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ANNUAL REPORT
The majority of new jobs in South Africa are created in companies under 5 years old. With hundreds of thousands of youth entering the national workforce every year, it is essential that we increase the number and survival rate of early-stage high-potential Small Medium Enterprises to accommodate the ever-growing demand for jobs.
New Ventures Studio is a Young Entrepreneur Accelerator.
It is a platform for young individuals who want to be successful entrepreneurs, but realize the importance of upskilling themselves before venturing into the unfamiliar territory of entrepreneurship.
In partnership with young entrepreneurs (16 to 35), we create wealth by developing entrepreneurial skills, strategic networks and fully capitalized operational businesses.
New Ventures Studio uses a fast and lean approach to help seed and start-up young entrepreneurs turn their ideas into viable businesses in 12 months. The aim is to deliver maximum learning with minimum investment by addressing the four main risks that start ups face:
1. Building something that nobody wants2. Lack of access to prototype development facilities3. Lackofaccesstofinance4. Lack of access to market
New Ventures Studio
How it Works
Entrepreneurial CourseCourse Content:
Introduction to entrepreneurshipLeadership and self-developmentInnovation and ideas labKey Business Concepts:
• marketing;• finances;• operations;• sales;• business relationships;• legislation and business
ethics;• start-up capital
CourseBenefits:
• Advance entrepreneur skills;• Entrepreneurs manual;• Investment-ready Business Plan;• Tested business pitch;• Direct access to a business
incubator;• Full membership to strategic
networks;• Opportunities for live investor
pitches;• Build your CV and credibility.
Course Structure:
Duration: 8 weeks (Monday to Friday)Time: 08.00 - 15.00 classesVenue: Southern suburbs
Cost: No incurred costs to the entrepreneur (R35,000 scholarship provided perparticipant)
Incubator
The Mixed Incubator will support entrepreneurs to establish profitableventuresbycreatinganenablingbusinessenvironment. The Incubator offers the entrepreneur R100,000 line of credit for:
• Officespaceandutilities;• Specialised business set-up services;• One-on-one mentorship with a successful entrepreneur;• ExposuretoapoolofInvestorstodirectlyfinancehis/her
new venture.
This model is unique in that entrepreneurs obtain services and mentorship from a pool of established entrepreneurs of different disciplines, therefore increasing the ability of the entrepreneur to succeed.
The Incubator will work with the entrepreneur to build a fully capitalized and operational business without any immediate cash outlay. For the risk, New Ventures Studio acquires a 20% share from the business. This share offer from the entrepreneur is a pre-requisite before entering the Incubator phase. In the long run, this share will be used to sustain Salesian Life Choices’ work in Cape Town.
Salesian Life Choices has established the college provisionary structure. RenovationsandequipmentpurchasewasfinalisedandstructurewasreadytohostthefirstgroupoflearnersinSeptember.
Progress to date
New Ventures Studio brand identity and course curriculum were developed in August (www.newventuresstudio.co.za). The eight-week curriculum was established with a mix of self-development and business sessions. The following is the pilot curriculum structure:
Monday tueSday WedneSday tHurSday Friday Sat. Sun
day 1
INDUCTION
DAY 2
TRANSFORMER LEAD-ERSHIP
WORKSHOP
DAY 3
LEAN START-UP INTRO 1
DAY 4
LEAN START-UP INTRO 2
DAY 5
LEAN START-UP GROUPWORK
DAY 6
LEAN START-UP GROUPWORK
DAY 7
LEAN START-UP FINAL GROUP
PRESENTATIONS
DAY 8
MINDFULNESSYOUR STORY
DAY 9
SELF DEVELOPMENT
YOUR STORY
DAY 10
TRANS L’SHIP
IDEA LAB - SINNOVATION
DAY 11
T.R.E. INTRO
IDEA LAB
- SINNOVATION
DAY 12
TRANSF. LEADERSHIP
LLP SOFTWARE INTRO
LEAN START-UP INDIVIDUAL BMC
DAY 13
MINDFULNESS
LEAN START-UP
INDIVIDUAL BMC
DAY 14
1 on 1 LIFE COACHING
LEAN START-UP
INDIVIDUAL BMC
DAY 15
TRANSF. LEADERSHIP
1 on 1 LIFE COACHING
LEAN START-UP INDIVIDUAL BMC
DAY 16
T.R.E.
