Looking to get into the South African startup scene or catch up on some of your skills? Well, you’ve come to the right place. There are loads of competitions, networking sessions and workshops happening around South Africa and the rest of the continent (namely Kenya, Nigeria and Ghana) that we’ve rounded up to make your life a bit easier.
This article is part of a weekly series that highlights all the top startup competitions, networking sessions, workshops and conferences around South Africa, and the greater region. If you have any event recommendations for us to add to the list, or next week’s, please let us know in the comments below or send us an email.
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Not all of the events are free and some will require booking in advance. Please click on the event names to find out more information.
Cape Town
The pitch night is a platform for entrepreneurs to practice pitching in front of local angel investors. The judges include Karen Eksteen from the Technology Innovation Agency (TIA), Stuart Loxton of the Ocean Star Academy and Graeme Wiley of GSB Entrepreneurship.
Date: 11 April 2017, 6pm to 7:30pm
Location: UCT Graduate School of Business, 9 Portswood Road, Learning Lab, MTN Solution Space, Cape Town, WC 8002
Weekly Breakfast Networking Meeting
This networking event hosted by Business Networking International (BNI) welcomes all entrepreneurs to join a group of 30 business owners to build stronger relationships and networks relating to their industries. The group however only caters for one person per industry. If your industry already has a representative, you will be referred to another chapter which has a vacancy.
The breakfast is R130 and needs to be paid in advance for a seat to be secured. You will also be required to register for the event before you’re able to attend.
Date: 12 April, 8:15am to 10am
Location: 144 Campground Road, Newlands, Cape Town
Entrepreneurs and business owners are welcomed to join in on a mini masterclass held by the founder of Quality Marketing Solutions, Quinton Marks. He’ll be touching on the topic ‘An Introduction to Digital Marketing’, giving attendees a start to getting their business out there.
Date: 12 April, 1pm to 2pm
Location: The Woodstock Exchange, Block A, 4th Floor, 66 Albert Road, Woodstock, Cape Town
Entrepreneurs Braai by Angus Grill
The braai is a paid event and which includes entry, snacks, food, wine and much more. The event will also include a talk and a Q&A with the co-founder of My Wander Year, Khalif Jones.
Date: 15 April, 11am to late
Location: 39 Blaauwberg Road, Table View, Cape Town
Johannesburg
Startup Grind Johannesburg: Mike Quinn and Zoona
Join other like-minded entrepreneurs, investors and businessmen and women at Startup Grind Johannesburg for a fireside chat with Zoona’s group CEO, Mike Quinn. The chat will cover topics such as how to obtain local and foreign investment as well as how to start a profitable social venture.
Date: 11 April, 5:30pm to 8:30pm
Location: 5 Cradock Ave, Rosebank, Johannesburg
Business Expansion Breakfast for business owners
The networking event is hosted by BNI and is aimed at getting entrepreneurs regardless of their industry mingling with one another, growing their networks in the process. It is a paid event which includes a breakfast as well as tea and coffee.
Date: 12 April, 8:45am
Location: Cnr Elm Street and Sycamore Drive, Edenvale, 1609, Johannesburg
Johannesburg Business Analysis Lean Coffee
The Lean Coffee event is an agenda-less event which gives its participants the floor to choose the agenda as well as to constructively debate and explore it. There are only a limited amount of spots available.
Date: 13 April, 8am to 10am
Location: Knead Bakery, Shop LO8 Michelangelo Towers Sandton, Johannesburg
Generation Startup: Akro, Kairos Society and Joburg’s Best
Akro and Kairos Society are co-hosting a networking event for investors and entrepreneurs. The event will aim to look at what life would be like today if today’s leaders were friends 30 years ago and how they would tackle some of the world’s biggest challenges.
The event will also include a whisky tasting sponsored by Ballantine whisky.
Date: 13 April, 7pm to 10pm
Location: FutureSpace Office 61 Katherine Street Sandton 2196 South Africa
Kenya
Agribusiness Investors Roundtable and Breakfast Session
The networking event aims to bring together anyone in the agricultural sector to not only develop their business but to also discuss issues relating to crop health and management. Due to the limited amount of seats available, the event can only accommodate a few more entrants.
Date: 12 April, 7:15am to 11am
Location: Strathmore Business School, Ole Sangale Road, Nairobi City, Nairobi Province, Kenya
Nigeria
This event is a paid course held by Tufts Management School and will provide all attendees with skills in risk management as well as successfully set up a framework to mitigate any potential risks.
Date: 12 April, 9am
Location: 12 Landbridge Avenue, Oniru Estate, Victoria Island Lagos Nigeria
Business Networking and Seminar
This event is hosted by the Professional SME Business Network. It will be covering how entrepreneurs can successfully raise money to start or empower their existing business without accumulating crippling debt.
Date: 12 April, 12pm
Location: Sweet Hall, 62 Isaac John Street, close to the Lagos Country Club, GRA Ikeja, Lagos
Have a startup event that you’d like featured on next week’s event roundup? Send us an email.
