In this month’s incubator focus, we travel to the technology incubator of Medo – short for the Micro Enterprise Development Organisation. We spoke to Noluthando Tutani, the project manager at Medo to learn more about the incubator’s services. What is the name of your incubator? The incubator is called the Micro Enterprise Development Organisation (Medo)… [Continue Reading]
Do you read every edition of Small Business Connect? Interestingly, over 36% of readers get every edition of the newspaper. This is one of the preliminary findings of the still ongoing readership survey. The readership survey was published in the April edition of the newspaper, with more replies being captured daily. “While the final survey results… [Continue Reading]
Shanduka Black Umbrella’s incubation programme hopes to support small businesses, which generate around R3.6 billion in turnover and create 7 300 jobs over a 10-year period. We spoke to business owner Sam Sekgolea, who has successfully been through the rigorous application. What is your business name? Timekeeper Holdings. We distribute safety wear to government and… [Continue Reading]
Until recently, business incubation was a fairly new concept in South Africa. However, this landscape is fast-changing, with many corporations launching incubators and the Department of Trade and Industry supporting the establishment of many new incubators.This is the first offering in Small Business Connect’s ongoing focus on incubators and incubation. We spoke to Phindile Mthethwa, regional… [Continue Reading]
Did finance minister Pravin Gordhan deliver a good budget speech last month? You bet he did. By common consent and almost every conceivable measure, the finance minister positively shot the lights out. With very few goodies to hand out, and knowing that he dared not dip much further into the addictive but ultimately ruinous cookie… [Continue Reading]
Two Cape Town business owners were able to buy new machinery resulting in increased production and turnover thanks to the Enterprise Development Fund (EDF). The fund, launched late last year by the Western Cape Department of Economic Development and Tourism, is aimed at assisting business owners with funding to purchase goods and services needed to… [Continue Reading]
Pinky Matshaka attributes 80% of business support received by her startup business to services and referrals by The Business Place (TBP). However, had Matshaka not stumbled across an advertisement in a newspaper on business support services offered by TBP, she might not be flying off to a trade mission in Malaysia later this year. But,… [Continue Reading]
The development of our modern economy produced specific challenges over time that South African businesses are increasingly responding to, reports HUGH TYRELL. The economic system that runs our working lives – industrial capitalism – came into being over 250 years ago. At that time there was a lot fewer of us (about seven billion fewer)… [Continue Reading]
Like many organisations in the digital age, the Companies and Intellectual Property Commission (CIPC) has moved to offer subscribers and businesses a host of online services. As a result, the CIPC currently offer these online services: Registrations as a customer: Provides information on how to register as a customer (precursor to any filings with the… [Continue Reading]
Emails from intermediaries have been doing the rounds advising business owners that they will be deregistered or liable for extra fees if they do not file their annual returns with the Companies and Intellectual Property Commission (CIPC). According to Karin Coode, CIPC spokesperson, these emails should not be completely ignored even though it is possibly… [Continue Reading]