1 on 1 LIFE COACHING
LEAN START-UP INDIVIDUAL BMC
DAY
17
1 on
1
LIFE
C
OAC
HIN
G
DAY 18
TRANSF. LEADERSHIP
LEAN START-UP INDIVIDUAL FINAL
PRESENTATION
DAY 19
MINDFULNESS
LEAN START-UPINDIVIDUAL FINAL PRESENTATION
INVESTORS LOOK FOR?
DAY 20
SELF DEVELOPMENT
BUSINESS PLAN: INTRO & MARKET RESEARCH
DAY 21
TRANSF. LEADERSHIP
BUSINESS PLAN: MARKET
RESEARCH
DAY 22
T.R.E.
BUSINESS PLAN: MARKET
RESEARCH
DAY 23
TRANSF. LEADERSHIP
BUSINESS PLAN: OPERATIONS
DAY 24
MINDFULNESS
BUSINESS PLAN: OPERATIONS
DAY 25
SELF DEVELOPMENT
BUSINESS PLAN: OPERATIONS
DAY 26
TRANSF. LEADERSHIP
BUSINESS PLAN: FINANCE
DAY 27
T.R.E.
BUSINESS PLAN: FINANCE
DAY 28
TRANSF. LEADERSHIP
BUSINESS PLAN: FINANCE
DAY 29
MINDFULNESS
BUSINESS PLAN:MARKETING PLAN
DAY 30
SELF DEVELOPMENT
BUSINESS PLAN:MARKETING PLAN
DAY 31
TRANSF. LEADERSHIP
BUSINESS PLAN: MARKETING PLAN
DAY 32
T.R.E.
BUSINESS PLAN:MARKETING PLAN
DAY 33
LEGAL IMPLICATIONS FOR
RUNNING A BUSINESS
DAY 34
BUSINESS PLAN: PRO-FILE & EXEC. SUMMARY
DAY 35
BUSINESS PLAN: PROFILE & EXEC. SUM-
MARY
DAY 36
PITCHING & BUSINESS DECK
DAY 37
BUS. PLAN FEEDBACK
PITCHING & BUSINESS DECK
DAY 38
FINAL B.P. HAND-IN
INDIVIDUAL B.P. REVIEW
PITCHING : INDIVIDUAL
ROLE-PLAYS
DAY 39
PITCHING: INDIVIDUAL
ROLE-PLAYS
DAY 40
EXTERNAL BUSINESS
ADVISORS B.P. FEEDBACK
DAY 41
FINAL PITCH & GRADUATION
Differentlectureswereidentifiedinordertomakethecourse interactive and diverse.
In October 2015, 21 learners started the eight week New Ventures Studio course, the second group (19) started in in January 2016.
The average age of participants was 28 years old when combining both groups.
Participants either had existing businesses in an early stage and they were seeking to grow, or they sought to start a new business.
These businesses were in a variety of industries.
Industry Cohort 1 Cohort 2 TotalAgriculture 1 1
Business Consulting 1 2 3
Construction 1 1
Domestic Service 1 2 3
Education & Training 2 1 3
Events & Entertainment 1 1
Film & Media 3 3
Financial Services 1 1
Health & Wellness 1 1
Hospitality 4 4
Marketing & Advertising 2 3 5
Retail - Fashion & Design 4 1 5
Retail - Other 2 1 3
Retail- FMCG 1 1 2
Technology 2 1 3
Tourism 1 1
RESULTS
Zuko JaCk (31)
Each class was a melting pot of creativity and inspiration. Having worked in the corporate world in various positionsforthepasteightyears,Ifoundthefireburningwithinmebeingslowlyextinguished.NVShasbeenaforcethathasre-ignitedthefirethatwasslowlydying.
SISanda Marwa (30)
My experience at New Ventures Studio has taken me through a range of emotions. I have learnt techniques, that I was previously unaware even existed. I have been inspired by other members of the group, shifted out of my own comfort zone and been pushed “gently” to question my old thinking. New Ventures Studio has managed to take me on this trip in a very relaxed and fun environment, which is very important to me, since I have a very short concentration span.
nkoSIkho Juqu (28)
It is an honour and privilege to be part of this initiative which has made me see things differently. I am totally differentfromthedayIcametothiscourse.WhenIreflectbackfrommyexperienceofstartingmybusinessIwish I could have been exposed to this experience of BMC before to effectively start up my business.
