Access to the Right Technological Tools is a Key Enabler of #Solopreneurship @HuaweiZA

Hi Friends, 

Over the past decade, South Africa has seen a sharp increase in the number of people earning an income outside of formal employment. This is driven in part by our country’s high unemployment rate, which currently sits at 29.1%, and is also due to the global move towards a mobile workforce. Solopreneurship is a specific kind of self-employment and it relies heavily on technology. Different technological tools enable these individuals to run their operations from anywhere they choose and be gainfully rewarded for combining their creativity with technology.

What is a solopreneur?

The term ‘solopreneur’ is often mistaken for ‘entrepreneur’ but there is a key difference between these two terms. A solopreneur is an individual who singlehandedly manages his or her business. Whereas an entrepreneur can hire additional staff to work for them, a solopreneur works alone. Solopreneurs also usually run virtual businesses, providing services where their physical presence is not required, such as freelance writing, online learning, and software development.

App developers, who specialize in software creation and programming, are one of the most common types of solopreneurs. As software engineers, much of their time is dedicated to understanding software algorithms and codes. They create apps that perform specific tasks, address consumer pain points, or simply provide entertainment. App developers play an essential role in ensuring that technology can meet all of our rapidly developing needs as our world becomes more fast-paced.

Huawei is providing platforms that allow solopreneurs to thrive

The success of app developers is driven by their access to certain technological tools such as cloud storage, location services, and account login functionality. However, these tools can come at a great financial cost. It is for this reason that Huawei recently launched its developer programme globally as well as in South Africa, which gives developers access to use the Huawei Mobile Services (HMS) ecosystem to build mobile apps without the financial burden of paying for app building infrastructure. Globally, more than 1.07 million developers have registered in HMS Ecosystem, more than double the number of last year, giving these developers access to providing apps for Huawei’s 570 million active users.

HMS incorporates Huawei’s chip, device, and cloud capabilities and integrates a set of HMS core services (HMS Core), tools, and platforms for IDE development and testing, as well as HMS apps, including HUAWEI AppGallery, HUAWEI Browser, and HUAWEI Video. HMS, together with third-party apps and services on Huawei devices, forms the HMS Ecosystem, an intelligent mobile internet ecosystem.

A 360-degree approach to empowering app developers

HMS provides unified access to the distribution of apps for all devices, spurring developer innovation in the process. The HMS ecosystem features all-scenario capability openness, global smart distribution, full lifecycle operations management, and comprehensive incentive and support mechanisms, which form an important part of Huawei’s all-scenario intelligent ecosystem.

In order to encourage more developers to integrate qualitative apps to HMS Ecosystem, Huawei has now announced a global investment in its developer programme of $1 billion through its Shining Star Programme. The investment is targeted at incentivising and accelerating global developer innovation aiming to cover skills development and training, infrastructure and technical support as well as marketing support once the apps are published.

As people continue to make alternative work arrangements based on solopreneurship, technology will continue to shape the success of solopreneurs and help drive our economy. Initiatives such as the Huawei Developer Programme are essential in ensuring South Africans can thrive as tech solopreneurs.

App developers with a completed app can visit https://developer.huawei.com/consumer/en/, or contact the HUAWEI SA Business Development team on developersa@huawei.com to find out how HUAWEI can support them.

Cheers!!!

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The Holistic Entrepreneur - A Book by Jodene Shaer @JodeneCoZA #TheHolisticEntrepreneur

Hi Guys, 

When it comes to books about entrepreneurship, immediately names like Branson come to mind and in self-help it’s probably Louise Hay. However what would you do with a book that’s less about both and more about growth? Jodene Shaer, The Holistic Entrepreneur focuses on the aspects of success that most business guides overlook. She teaches her formula to conscious business, developed over twenty years of entrepreneurship. The book shares her tools to focusing on self-worth over net worth, replacing business models with intuition and strategy with striving for happiness.

In her book The Holistic Entrepreneur Jodene Shaer explains “You have an idea, you have the skills you have everything you need for a happy and successful business life. So what's stopping you?” In this book you'll learn the simple steps that will enable you to balance the demands of an entrepreneurial business lifestyle, with the need to nurture the person at the centre of it all - You.

