Telecoms giant, MTN has geared its focus toward accelerating startups through their first ever Digital Entrepreneur Masterclass.
The first masterclass is to be held on 27 October 2016 in Johannesburg and will equip entrepreneurs with the necessary skills and insights into running a successful digital business.
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“The Digital Entrepreneur Masterclass is part of MTN Business’ objective of enabling SA’s entrepreneurs to harness technology to compete effectively and grow sustainably,” said general manager of enterprise sales at MTN Business SA, David Mphelo.
“As a proudly South African company, we have stepped up our initiatives across the board to encourage innovation, build a partner ecosystem that supports local business, and empower entrepreneurs,” he continued.
The masterclasses won’t be taking place in Johannesburg only, as future plans have been made to bring them to other major centres across SA. The goal of the Digital Entrepreneur Masterclass is to not only impart knowledge and skills but to also challenge entrepreneurs and their thinking.
MTN’s Digital Entrepreneur Masterclass is a first for the telecoms giant
A part of the curriculum will be based on the findings of the 2016 National Small Business Survey released by the National Small Business Chamber (NSBC).
The survey had some notable findings, revealing that 76% of SMEs younger than five years experienced stunted growth due to lack of funding and poor cash flow.
Participating entrepreneurs will also have the opportunity to view available solutions from MTN Business as well as their technology partners which include Samsung, Huawei, Hisense, Lenovo, Sony and Blackberry. They will also be able to network with industry partners such as NSBC, IDC and National Gazelles.
“In our ongoing partnerships with entrepreneurs, we have found that it is not enough to offer industry-leading digital solutions and services — we need to provide them with tools that will empower them to successfully compete in the market space,” concluded Mphelo.