I personally regard this as a self-discovery and a learning tool to better my service that will resolve the problem my customers are facing in order to formulate a viable Business Model.Thanks to the people who took their time to come up with such an innovative way of helping young entrepreneurs to explore the journey of self-reliance.
MarShall khunou (25)
On my New Ventures Journey, it has been a productive and effective amount of learning, being a team player, and allowing other candidates help structure my business idea. I can only say with such strong management and help from the facilitators, the everyday challenges and goals, I am driven by the journey and the experienceisfilledwithlotsofjoy.
kedwyn kaMMIeS (21)
WhenIstartedwiththeprogramIreallydidn’tknowwhattoexpect.Iknewitwouldbefilledwithinformation and skills I could use for my business but at the same time the level of self-development is amazing.
Participants comments on the 8-week course
wendy SoMlavI (22)
NVS has introduced me to new ways of looking at things in my personal life, as well as in my journey as an entrepreneur. Going forward I’m excited about using what I am learning in my next business moves.
TShego Fono MaruMo (35)
NewVenturesStudiohasthepotentialoffuellingthefireofpassioninone’ssoul.Thisisnotacourse;itisaholistic experience of self-development. I really appreciate the intelligence that went into how the course is structured the experiences that are offered. I just wish that certain modules and offerings were longer, more intense and given in detail.
Saarah ebrahIM (22)
I am privileged to be a part of the New Ventures Entrepreneurial course where I have gained an immense amount of knowledge that will guide my way forward on becoming a successful entrepreneur.
brad SITZer (31)
From day one, New Ventures has been an amazing experience. We kicked off with very engaging ice-breakers where friendships were quickly formed. The quality of the recruitment process was evident as the other members on the program have shown time and again to be a motivated and determined bunch of people. The course has been demanding, but that is where growth has happened for me. Not only a class room talkshop, the program focuses on mental well-beingandastrongfocusonpracticalexecutioninthefield.
Ijusthopetohavemoreofthesamegoingforward.I’mdefinitelyoutofmycomfortzoneandloving it!
MFundo nTonI (19)
The experience has been awesome for me personally, I have learned a lot about being self-less, workingingroups,andtheartoflisteningmore.Theexercisesarealsobenefitingme.Awesomeinitiative to New Ventures Studio. Next year I am coming back.
Salesian Life Choices has prepared documents for SETA registration and has submitted application. We are waiting for the approval of the request.
The plans for the design of the college infrastructure were finalized. We have started fundraising for the building.
The IncubatorSalesian Life Choices invited six young entrepreneurs to enter the incubator. The main criteria was to support impact businesses – businesses that aim at social impact combined with profit making.
New Ventures Studio acquired a 20% share from each business and forged long-term partnerships with the entrepreneurs.
BUY - HAND
Buy-Hand reimagines e-commerce platforms by using business partners (e.g. hotels, cruise liners, clubs) to create new online distribution channels for local handmade products.
The company is an impact business aimed at increasing revenue among local artisans, business partners and Buy-Hand. Besides economic profit, Buy-Hand’s objective is to grow the local artisan industry and to assist in the creation of jobs for local communities in South Africa.
On 19th of December Buy-Hand piloted a MVP (minimum viable product) in 52 de Wet, a small boutique hotel in Bantry Bay (eight rooms only).
An ecommerce website was set up using Shopstar (http://shop.52dewet.co.za), and designed to fit in with the look and feel of 52dewet.co.za. We negotiated successful deals with all but one of the product suppliers we approached, with some of them providing items for a display inside the hotel.
So far, five products (R 9,233) were sold but customers did not use the online shop. They bought the prod-ucts because they saw them displayed in the hotel. This means that the concept of online sales (MVP) has not been proven yet. Unfortunately, the online shop hosting company has had problems for the full month of January, so the online shop was deactivated.
Buy-Hand intends to build its own e-commerce platform for additional user functionality and safety. Next, Buy-Hand is setting-up its own system, ramping up the digital marketing, reviewing product mix, hotel staff training and analyzing guest reviews to push for sales.
