Asivuke wakes up spirit of entrepreneurship
ALEXANDRA – Lupiya’s advice to small businesses seeking growth was to be disciplined, coupled with an understanding of their industry.
More than 20 fledgling businesses in Alexandra have been taken under the wing of Asivuke Enterprise Development Programme as part of an initiative to wake up the spirit of entrepreneurship in the township.
Alexbiz, which is a network grouping of small businesses in the township, has partnered with Standard Bank under the Asivuke banner in which the bank has committed to sponsoring the year-long mentorship programme as part of a drive to grow the businesses.
Alexbiz co-founder Thabiso Sebata said his organisation has committed to taking the entrepreneurs that harbour different ambitions from different businesses with different goals by hand and walking the 12-month developmental journey with them step by step.
Standard Bank’s enterprise development managers, Duduzile Mathabela and Bongani Lukhele spoke about the goal of the partnership which was to grow small black businesses and also hook them up with markets for their products through networking sessions that they described as a vital component of any business’ growth strategy.
“Besides access to markets, we will also endeavour to connect the entrepreneurs to funding possibilities. We want the entrepreneurs to map out their own growth road that leads to where they would like to take their businesses to,” Mathabela said.
Mollen Mukuze, a director at Brendmo Accountants, told the entrepreneurs at the launch of the programme about the importance of document-keeping, not just for Sars, but for the business as well.
“Whoever you are going to meet, whether it’s a potential funder, market person or business partner, they will all need documents to back up your story or to track your business development etc.,” she said.
Sandton-based Enterprise Upscalers’ Carol Lupiya, who was also the MC of the launch programme at Ikemeleng Youth Centre, said her company deals with growing businesses, its revenue, productivity and access to funding and markets.
Her advice to small businesses seeking growth was to ensure they are disciplined, coupled with an understanding of the industry they are in and a willingness to learn. “If they have all these elements and are able to identify where opportunities lie, then growth will be their oyster,” Lupiya concluded.
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