• Your goal versus your purpose
• Your business plan versus your happiness plan
• Your financial worth versus your self-worth

“I was captivated and inspired by the narration, which is an invitation to be brave and allow the universe to bring back what I put out there. Herein you leave a legacy… we are forever thankful…” “Whether or not you see yourself as an entrepreneur, there will be something for you in this untraditional self-help book. It's a sensitive and empathetic road map for self-discovery." Sam Cowen – Author, Radio Host and TV Personality

“The stacks of unfinished books around the office and at home seem to grow continuously, but this clever book has found its way – thoroughly enjoyed and reread – to the top of the pile.” Rick Alan - MC and Director, The ProduXion House

Jodene Shaer is an entrepreneur at heart and an author and speaker by passion. Through her online social presence, she openly demonstrates what a life of courage, consciousness and a sense of humour looks like. She is a dedicated entrepreneur, with a holistic approach to business, money and success, which has generated a significant social media following and established her as one of South Africa’s recognised influencers. Follow Jodene on Facebook and Twitter . Visit http://jodeneshaer.com/ for more info. She is also sharing her daily vBlog on her facebook page and inspires you to take on a small challenge everyday in your own lives.

The Holistic Entrepreneur is available to purchase on Amazon and will be sold in select stores across SA. I have been part of some of her social media engagements with several clients since last three years and always her events are well planned and perfectly executed.  I am looking forward to read and learn from this book and I wish all the very best to Jodene!

 

Cheers!!!

 

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@SamsungSA #MixedTalents Competition #Winners Beat the Dragon’s Den

Hi Guys,

Samsung Electronics South Africa is proud to announce that three exceptional young entrepreneurs have triumphed in the company’s Launching People - Mixed Talents competition. Ten finalists undertook a ‘Dragon’s Den’ style grilling at the hands of six judges, to determine the winners, who received funding as well as other business support tools and services.

After undergoing a series of pitching their various concepts to the judges - Michelle Potgieter, Director for Brand and Communications at Samsung South Africa; Lisa Illingworth, Entrepreneurial Host and Journalist at Hot 91.9 FM; Ian Wright, Founder of METIME; GG van Rooyen, Deputy Editor of Entrepreneur Magazine; Fahmeeda Cassim-Surtee, Director of DStv Sales and Marketing; as well as Garth Gaffley, Owner of Garth Gaffley Consulting and Mixed Talents – three winners were ultimately chosen.

Kyle Dodds’ Cognition Online, which has developed an application designed for the tutoring industry and enables tutors, parents and students connect was the first winner announced. They were followed by Neo Hutiri’s Technovera Lockers, a smart locker designed to enable chronic patients to obtain their medicines securely, without having to wait in queues. The final winner was a mobile child safety seat designed by Trenton Carr.

According to Potgieter, the Mixed Talents initiative was born of a desire to have a positive impact on the high youth unemployment rate in the country.

“The Mixed Talents competition and Ideas Bank tool were designed to provide entrepreneurial youngsters with a forum to adequately express their ideas. Part of the global Samsung Launching People initiative, Mixed Talents offers local South African millennials a platform through which they can turn their entrepreneurial ideas into a reality. The ultimate goal is to make a real impact in youth unemployment in South Africa,” she says.

The three winners will each receive R50 000 in start-up capital, as well as access to over R 300 000 worth of invaluable business support tools from Samsung’s partners. This includes serviced office space for each organisation through Work Central and world-class coaching through Winning Edge.

“This is the second time we have created a platform for three entrepreneurs to take their business ideas to the next level through the Mixed Talents competition and the strength of the entries was even greater than during the previous wave. It is really exciting to see just how talented young South African minds are and how many unique ideas they have. It is important that corporates get behind start-ups like these and we would like to encourage other organisations to get actively involved in developing this type of entrepreneurship.”

According to Potgieter, the biggest take away from tonight for other young thought leaders is that if you have a vision, follow it through with passion and make it come true. To South African millennials, she adds that they have to follow their dreams and the Ideas Bank is still available to them as a tool to do so. “This is a means to help you launch your business and make your particular dream come true,” concludes Potgieter.

Cheers!!!

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Braving the Dragons: Giving Your Good Idea Some Wings #MixedTalents @SamsungSA

Hi Guys,

If you have a great business idea but don’t know how to take it further, Samsung’s Mixed Talents campaign is running a new competition aimed at young and aspiring entrepreneurs - officially opening to the public on 13 June 2016 and closing on 3 July 2016.

