SAB KickStart announces KZN finalists

The finalists are Sboniso Mtshali of Afronic Data, Mthandeni Ngidi of Hlobane Waste Management, and Sicelo Mzimela of Ilanga Elihle, trading as Tender Taste.

They were selected from a group of 60 candidates across the country who completed a two-week long business training programme facilitated for the first time by the University of Pretoria's Gordon Institute of Business (GIBS) where they were schooled on how to develop an effective business plan for their start-up.

Focus on development

The SAB KickStart model was recently re-engineered to focus more on developing and supporting sustainable businesses and high impact entrepreneurs who are able to make a contribution to South Africa's job creation needs.

The KZN SAB KickStarters businesses will undergo a thorough needs analysis to help define a growth strategy for each. This strategy on turn will inform the seed capital awarded to each business of between R100,000 and R200,000, as well as the programme and terms of their business mentorship over the coming months.

During the year-long participation in the programme, interventions will help move each business from start-up to growth phase. The KZN SAB KickStarters will be part of a national group of finalist for the final awards ceremony in late 2014 where the top three entrepreneurs are announced after being selected by a group of independent adjudicators.