We will aim to pilot the model in two other hotels by March 2017.
www.buy-hand.co.za
SALVADOR
Salvador is a healthy fast food chain that provides tasty, affordable and convenient meals to South Africans.
The company is an impact business that aims to assist government in fighting obesity and creating jobs for under skilled workers.
Salvador will launch in April 2017 with food delivery to working professionals in the Southern Suburbs as an MVP. At this stage, customers will need to order online 48 hours before delivery takes place.
Corporate identity was finalised and the website is being developed. The first menu tasting was conducted in the form of a focus group. Chef Luke has received feedback on the menu and he will finalise it by the end of February. Salvador has advertised for staff and interviews will be conducted before March.
Next, two people will be employed and trained to manage and execute the menu and kitchen for orders. Packaging, website and business brochures will be finalised, venue and kitchen will be completed, market-ing strategy developed and implemented, and operations will be set-up for launch.
www.salvador.co.za
NURTURER
Premium and affordable natural products for family, home and business brought to every doorstep.The company is an impact business that is committed to human and environmental sustainability. It also aims at creating extra income for any South African that would like to become a direct seller (a Nurturer).
Nurturer received its first products on the 19th and 22nd of December 2016 and few mistakes were identi-fied. Nurturer will have a meeting with Earth Kind (supplier) and the manufacturer to compile a failure report on order management and quality of product. This way Nurturer can establish the correct standards and expectations for future purchase orders.
At the beginning stages, Nurturer decided that only the entrepreneur would sell the products in order to get first-hand customer feedback. Hundred and seventy-four products were sold and feedback from the cus-tomers has been positive. Operational systems have been set and the entrepreneur has been taught how to manage the systems consistently; inventory management, record keeping and finances. The company is using SMEasy software, designed to make bookkeeping simpler for entrepreneurs who do not understand accounting systems.
Next steps for Nurturer, finalize marketing tools, implement strategy for direct sellers and recruit 10 direct sellers and implement strategy to target and close business deals.
YOBA
Yoba aims at creating fitness centres based in townships. The centres combine fitness and dance experi-ences where people can connect with themselves and people around them.
The company is an impact business that aims to assist government in fighting obesity; creating a ‘Fitness Tribe’ of young people that believe in socialising without using alcohol or drugs and creating township-based jobs.
Yoba is developing its MVP, a shell website targeted to register 1,000 users for concept validation. Along with this, Yoba is developing a business profile and computer illustration of the gym layout to apply for cap-ital funding. Key activities include continued customer discovery; industry and competitor analysis; venue search; revenue modelling and the establishment of a professional partnership.
Next steps for Yoba, website online and marketing campaign implemented, sign MOU’s with strategic part-ners (e.g. fitness guru, venue owners) and submit applications for loans to pay for set-up costs.
www.yoba.co.za
MEDME
MedMe is a technology driven healthcare start-up. MedMe builds simple and automated value-added services that support both the patient and the whole industry: specialists, suppliers, medical aid groups and hospital groups. MedMe is not only focused on improving patient experience; we also assist practitioners to create solutions that play a critical role in the improvement of their services.
MedMe started its first pilot at Cure Day Clinic (Bellville and Somerset West). MedMe sends personalized SMS’s to patients: confirming bookings; 24 hours reminder before procedures; directions to the hospital; patient feedback form; and an offer of non-commute transport. MedMe conducted the pilot to understand the legalities behind operating a company in this industry and risk management. MedMe transported its first client on the first day the service was offered! MedMe business model plans to have hospitals and practi-tioners to pay for the SMS service and patients to pay for the transport.
Next steps for MedMe are to develop the MedMe app, find a transport service provider that can partner with the company, expand the pilot to two other day hospitals.
www.medme.co.za
LAWN IN ORDER
Lawn in Order is an eco-friendly gardening service.
The company is an impact business that is committed to care for the planet and create jobs for under skilled workers.
The company has managed to brand itself and acquired 38 customers on monthly maintenance plans. The rest of the client base is once-off Lawn in Order services. The company employed four people in the first year of operations and made an annual turnover of R195, 386.
