Ideate

Biznetworking on Global Entrepreneurship Week

by Fred on 03/11/09 at 3:49 pm
2 comments

Do you get the feeling that a tide is turning in South Africa? Something is inspiring the thinkers, the leaders and the captains of industry to punch above their weight. Inspiring entrepreneurs is what Ideate is all about, and now, we’re stoked about Global Entrepreneurship Week that’s happening later this month.

Part of the reason Ideate exists is because we (Andrew, Shane and myself) realised that the best way we could contribute to SA’s resurgence into the global economy is by inspiring entrepreneurs. Consider that in developed countries, approx 80% of the national workforce is employed by small to medium businesses. During South Africa’s transition into a free nation, this figure was around 25%. We’re now moving past 50%, which is a very healthy sign indeed.

So, get your diaries open now and mark the week of the 16th to 22nd of November. In the middle of Global Entrepreneurship Week, on the 18th November FNB and Endeavor is hosting “The Entrepreneurial Journey” (click here to book your seat), and on the 19th November, a summit for entrepreneurs to gather, network and listen to world-class speakers.

“We are thrilled to have the likes of Adrian Gore, Hlumelo Biko, Alec Hogg and Mike Herrington on the panels, along with other key stakeholders, decision-makers and successful South African entrepreneurs. The discussions arising out of these panels will be captured in a multi-authored White Paper that will cover key issues and propose innovative solutions to drive a dynamic culture of entrepreneurship in South Africa,” explains Malik Fal, MD of Endeavor SA.

The Summit will also see the official launch of the South Africa Fast Growth 100 list. Founded by AllWorld Network, Professor Michael Porter of the Harvard Business School and Endeavor SA, this initiative will identify and rank the country’s fastest-growing entrepreneurial companies and in so doing, map the South African entrepreneurial landscape.

We’ve just seen the launch of Silicon Cape. We’re seeing digital entrepreneurs gathering at events like the Heavy Chef Sessions, and banks like FNB take entrepreneurship REALLY seriously (check out FNB’s awesome BizNetwork initiative here). Endeavor South Africa, of which I am a candidate, is starting to take off, with eminent figures such as Cheryl Nesbit and Vinny Lingham stamping their mark on the entrepreurial landscape.

So, yes, the tide truly is turning. Recession or no recession; are you ready to catch the next wave?

Keen to attend the Summit? The State of Entrepreneurship Summit is open to  big business, entrepreneurial enterprises, academia, government, entrepreneur support organisations, the media, and financial and venture capital institutions. The delegate fee of R500 includes a three-course sit-down gala lunch. Tickets can be purchased by contacting Mary Brooks or phone here at +27 11 884 4145. You can also book for the The Entrepreneurial Journey by clicking here.

Fred Roed is the marketing guy in the Ideate crew. He runs a web marketing company called World Wide Creative and loves writing about people out there doing marketing right. View more articles by Fred.

Tags: biznetwork, Business Ideas, entrepreneurial thinking, fnb

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