Following on from its previous competition earlier this year, which saw three winners each receiving R50 000 in start-up capital, as well as support from a training and mentorship programme, this competition is going to see ten finalists pitching their ideas to a panel of business experts in much the same manner as the popular ‘Dragons’ Den’ television programme.

This is according to Dr Michelle Potgieter, Director of Corporate Marketing and Communications at Samsung South Africa, who adds, “Earlier this year, Samsung Launching People, in partnership with METIME, unveiled the Ideas Bank - a way to turn your entrepreneurial ideas into a reality, and help address the issue of youth unemployment in South Africa. Samsung created this technological platform for young local entrepreneurs, offering them an opportunity to voice their ideas and link them to expert partners for guidance.”

“Now once again, we invite young entrepreneurs to visit the Mixed Talents Ideas Bank, hosted by METIME, to find out how to take their ideas further and stand the chance of winning an amazing prize that has both monetary and mentorship components.”

Potgieter goes on to explain that the prizes offered for the latest local Mixed Talents competition will include another Trade Safe grant giveaway to three promising young entrepreneurs, who will each receive R 50 000 to help launch their business dream. “In addition, winners will be given access to over R 300 000 worth of invaluable business support tools from our partners, such as serviced office space for each organisation through Work Central and world-class coaching through Winning Edge.”

Potgieter continues, “To enter the competition, new users are invited to visit the Ideas Bank web application and submit their entrepreneurial ideas or aspirations. New users will need to build a professional profile to source the relevant support or information to take their idea or business to the market. Existing users should make sure that they polish and update their profile on the Ideas Bank, also completing new fields that have been added.” 

With the ideas loaded, a team of business experts will scrutinize them and select ten finalists. Potgieter says, “The shortlist of finalists will be announced on 13 July and invited to present at a ‘Dragons’ Den’ style grand finale, taking place on 22 July.”

During this event - which borrows its theme from the popular television program in which budding entrepreneurs are able to share their ideas with a team of business experts who are prepared to reward the best idea - a panel of Samsung Mixed Talents experts and partners will choose the three winners.

“One of the distinguishing characteristics of the competition is that promising entrepreneurs are able to get real guidance and support by simply presenting an idea. In contrast, most business incubators stipulate that the entrepreneur needs to have actually established their business. We are extremely excited at the opportunity to offer another three entrepreneurs the chance to turn their idea into a business reality,” concludes Potgieter. 

For more information on the campaign visit: www.launchingpeople.co.za and follow #MixedTalents

Cheers!!!

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The Evolving #Toolkit of the #Entrepreneur #MixedTalents @SamsungSA

Hi Guys,

Entrepreneurs can be defined as those who take capital and use it to make more, generally employing others during the process. Currently, entrepreneurialism is one of the key areas of focus in the drive to reduce high levels of unemployment locally. The urgency of this issue has been reiterated following recent reports by Statistics South Africa, which indicates this year’s first quarter unemployment rates in the country to have risen sharply to 26.7% of the work force. 

With the introduction of new technologies and initiatives, young business people are now able to access a world of innovative tools that were previously unheard of in order to create much needed opportunities. Mere decades ago, those with new ideas for business generally started small, with access to limited opportunities for funding. Aside from taking on the challenge of competing with larger, more established organisations, entrepreneurs of the recent past were required to physically engage with potential investors, partners and mentors. This was often carried out by way of knocking on doors, investing countless precious hours in securing and travelling to meetings. 

The emergence of the Internet and access to modern technology has led to a plethora of new ventures and entrepreneurs who have found easier ways to do business by making use digital communication. In today’s world, entrepreneurial undertakings and technology tend to be intrinsically connected. 

This is according to Michelle Potgieter, Director of Corporate Marketing and Communications at Samsung SA, who says, “Technology today can be used by entrepreneurs both as the focus of their talents and also as a tool that encourages and aids innovation. A creative and key example of a modern tool for South African entrepreneurs is the recently unveiled Samsung Launching People: Mixed Talents solution.”

The Samsung Mixed Talents campaign invites young local entrepreneurs to make use of a technological platform created to offer them a mouthpiece for voicing their ideas and connecting to expert partners for mentorship and guidance. This resource hub is powered by an innovative Ideas Bank, which was created by the Mixed Talents expert team and further developed in partnership with METIME, an online start-up company that facilitates job creation and operates differently to normal employment models. 

