Entrepreneurship Articles and Opinions

Entrepreneurs seem to carry a deep shame associated with failure. The only way a company can truly innovate is by facing the possibility of failure. The most valuable lesson that can be learnt from failure, is to get up and try again. People that are terrified of failure, don’t try new things. They don’t innovate, they don’t move forward, and …

Statistics released by the MasterCard Index of Women Entrepreneurs revealed that just 18,8% of small business owners in South Africa are women. All entrepreneurs face obstacles and barriers when starting out, for women however there are some additional barriers. Many of these barriers are external barriers, like access to funding. Some barriers however are self-inflicted. Female entrepreneurs often downplay their …

This week we are talking to Claire Reid from Reel Gardening. Reel Gardening is a bio-degradable seed tape planted straight into the ground. The innovative tape takes the guess work and confusion out of starting a vegetable garden. The tape contains high-quality non-chemically treated seed. This simple solution takes all the hassle, worry and fuss out gardening. Who is Claire Reid? …

As we head into silly season, we need to now more than ever support our small business friends. December and January are likely the toughest months for any entrepreneur. There are many ways in which we can support our small business friends which don’t only involve monetary spend. Access to Networks There is immense value in opening your networks to …

The Uber of waste removal Boombadotmobi is an online waste management business platform that connects waste generators and waste collectors. Our services are designed to cater for house owners, commercial, construction and private companies. We specialise in both construction and garden waste removal. Although we have been dubbed the “Uber of waste removal”, a title we blushingly embrace, we feel …

This week our featured entrepreneur is Carolyn Singer from StockLab.  Tell us a bit about your business, how and why it started. Years of corporate retail buying led me to believe that the stock in retail stores is often inaccurate and as a buyer it was near impossible to forecast sales on a product that does not exist.  The only …

This week our featured entrepreneur is Thabiso Mofokeng. He is the Construction Manager at Bareng Batho Transport and Civil Construction. Tell us a bit about yourself: I am responsible for Marketing and Sales for Bareng Batho. I have a Diploma in Transport Logistics and Management from UJ University, which I obtained in 1996. Based on his experience in the transport …

This weeks featured entrepreneur is Thabo. He is the owner of Gauta Trading and Projects. Tell us a bit about yourself: Our company’s name is Gauta Trading and Projects (Pty) Ltd. We alleviate the stresses of building maintenance from professionals who own their own Office Spaces or Premises. Our target market is professionals like Doctors, Lawyers and Engineers due to the …

This week we are featuring Mike Mohlala from JSTE.  Tell us a little bit about yourself: My name is Mike Mohlala, and I am a qualified Mining Engineer. My company JSTE,  does  mining contracting services, logistics and civil construction. We have experience working on mines and civil construction sites. We understand what the clients’ needs are and tailor make our services …

One of the biggest challenges faced by SME’s is access to finance. While this may feel like an extremely difficult hurdle to overcome, it doesn’t have to be. There are actually numerous options for entrepreneurs to investigate, below to name a few. Finfind Finfind aims to address the challenges SMME’s face in this area. It is an innovative, online platform …

“Two roads diverged in a wood, and I— I took the one less traveled by, And that has made all the difference.” Robert Frost, 1916 We all like the glamour that comes with the word Entrepreneur – striking it out on your own, being your own boss, forging your own path, making it happen…on your own. Yet Entrepreneurship is often …

Learn to listen Empathy is the ability to relate to the emotions of others.  I am constantly reminded that empathy is a skill, when looking at the way in which my wife listens, understands and responds to our children.  Empathy requires a level of sacrifice, it requires you to set aside your own stuff (the need to close the deal …

Have you ever run into a convenience store to buy a drink? Whenever I stand in front of the drinks’ refrigerator I am amazed at the variety of water on the shelf. Some of the labels claim that the water within comes from a rare spring high up in an unpolluted mountain or melted from an ancient iceberg. Despite the common …