In 2017, Lawn in Order will focus on improving operations and preparing the business to tender with South African government. This will require the completion of a finance report, COIDA registration, health & safety compliance and formalizing HR & labour procedures.
www.lawninorder.co.za
A young man who had to repeat Grade 10 three times because of his involvement in drugs and gangs has changed his life around to become an entrepreneur, he hopes to positively impact South Africa by providing affordable eco-friendly cleaning products sold door-to-door. Khululekani Nyobole, 26, is one of the entrepreneurs to come out of the New Ventures Studio incubator, an initiative of Salesian Life Choices.
It is difficult to believe the elegant, soft-spoken entrepreneur had been an unruly teenager who wasted two years of his life on drugs and crime. He grew up in Khayelitsha where young boys look up to gangsters as role models, Khulah explains. “You grow up thinking all that matters is to become the top dog. I did all sorts of drugs and I mean all sorts – cocaine, heroin, Tik, mandrax, ecstasy. You name them, I have done them.”
He was 15 when his life started falling apart, Khulah says. “The first time I did Grade 10, I didn’t study at all. I would just go to school to rob other students. Afterwards I would jump the fence to go and smoke dagga.” Failing Grade 10 for a second time was a wake-up call, Khulah admits. “Deep down I knew this loser I’d become wasn’t the real me. I tried really hard to distance myself from criminal activities. I knew I had the brains, so I persisted.”
It wasn’t easy because some of his friends were still in gangs and they scorned and bullied him for trying to be a “good boy”. “It was seen as shameful to wear school uniform. I would disguise myself in civvies that looked like school uniform – a black jean, a white shirt and All Star shoes – so that the guys wouldn’t suspect this ‘gangster’ is actually still going to school.”
He finally passed Grade 10 in 2006 and did quite well in Grade 11 and 12. After matric he started working as a cashier at the health food franchise Kauai. Soon he was promoted to a supervisor and this inspired him to go to university. It was a proud moment for Khulah and his family when he was awarded a BA Degree in 2014 from the University of the Western Cape and started working on an honours degree in History.
As a student Khulah came across a concept in an environmental ethics class that resulted in a light bulb moment and became the inspiration for Nurturer. “When I learned about teleology, the suggestion that everything has a purpose and a deeper meaning, it changed my thinking about the environment.”
Although Khulah has always been passionate about cleanliness – his friends used to tease him about his neatness – he wasn’t too bothered about environmental issues and the impact human behaviour has on it. “This theory confirmed something I instinctively knew as the truth: when we honour the earth we honour ourselves. I was born and raised in the township, after learning about teleology I started questioning why people in low income communities do not have the option to buy affordable natural products that are healthy and safe for both humans and nature.”
“We say we want to sustain the planet and prevent global warming, but the mechanism through which we want to achieve this are not affordable to the majority of poor people. Eco-friendly products are often more expensive than the ones damaging the environment. You can’t blame people for buying cheap and more toxic products when the eco-friendly alternatives are almost twice as expensive.”
And so the idea for Nurturer was born – to make natural premium products accessible and affordable to all South Africans and delivered right to their doorstep. With the help of business experts he met at the New Ventures Studio, Khulah started to develop a business plan, a corporate identity and product ranges from personal care, to cleaning products for households and businesses.
The Nurturer range was developed with the help of well established natural product manufacturers who found the right mix of natural raw materials that would be cost-effective to manufacture on a large scale. Khulah is now dreaming of establishing a laboratory of his own to constantly develop new products.
Nurturer’s business model of door-to-door sales will enable agents to educate people about the value of using eco-friendly products. Nurtur-er’s agents will be able to generate an income, which will create wonderful opportunities for unemployed people. Khulah believes the time is right for people to support small entrepreneurs rather than big brands. “Our prices will be similar to that of products in supermarkets. Besides households, we’ll also target businesses and we hope to eventually supply schools and government.”
Khulah is grateful about the support and investment he received from New Ventures Studio. “I feel privileged that they hold 20% equity in my business, because if it hadn’t been for them, I wouldn’t be where I’m today. In the beginning of 2016, I joined NVS with just an idea and they helped me bring it to fruition. They have become co-founders in my business; Salesian Life Choices is a social enterprise that works with young people in the townships around Cape Town aiming to tackle inequality. For this reason Nurturer is a company with a twist, when buying Nurturer products people will not only be nurturing themselves, their love ones and the planet; but they will be supporting the development of previously disadvantaged communities.”
