now sells her products nationally and has plans to approach local retailers to stock her spices. “I’m an entrepreneur by birth. And my dream has always been to create jobs and grow a business. The pandemic threw me a curveball but I’m grateful to be back in business with my new venture and excited to be going back to my roots in food service management,” says Ngwenya.</p><!-- /wp:paragraph --><!-- wp:paragraph --><p>David Morobe, the Executive General Manager for Impact investing at Business Partners Limited said Ngwenya is a true inspiration and the epitome of resilience. “Most entrepreneurs only take one leap to start their own business, but Zama is an incredible exception. Despite all the challenges that have been thrown her way, she has come out on top, and we couldn’t be more pleased that she’s our 2021 winner,” comments Morobe.</p><!-- /wp:paragraph --><!-- wp:paragraph --><p>The competition called for aspiring entrepreneurs of all ages to enter, saw entrants of a very high calibre with impressive ideas across the board. The first runner up spot was taken by Christopher Lodi and Tshepo Nosi, who together run Nodi’s Lifestyle, an entertainment venue in Tweefontein, Mpumalanga. The venue will be decorated in the colourful and vibey Ndebele community colours, and the restaurant will offer a unique foodie experience with a fusion of traditional Shisanyama fare and a cosmopolitan menu that is made for socialising.&nbsp;</p><!-- /wp:paragraph --><!-- wp:paragraph --><p>Bankies Matlou, owner of Bontle Sanitary Towels, a start-up business dedicated to providing natural and long-lasting sanitary wear solutions to lower income and developing communities scooped the second runner up title. Matlou and his team are passionate about empowering women and young girls, ensuring they will never be limited by their monthly menstrual cycle.&nbsp;</p><!-- /wp:paragraph --><!-- wp:paragraph --><p>Other notable entrants included:&nbsp;Jamie Wilks of Wilks Vision,&nbsp;Tshepang Electrician’s Tshidiso Travolta Lebaka, Mohlolo Katsana of Independent ICT Consultant and Arnold Visagie of AEJ Logistics.</p><!-- /wp:paragraph --><!-- wp:paragraph --><p>Morobe concluded by saying: “Each year, I am more and more impressed by the quality of entrepreneurs in our country, and the resilience demonstrated by these dynamic businesspeople is both encouraging and inspiring.&nbsp;</p><!-- /wp:paragraph --><!-- wp:paragraph --><p>“Through our competition, we at Business Partners Limited, are playing our role in the collective responsibility that the public and private sectors must play in creating an economic and social environment that is conducive to the development of entrepreneurs and their ventures – and we urge other businesses to do the same.”&nbsp;&nbsp;</p><!-- /wp:paragraph -->