A personal note from the Seda Small Business Stars competition -- www.sedastars.org.za
We are Dr Robin Stead and Martin Feinstein, and together we are responsible for the Seda Small Business Stars competition -- the first truly national small business entrepreneur competition in South Africa. Dr Stead is the CEO of the South African Institute for Entrepreneurship, and Martin was the founder of Proudly South African and has run his own businesses for more than 25 years.
A recent World Economic Forum study found what we have known for years: that entrepreneurs see the world through an opportunity lens rather than through a risk lens. "Starting and building a new venture typically requires an enormous amount of optimism, stamina and the ability to survive some very rocky seas." The same can be said for running and trying to grow an existing business.
Are you an entrepreneur? Do you have a business idea but aren't sure whether it will work? Are you currently running a small business but not sure where to go with it? Or want to start a second business?
If you answered yes to any of those questions, entering the Seda competition could be a really worthwhile exercise -- for three reasons.
FIRST … the process of answering the business plan questions (your answers can be short and in your own words) can really help to sharpen up your idea and your whole business concept. Even for an existing business.
SECOND … if you do make it as one of the 300 finalists and then the 40 winners, you will share in more than R4-m worth of cash and business support prizes.
THIRD … as a winner, it will be a life-changing shift into the fast-lane for your business -- with a whole new network and level of credibility and exposure opening up for you.
Together we have worked with thousands of entrepreneurs over the past few years. What distinguishes those who succeed is that they don't hit the ball only when they are sure of a home run -- they hit that ball when they see the chance of a home run -- or even to add just one more point to the scoresheet. We invite you to hit this one -- we are here to catch the best ones.
We look forward to receiving your entry and assure you we have a highly qualified team to evaluate your entry and those from other entrants, on a fully confidential basis.
We are Dr Robin Stead and Martin Feinstein, and together we are responsible for the Seda Small Business Stars competition -- the first truly national small business entrepreneur competition in South Africa. Dr Stead is the CEO of the South African Institute for Entrepreneurship, and Martin was the founder of Proudly South African and has run his own businesses for more than 25 years.
A recent World Economic Forum study found what we have known for years: that entrepreneurs see the world through an opportunity lens rather than through a risk lens. "Starting and building a new venture typically requires an enormous amount of optimism, stamina and the ability to survive some very rocky seas." The same can be said for running and trying to grow an existing business.
Are you an entrepreneur? Do you have a business idea but aren't sure whether it will work? Are you currently running a small business but not sure where to go with it? Or want to start a second business?
If you answered yes to any of those questions, entering the Seda competition could be a really worthwhile exercise -- for three reasons.
FIRST … the process of answering the business plan questions (your answers can be short and in your own words) can really help to sharpen up your idea and your whole business concept. Even for an existing business.
SECOND … if you do make it as one of the 300 finalists and then the 40 winners, you will share in more than R4-m worth of cash and business support prizes.
THIRD … as a winner, it will be a life-changing shift into the fast-lane for your business -- with a whole new network and level of credibility and exposure opening up for you.
Together we have worked with thousands of entrepreneurs over the past few years. What distinguishes those who succeed is that they don't hit the ball only when they are sure of a home run -- they hit that ball when they see the chance of a home run -- or even to add just one more point to the scoresheet. We invite you to hit this one -- we are here to catch the best ones.
We look forward to receiving your entry and assure you we have a highly qualified team to evaluate your entry and those from other entrants, on a fully confidential basis.
Dr Rob Stead and Martin Feinstein
PS. The closing date is 31 January, so don't delay. We estimate it will take 2 to 5 hours in total to complete your business plan using the on-line template (www.sedastars.org.za), if you have the necessary information.
PS. The closing date is 31 January, so don't delay. We estimate it will take 2 to 5 hours in total to complete your business plan using the on-line template (www.sedastars.org.za), if you have the necessary information.
