Absa supports SA tech entrepreneur initiative

Absa Group has announced that it will support phase two of the 1 000 Tech Entrepreneurs Programme, an initiative dedicated to providing South African entrepreneurs with the opportunity to create innovative tech-based businesses.

 The 1 000 Tech Entrepreneurs Programme is backed by Absa Group

Led by Silicon Durbs, a technology ecosystem that aims to transform the culture of technology through innovation, Absa Group will provide partial funding to the innovative programme. 

Lindani Mkhize, founder of Silicon Durbs and the campaign lead for the 1 000 Tech Entrepreneurs Programme, comments on expanding the programme across Africa with the support from Absa. 

“We’re hoping to stimulate a culture of technology entrepreneurship that can be copied in other African markets and prestigious supporters like Absa help us to bring this dream to life while creating an ecosystem with stakeholders that are willing to collaborate, partner and support each other.”

The 1 000 Tech Entrepreneurs Programme

The 1 000 Tech Entrepreneurs Programme encourages innovative South African entrepreneurs to create tech-driven businesses that will address and alleviate real-world challenges. 

The 12-month programme is structured to assist with business growth and development. Consisting of various bootcamps that began at the start of November 2020 and will end in March 2021, the programme will educate and empower participants in a range of topics from value proposition, design, product engineering, brand development, pitching, and more. 

The five-day bootcamps will be held in different locations across the country. 

National ecosystem partners in the programme will support participating entrepreneurs to further grow their technology-driven businesses.

In an official press release, Andrew Davies, Digital Partnerships Ecosystem Lead at Absa Group said that the unemployment rate amplified the importance of initiatives, such as the 1 000 Tech Entrepreneurs Programme, to combat real-world challenges.

“This year has shown us more than ever, that large corporates should be supporting entrepreneurial ventures in order to create employment opportunities. Added to this, it is the fresh and innovative thinking of technology entrepreneurs that gives rise to the type of startups that solve real-world problems.”

Absa reportedly facilitates more than 40 entrepreneurs through its WorkInProgress (WIP) innovative lab that connects tech startups with potential investors and growth partners. 

The WIP provides top facilities to startups and offers support to accelerate growth in the tech industry. WIP hosts events such as hackathons, solvathons, accelerators, and startup-support programmes that are aimed at finding innovative solutions that are used to scale businesses.

Register

South African tech entrepreneurs are encouraged to register for the 1000 Tech Entrepreneur movement online. 

Interested applicants are advised that no prior entrepreneurial experience is required. 

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Featured Image: (From left to right) Charmaine Lambert, head of WorkInProgress and Lindani Mkhize, CEO of 1 000 Tech Entrepreneurs Programme (Supplied)