Ian Wright, co-founder of METIME, says, “Technology and the modern devices we have access to can act as the most amazing tools of progression. However, the true importance lies ultimately in how the entrepreneur uses the tool. For example, today’s technology is a critical tool for entrepreneurs in their endeavours to access funding and information, as well as communicate with potential partners and mentors. This is what the Ideas Bank is all about.”

Wright says the Ideas Bank helps people to promote their business and skills using a social media mindset within a business context. “The site allows users to categorise themselves in one of three different ways – as a sponsor (investor), an employer or a consultant (coach) – and from day to day, users can change their on-site definition of themselves depending on the need at the time. 

“A sponsor is somebody who offers themselves as an enabler for another person’s work idea. An employer could be anyone who has a particular need for a particular service, while a consultant offers their time and talents to others. This multi-dimensional characterisation means that users are able to present themselves in different ways at different times and transforms the job-seeking from knocking on doors, both literally and metaphorically, highlighting just one aspect at a time.”

Wright says that the database’s information is not prescriptive. “Those on our system will tell the community what they need. From the customisation of their specific requirements we are seeing and noting new trends to start working with. For example, we have already seen a trend of building up the informal trader and are looking at potential matches in this arena from differing needs across the database.” 

“Given enough real help and guidance, successful entrepreneurs can ultimately impact the economy of a country in significant ways,” says Wright. “In today’s tech-driven world, the Samsung Mixed Talents platform is of tremendous help to young South African entrepreneurs. But, in our opinion, this is just the beginning.”

Potgieter concludes by explaining that the true benefit to entrepreneurs does not lie in any one piece of technology that Samsung develops. “Samsung’s greatest value lies in its approach to building a solution that can be used by those who have been looking for it and truly need it. We believe this ideology – of sharing ideas and resources - lies at the heart of how the world will work in the future and how we will combat unemployment going forward, thus ultimately facilitating the growth of our country’s economy as well as its population’s wealth and social security.”

For more information on the campaign or to register, visit: www.launchingpeople.co.za and follow #MixedTalents

Cheers!!!

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@TotalSAfrica StartUpper Of The Year #2016 #TotalStartUpper #Entrepreneurs

Hi Guys,

Total South Africa launched a program name Startupper of the Year last year in October 2015 and invited applications from all over Africa Continent to submit their business ideas. They never knew the money they are investing in this program will change the lives of so many people. They never knew that they will receive 24000 ideas which can have some business potential. Then began the scrutiny to harness the power of those ideas and bringing the best ones to Johanneburg for a detailed weekly workshops to make it possible. The commitment shown by Total to bring forward all these people from all over Africa and giving them a platform to bring their ideas to reality was simply superb. That's not something I am saying but  it was said by one of the top 3 winners of this year's contest. 

Top 3 Winner along with Top 10 Finalists and Total Executives

As they say, Ideas are important but execution can only make it a reality. I am hoping that all these winners are definitely going to inspire thousands and thousands of other people around the world just like the Patron chosen for this program by Total. Mr. Siyabulela Xuza, MD Galactic Energy Ventures & Startupper Challenge Patron himself got inspired by an aeroplane flying over his village in South Africa. He started at a very young age learning and experimenting with chemistry from her mother's kitchen and went on to study at Harvard University in United States. At  just near 27 years of age, he has achieved something we can't achieve in our lifetimes. 

Winner - Bathabile Mpofu had some tears of joy and winning!

I had the privilege of attending both the launch event and Awards ceremony and I could feel the difference from a nervous start worrying about whether this program will be successful or not to a satisfied soul which was happy to bring change to the top chosen winners and others among the top 10 ideas coming from all parts of the country. 

The Grand finale was held at Hyatt Regency, Rosebank which is right in the heart of the Johannesburg city and the venue, food, decor and hospitality was amazing. It was great evening of fun, laughter and some dreams getting fulfilled and each one has inspiration to take home from the event. 

The energy level of all the top executives (Ms. Dolly Mokgatle Chairman TSA Board; Mr Christian Des Closiere MD & CEO, TSA & Vice President, Southern Africa; Mr. Momar Nguer, Senior VP, AMO and many others) from TOTAL for the this program is simply breathtaking as they totally believed in the motto of COMMITTED TO BETTER ENERGY and entrepreneurship is that energy which will take Africa forward and bring the best in all of us. 

