Endeavour South Africa accelerator celebrates success rate at JSE

The Johannesburg Stock Exchange (JSE), in association with Endeavor South Africa, recently showcased the success rate of its early-stage, black-owned businesses — some of which have doubled their number of employees over two years.

Endeavor is an initiative which supports over 1 000 High-Impact Entrepreneurs from nearly 700 companies across the 23 markets where it operates. Over the last 10 years, it has identified and supported more than 60 high-growth entrepreneurs. It’s also developed the Excelerator programme, which works with black-owned businesses.

Selected founders for the Endeavor Excelerator Programme in 2012 gained access to a business road map, an advisory board, legal advice, access to investors and markets.

Selected for the programme in 2012, Mohlakoana Mokoena of Drift Brands, Ashley and Tania Mulligan of Kushesh; and Tsakani Mashaba of Michael Mikiala Men, were declared Endeavor Alumni in celebration of their success.

Mashaba said in a press release: “Being part of Endeavor is the best thing that entrepreneurs can do because it sharpens your business acumen. You also get to meet other entrepreneurs, so you do not feel alone.”

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Tania and Ashley Mulligan are extremely proud of their company’s 67% growth in turnover since joining the Endeavor Excelerator Programme in 2012. “Through Endeavor we have had great access to opportunities and have been able to meet people we would not have otherwise met,” says Tania.

Endeavor further believes in pushing these earlier-stage entrepreneurs to take their businesses to the point where they not only become Endeavor Entrepreneurs, but also Endeavor Board members and leading role models in the South African entrepreneurial space.

The core of the Endeavor model is mentorship, which means that Endeavor Entrepreneurs are supported by a network of world-class CEOs, business leaders, investors and academics in thinking bigger, making better decisions and multiplying their influence.