Student Enterprises is an information portal targetting students (in tertiary institutions) and young entrepreneurs.
The purpose of the project is to create an interactive web portal that gives students access to information on all entrepreneurship related opportunities, business funding providers (both public an private), access to information on starting a business, templates and business models, economic information for possible opportunities that could change society.
The idea behind Student Enterprises is to encourage young people to be the difference in the world and to give them a platform to interact and get mentorship at their own pace. Part of the portal will include the ability to submit application forms for existing business development programmes, business plan competitions and business funding channels (for more advanced people who have a written business plan).
The platform is ideal for people looking to start, expand, network and grow their student business. It also offers an opportunity for other practical things, such a directories for independent service providers (marketing, PR, Mentorship, etc) , driving schools and even profiles of successful entrepreneurs.
The web portal would be self sustaining, because of the potential advertising revenue that could drawn from banks etc. Promoting the portal could be done through a poster campaign that would be spread at all university campuses throughout South Africa. The funding required will be used to develop the site and to market the URL. The potential for expansion includes extending the site into a social network for young entrepreneurs aged 16 - 35, where you automatically fall off the grid when you are over 35 and the prerequisite for entry is submitting an application accompanied by some form of identification.
* This idea has been submitted by Vuyisa Qabaka in Cape Town, South Africa (+27 72 955 4167)
1 comment:
It has always been my wish to start a not-for-profit entity called Student Enterprises, which seeks to achieve a number of goals specifically around the following:
- providing information on business and entrepreneurship to students or unemployed graduates
- creating a forum for networking, personal development, idea sharing, troubleshooting and mentorship
- creating a single platform for government, youth groups, social groups, economists etc to share information that is relevant for economic growth
- creating a single platform where entrepreneurs can apply for funding, mentorship and business training
- being an advocacy platform that seeks to make a difference in society
- showcase simple money making opportunities such as VOX Telepreneur, Fax-to-Email services, Vending etc. That every young person can take advantage of.
Why students or unemployed graduates?
- because they are educated, skilled and adoptable
- the problem is South Africa is that there are skills shortages in various areas of the economy, but most people can not identify these areas because the information is mostly in research journals
- government programmes don't target educated people
- the link with universities
- young people in South Africa are trained (from grade A till graduation) that you need to study hard to get a good job (ala Rich Dad Poor Dad)
- I know the campus environment very well, after having served on various committees, worked with the Dean of Students at UCT, and campus media
- Its clinched but students are the future, the focus should be on them
- Umsobomvu Youth Fund has a massive database of unemployed youth, which they can't help because they are skilled in wrong parts of the economy (and I am pretty sure that the majority don't have drivers licenses)
The typical services one would find through such a service:
- besides business support, business plan advice, information, funding and mentorship
- Pre-qualify quality applicants for: Umsobomvu voucher, SAB Kickstart, Enablis Business Plans etc.
- HR or Recruitment consultant or specialist
- career guidance is important (thus my interest in your project)
- pre-qualify SETA or learnership applications
- marketing consultant (web design, PR advice, marketing strategy)
- a driving school
* Please note that even the services offered through Student Enterprises could be provided by small or startup businesses by young entrepreneurs servicing a "captive" market.
Notes:
East London has a very interesting project run my the City Council…they opened up a tender for various driving schools and provided grants or subsidies for 500 students aged 18-25 for driving lessons. The total value for the driving school was R120, where the grant or voucher was valued at R50 per student per lesson, and the student needed to pay R70 per lesson residual amount. This is a great project that can be adopted in all 9 provinces.
The reason why I included career guidance is because when smart people are desperate, they make a plan and as such some people might think its better to start a business, but don't have the life skills to manage people, so its better for them to get a job. The HR consultant would also have the opportunity to work with university departments to fill campus jobs, corporate recruitment agents and small businesses around the campuses.
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I will probably follow a simple formula to promote it: campus radio, campus media, partnering with student organizations, facebook, posters and O-Week promotions etc.
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