There is great excitement about the launch of Nurturer in November. Khulah adds, “we just got started … we hope that every South African will join us and become a Nurturer.”
Former gangster turns life around to become an eco-friendly businessman
A personal tragedy inspired a young man from Zeekoevlei to start his own business. When his path crossed with the Cape Town-based social enterprise Salesian Life Choices, his dream of establishing a thriving gardening service, Lawn in Order, has now become a reality.
After his father’s sudden death in 2010, Nick Adriaans (26) had to literally fill his shoes. “My mom and dad were robbed one morning and that afternoon he died from a heart attack. We were devastated,” he says. Nick took over his dad’s responsibilities around the house and that meant keeping up the garden and mowing the lawn.
He confesses gardening was an acquired taste and not exactly a childhood passion. “As a child I didn’t enjoy gardening. When my dad was mowing the lawn, my duty was to hold on to the electric cable to prevent the lawnmower from running over it. I always hoped the lawnmower would break so that I could use the wheels to make a go-cart,” he jokes. But by taking over from his dad Nick discovered his passion for nature and the satisfaction of getting his hands dirty. “I realised it’s fun and relaxing and it’s very satisfying to see the results at the end of the day. It made me smile each day.”
As the youngest of five siblings, Nick took a job at a casino to be able to support his family financially, but the idea for his own gardening service had already taken root. He saw a gap in the market when people on his neighbourhood Whatsapp group complained about unreliable gardeners and gardening equipment disappearing. “I started to advertise my services on the Whatsapp group and many people were interested. It’s a comfort to the community to know that a familiar face is doing the work and not some stranger on a bicycle,” Nick says.
He worked hard to save enough money to start his own business and he did a lot of research to learn about the dos and don’ts of gardening. In 2014 he invested his savings of R70 000 in buying gardening tools and a second-hand truck. Nick was constantly on the lookout for workshops to attend and advice from experts, and in 2015 he saw an ad for Life Choices’ New Ventures entrepreneurial programme. “I took a leap of faith and applied to enter the programme. It was life changing because it took my business to a whole new level. I realised how little I knew about customer care and market research.” The New Ventures intensive eight–week entrepreneurship course and incubation phase have helped Nick to register his company, develop a corporate identity, design marketing tools and a website.
With the help of experts Nick developed a business plan and he has reached new customers. “The support I received, and still receive, has been great. I have grown both professionally and personally. Throughout the different course modules I have learned about how I can grow my business while also learning more about myself,” Nick says.
He was inspired to not only see his business, aptly named Lawn in Order, as an opportunity for himself, but as a way to empower and educate other people. “We are an eco-friendly garden service, so we share tips for responsible gardening with clients and we train our staff to be knowledgeable about environmental issues.” He is very proud of the team of garden-ers he employs and the amazing job creation opportunities his business offers.
Nick now has enough experience and confidence to make suggestions to clients about garden features and to offer creative solutions to problem areas. Each gardening session also includes a special “gift” from Lawn in Order – a compli-mentary extra that could be anything from cleaning out rubbish bins to pruning trees or deadheading flowers.
After starting small, Nick’s services now include lawn care, tree felling, eco-friendly weed control, clean ups, planting, irrigation, organic compost and fertilizing, reed removal, pruning, high pressure cleaning and gutter cleaning. He has also developed an interest in garden landscaping and how it impacts on the value of a property.
Lawn in Order currently operates mainly in the Southern suburbs of Cape Town, but Nick is keen to expand his business to other areas. “We have positioned ourselves as a reasonably priced alternative to high-end gardening services and at R170 per hour we can deliver quality services that can compare with the best,” he explains.
Nick aims to be perceived by customers as a member of their family tree. “As someone who knows them, addresses their needs and gives them the acknowledgement they deserve through caring and reliable service.”
Tragedy inspires blooming gardening business
we would like to thank you for our partnership. without your support, we would not have been able to impact the lives of youth.
Facebook:/salesianlifechoicesTwitter: @LifeChoicesZA
Instagram: @salesian_life_choicesBlog: www.capetownsyouth.com
Salesian Life Choices, 312 Imam Haron road, Lansdowne 7780
086-084-NPO/PBO-930036135/www.lifechoices.co.za
