Fail fast, succeed faster: Lean Startup Machine finally kicks-off in Joburg

In the spirit of startup education, this weekend the popular 48-hour workshop for startups is kicking off in Johannesburg, South Africa from 31 October to 2 November.

The Lean Startup Machine (LSM) launched earlier this year in Cape Town with much success and inspiration.

The initiative is supported by the likes of Standard Bank, Microsoft Ventures and Elance, and mentored by Professor Barry Dwolatzky, director of the Joburg Centre for Software Engineering (JCSE) and founder of TechInBraam.

Revolving around the methodology, fail fast and succeed faster, the three-day event involves workshops, speakers, lunches and networking.

The philosophy behind LSM teaches you a process for discovering which products will succeed in the marketplace and which won’t. LSM is described as an immersive, 48-hour educational experience, not a conference and not a hackathon.

Some of the key speakers at SML Johannesburg include investor Vije Vijendranath from Vimage Media, founder of Wingnuts Consulti Craig Wing, managing director of Quirk Justin Spratt, Gustav Praekelt from the Praekelt Foundation and the CEO and founder of WordStart, Mongezi Mtati.

As reported by IT Online, Prof Dwolatzky says that this is a major step for local startups:

I am delighted be involved in the event and look forward to supporting participants as they work through the steps of developing a business model. This is a critical step as only then do participants start moving forward with their respective businesses.

Referring to the tech hub Tshimologong Precinct, Dwolatzky says it’s the culmination of the JCSE’s objective to create a nucleus for digital technology innovation on the continent. “The Tshimologong Precinct is destined to become Joburg’s major digital tech hub,” he boasts. “We promote best practice, tools and methodologies, blended with professional experience from the sector to grow South Africa’s ability to deliver world-class innovative digital technology through research and training.”

For more information visit Lean Startup Machine Johannesburg or Tshimologong Precinct.