These are FNB’s 2016 Business Innovation Awards finalists

FNB has announced the finalists of its 2016 Business Innovation Awards, supported by Endeavor. The finalists are competing for an all-expenses-paid trip to attend the prestigious Endeavor International Selection Panel (ISP) in Boston.

The awards aim to recognise true innovation excellence, whilst emphasising the importance of business scalability – a significant driver of sustainable employment opportunities.

The finalists are:

• Trevor Wolfe and Remon Geyser of delvv.io
• Melvyn Lubega and Andrew Barnes of Go1
• Graham Rowe and Richard Johnson of Guidepost
• Paul De Kock, Dennis Marketos and Paul Marketos of IsoMetrix
• Erik Oosthuizen and Gareth Farrow of Kliq Holdings
• David Shapiro and Jonathan Shapiro of LESCO manufacturing
• Catherine Lückhoff of NicheStreem
• Scott Sargent and Stuart Prior of Rhino Wood
• Toni Glass of The Toni Glass Collection
• Kirsty Chadwick of The Training Room Online
• Bevan Ducasse of wiGroup

“We believe that innovation is a key component of business success, in terms of longevity, growth, and scalability,” says Nicole Sykes, Strategic projects, FNB Business. “This is in line with our philosophy of creating a better world through high-quality job creation. This belief laid the foundation for the creation of the awards.

“Without innovation, no business can compete successfully, whether on a local or global stage. What we have seen with the awards is that both new and established businesses can benefit, because they are challenged to think bigger. This mindset can only benefit businesses and the overall economy in the long run.”

“The trip to Boston will allow the winner to pitch their business to the Endeavor International Selection Panel, which consists of a credible panel of global business leaders,” says Nolu Nghala, Portfolio Manager, Endeavor, South Africa. “The winner will rub shoulders with peers from around the world, be recognised internationally, and could walk away with the prestigious title of Endeavor Entrepreneur.”

Finalists are chosen based on the scalability of the business, and the business idea is as important as the business owner in terms of the assessment. Three selection criteria hold sway, development impact, business innovation, and the fit with FNB and Endeavor.

The winner will be chosen over two days on 7 and 8 June, with the announcement at the gala event to follow on 9 June.