#TEA hosts Township Business Innovation Summit at Tembisa church

Business people and youth in and around Tembisa flocked to the Tembisa Christian Family Church in Hospital View during the fourth annual Township Business Innovation Summit.

The event, under the theme Entrepreneurship in the Fourth Industrial Revolution, was convened by the Township Entrepreneurs Alliance (TEA) for over two days on November 16 and 17.

Twenty-three speakers addressed the people. They included established entrepreneurs, high profile businesses and influencers across Gauteng and Sibusiso Leepo of Massiv Metro, Gareth Cliff (founder of Cliff Central), Lebo Gunguluza (founder and executive of Gunguluza Entreprises Media) and Teboho Mafodi (chairman Group of TM Group and Property Investor) just to name a few.

Various local businesses exhibited their products.

The day consisted of a series of panel discussions and the speakers (entrepreneurs) shared their journeys, failures and setbacks, how they managed to bounce back and how entrepreneurs need to get onto the train and understand how it affects their businesses.

There was also an opportunity for the locals to network and meet fellow entrepreneurs and engage with key industry players.

Dumisani Basina, project manager at TEA, said TEA is a platform that unites township entrepreneurs and develop entrepreneurial skills.

“We are working on a 40-year goal to move the township to its richest in the business market. And we want Tembisa youth to take advantage of this project as it is based in their community. The summit was an exceptional success,” added Basina. “During TEA sessions, we bring in various entrepreneurs and discuss challenges, success and network and bring in high profile speakers to share their experiences and support our people on how to develop their businesses.”

Meanwhile, local business person and entrepreneur, Thulani Ntshuntshe, founder of Five Star Fire, said often times when people talk about entrepreneurship they show you the colourful side of it and leave out the difficulties.

“It is important to know and understand what business is and to know what you want. To run a successful business you need to be a good leader and how I define good leadership is when you have a vision that is deeply rooted in purpose and conviction. And I say vision because if you don’t know where you are going then there is no way you are going to reach the destination. And I would say purpose, because if you are only doing it for money then you are certainly missing the point and conviction because you genuinely have to believe in it,” said Ndunje.

Local motivation speaker and author, Sibusiso Joshua Molemi, encouraged up-coming entrepreneurs and business people to do what they can and use what they have and invest in themselves.

“We have the privilege to access to information and relevant public figures or individuals. Our people should try to use anything in their surroundings to make it in business but most importantly be patient and take it one step at a time,” said Molemi.

Molemi encouraged young people who are abusing drugs and alcohol to build a strong relationship with God and eventually they will be saved from the habit that is tormenting them.