Cheers!!!

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@SamsungSA Launching People #MixedTalents Campaign #Entrepreneurs

Hi Guys, 

Technology has the power to push people forward and spark innovation. More than that, technology has the power to unite people, fostering an environment to create solutions that are not only innovative in functionality, but also serve important social purposes. It is through such mediums that start-ups can find differentiation, become impactful and are grown sustain-ably. 

These are the thoughts of Michelle Potgieter, Director of Corporate Marketing and Communications at Samsung SA, who said “platforms which spark conversation are critical for the mixing of ideas and talents which ultimately lead to innovation.” Adding further she said, “Once you have innovation and technology contributing to business growth, especially in emerging markets such as our own, entrepreneurs have a greater chance of operating in these tough environments.”

South Africa has one of the highest unemployment rates globally, which is continuing to rise, according to the recently released Quarterly Labour Force Survey (QLFS)**. From the survey results, the national unemployment rate in the second quarter of 2015 was 25.5%. The figure is especially high amongst the youth, currently standing at 36%. 

Based on these insights, Samsung identified an opportunity to create a technological platform that would serve to tackle and alleviate unemployment. This innovative offering was created in the form of a web-based tool that could look to change the makeup of how our economic structure, by offering entrepreneurs a mouthpiece to voice their ideas. 

Samsung approached Carol Koffman, a senior manager at Deloitte, and Jonathan Liebmann, the entrepreneur behind the rejuvenation of the Maboneng precinct, with the offer of being campaign experts that would engage with and mentor millennial business owners. 

In order to structure their approach, Carol and Jonathan conducted workshops, where groups of educated, unemployed young South Africans were asked about their opinions on the topic of unemployment. These workshop discussions allowed the millennials to share frustrations around starting their own business and the lack of opportunities and resources available to them.

Over a series of 8 workshops, Carol and Jonathan collaborated to find possible ways to address the issue of unemployment among South African youth. These workshops were published on Samsung’s various digital media platforms to increase awareness of the project. 

“We had to start somewhere as the problem is so big. It became clear that the youth we need to target are the ones that are leaving school at a tertiary level and are entering urban areas,” said Koffman. 

The final solution developed and revealed by Carol and Jonathan is a resource hub for entrepreneurs, essentially functioning as a “one-stop shop” for any and all requirements entrepreneurs would have. These include advice and direction on areas such as proposal writing, CV development, ideas-pitching to business, collaborations on new ideas, mentoring and coaching, on-the-job experience and access to funding, among many other areas of need. 

The hub is powered by an innovative Ideas Bank, which filters and vets entrepreneurial ideas according to type, industry, nature of impact and others, and then channels and matches these to the right business partner, coach, funder or business collaborations. 

It is therefore a truly collaborative, dynamic and open source, owned by the contributors and entrepreneurs themselves. Moreover, because it is on an integrated platform, the data that will be extracted will assist in influencing policy makers and leaders in entrepreneurial development.

In order to implement the “Ideas Bank” and eventually expand on the concept, Carol and Jonathan, with the support of Samsung, partnered with METIME, an online start-up company that specialises in creating employment opportunities. Their values and vision were perfectly aligned with Launching People’s key focus of alleviating the unemployment crisis in South Africa.

Although the full METIME solution will only roll out in June 2016, the BETA phase was successfully launched in February 2016. A group of millennials were chosen to submit their ideas that were vetted by a panel of experts, including our expert pair. Three applicants were selected, each receiving R50 000 in start-up capital and mentorship support to help kick-start their business dreams. 

“The team at Samsung is very proud of this initiative, as we see the development of our youth as a critical component to the future success of this country. We encourage all millennials with bright ideas to come forward and use the platform. South Africans are naturally innovative and are leaders in entrepreneurial initiatives – we as corporates need to develop and nurture these talents,” concluded Potgieter.

For more information on the campaign visit: www.launchingpeople.co.za and follow #MixedTalents on Twitter. 

*Samsung commissioned Masutane Consulting Services to conduct online research into over 300 young South Africans from ages 18 – 35 to gauge their perceptions on a range of issues. The research was entitled “Project Youth Debrief”.

**The QLFS was released by Statistics South Africa for the second quarter of 2015.

Cheers!!!

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