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Ronan Steyn has a love for all things technology, with a particular focus on startups, gadgets and games. When not writing the good write, he can be found making films or purveying the latest gadget, game or film. At night he attempts an MA in Screenwriting at UCT. A firm believer that video is the future of the web, he hopes to be at the forefront of online multimedia in Africa.
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"If this elevator goes down, so does the Cape Town VC industry." That's what Justin Stanford, co-founder of investment management group 4Di and 4Di Capital, told fellow Venture Capital investor, Keet van Zyl a few years ago on the way to an event. That's how small the VC space is in the Cape.
Speaking to the Net Prophet 2013 audience Stanford, who is also the co-founder of the Silicon Cape initiative, spoke of the current state of the Cape Town VC ...
"The idea will not make you rich", Andre de Wet, GM of PriceCheck, told the Net Prophet 2013 audience.
Hearing that might make you think that the opposite - hard work - is the solution to running a successful business. While not refuting the importance of both those ideas, the GM of PriceCheck offered another viewpoint.
"The reason why it takes so long to be an overnight success is the journey inside: to want it not because of money, but because you're ...
SleepOut - Kenya's leading online accommodation marketplace announced today that it has raised approximately US$200 000 in seed funding, intended to finance expansion across Africa and the Middle East.
The site, which allows users to find, offer and book accommodation, launched its BETA site in June 2012. Leading the funding round for the Nairobi-based company was Africa Media Ventures Fund (AMVF) coming out of Amsterdam.
Lot Carlier, Managing Partner at AMVF remarked, "We are truly excited to embark on this venture. As ...
Seed accelerator 88mph's Nairobi director Nikolai Barnwell spoke to Ventureburn about its upcoming three-month acceleration programme in the Kenyan capital: what they look for in a startup, mentors and the African investment space. Whether you're an entrepreneur considering entering the programme, or just interested in tech in Kenya and Africa, you won't want to miss this Q&A.
What does 88mph value in a startup? Are you looking for innovation or sound business models?
I don’t think they necessarily contradict each other. More ...
There's no rest for the weary with startup accelerator 88mph. Right off the bat of closing its 2013 Cape Town incubation programme, the accelerator is moving to Kenya for its Nairobi leg, and applications are now open.
The three-month programme gives winning applicants up to an US$100 000 investment, as well as access to business networks to quickly grow their business ideas into fully realised marketable and scalable companies.
88mph's strategy has been, and will be for the foreseeable future, ...
Prodigy Finance is a fascinating company. It takes elements of micro-lending, as well as some proprietary risk-assessment practices, and applies them to MBA students seeking out funding. The result is effectively a loan network comprising of top MBA students, and alumni (the investors) from around the world -- including high net-worth individuals from emerging markets -- who can invest in their region's future business leaders.
Founded by South Africans Cameron Stevens (CEO), and Ryan Steele (COO), the company is a registered ...
Coinciding with African Utility Week taking place in Cape Town later this month, US energy company Symbion Power has taken strides to invest in the power sectors in South Africa and Nigeria which builds on its presence in Tanzania, and cements its interest in the continent as an investment destination.
Symbion's expansion in Africa appears to take advantage of a growing demand for power on the continent, as well as the privatisation of power generation and power distribution, affording huge market ...
If you consider yourself an entrepreneur - someone with an adept business acumen, an affinity for risk-taking and developing ideas into marketable, scalable companies - then you probably haven't considered entering the hit reality television show The X Factor. Well one show you should consider entering is its spin-off competition, Entrepreneur 'X' Factor, which promises to appreciate your skill-set, and give you an opportunity to fast-track your business idea.
Brought to you by "transformational coaching and events company" Rock Your Life, ...
At first glance you might not think there is much in common between the film industry and tech startups. I'm here to tell you differently. Both industries have their own set of challenges, whether you're starting out, or refining your craft/company down the line. I'm not here to tell you that one is tougher than the other, but rather that startups can learn from the parallels between them.
Each member must know their 'craft'
In the film industry you have ...
The pitch deck. An under-appreciated animal. The visual 'powerpoint' that accompanies a startup's pitch often doesn't get the time it deserves, but visually presenting your business model and market-strategy in an efficient way to potential investors is key to winning them over. After all venture capitalists and angel investors are busy people. Luckily there's a company in the USA that wants to help you with this.
Born in Austin, Texas, Investor Pitches is a company that not only builds pitch decks ...
