YOUNG people should not fear starting their own businesses says Thapelo Maleke, president South African Youth Chamber of Commerce.
Maleke is among the leaders of a massive nation-building campaign to discover, nurture and honour SA's top 100 young entrepreneurs each year.
Partnering with the chamber in the Future 100 Awards are the National Youth Development Agency, BizJam, Sowetan and Sunday World.
Of these partners the agency is among the most prominent youth development organs charged with the positive transformation of the country's youth, particularly in the business arena.
Maleke said the Future 100 Awards highlighted the achievements of SA's future captains of industry, aged between 18 and 35, who demonstrate entrepreneurial flair and innovation in a diverse range of business ventures. He said they had conquered their fears of starting a business.
"What's really holding back the youth of SA from venturing into business?" he asked rhetorically. "The answer is the 'Fear Factor'."
The top 100 young entrepreneurs were chosen from a pool of more than 5000 candidates.
Most of the National Youth Development Agency's beneficiaries are among several Sowetan is profiling in a series of articles, which are due to be followed by a comprehensive supplement in both Sowetan and Sunday World recognising, acknowledging and celebrating young entrepreneurs' success.
Among such people, whom in Maleke's opinion are lucky enough to be unafraid to take the plunge are Ismail Dhorat, who founded Zyelabs in 2006. Zyelabs provides telecommunications-related consulting services in South Africa and abroad. In the area of web-development, Zyelabs has serviced clients including Kentucky Fried Chicken, Metro FM, religious organisations and online catalogues, mostly for retailers.
Significantly, Zyelabs was selected by the Innovation Hub as one of the emerging businesses run by young people to be included in the hub's incubation project, which helps entrench rising or start-up ventures.
The Innovation Hub - which is an initiative of the Gauteng economic development department and its business development corporation, Blue IQ - is widely regarded as Africa's first internationally-accredited science and technology park and is a full member of the International Association of Science Parks.
The hub, as a hive of innovation and knowledge creation, is linked to the fast-moving world of global inter-connectivity, providing a unique space for high-tech entrepreneurs, world-class businesses, academics, researchers and venture capitalists an environment that promotes innovation.
Maleke's last word: "I challenge the young people to have the guts, like Ismail Dhorat, and create a vision of what they desire as entrepreneurs, and write these down. In my business experience, the entrepreneurs who created visions were most likely to experience them."
'There's nothing to fear'
YOUNG people should not fear starting their own businesses says Thapelo Maleke, president South African Youth Chamber of Commerce.
Maleke is among the leaders of a massive nation-building campaign to discover, nurture and honour SA's top 100 young entrepreneurs each year.
Partnering with the chamber in the Future 100 Awards are the National Youth Development Agency, BizJam, Sowetan and Sunday World.
Of these partners the agency is among the most prominent youth development organs charged with the positive transformation of the country's youth, particularly in the business arena.
Maleke said the Future 100 Awards highlighted the achievements of SA's future captains of industry, aged between 18 and 35, who demonstrate entrepreneurial flair and innovation in a diverse range of business ventures. He said they had conquered their fears of starting a business.
"What's really holding back the youth of SA from venturing into business?" he asked rhetorically. "The answer is the 'Fear Factor'."
The top 100 young entrepreneurs were chosen from a pool of more than 5000 candidates.
Most of the National Youth Development Agency's beneficiaries are among several Sowetan is profiling in a series of articles, which are due to be followed by a comprehensive supplement in both Sowetan and Sunday World recognising, acknowledging and celebrating young entrepreneurs' success.
Among such people, whom in Maleke's opinion are lucky enough to be unafraid to take the plunge are Ismail Dhorat, who founded Zyelabs in 2006. Zyelabs provides telecommunications-related consulting services in South Africa and abroad. In the area of web-development, Zyelabs has serviced clients including Kentucky Fried Chicken, Metro FM, religious organisations and online catalogues, mostly for retailers.
Significantly, Zyelabs was selected by the Innovation Hub as one of the emerging businesses run by young people to be included in the hub's incubation project, which helps entrench rising or start-up ventures.
The Innovation Hub - which is an initiative of the Gauteng economic development department and its business development corporation, Blue IQ - is widely regarded as Africa's first internationally-accredited science and technology park and is a full member of the International Association of Science Parks.
The hub, as a hive of innovation and knowledge creation, is linked to the fast-moving world of global inter-connectivity, providing a unique space for high-tech entrepreneurs, world-class businesses, academics, researchers and venture capitalists an environment that promotes innovation.
Maleke's last word: "I challenge the young people to have the guts, like Ismail Dhorat, and create a vision of what they desire as entrepreneurs, and write these down. In my business experience, the entrepreneurs who created visions were most likely to experience them."
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