THIRTY budding entrepreneurs in the Eastern Cape will present their business plans to a panel of judges in Port Elizabeth at the weekend in the hope of winning R50000 towards their new venture.
The entrepreneurs, who are competing in the regional leg of the Hansa Special Ingredient competition, will spend a day being groomed by the judges before pitching their ideas tomorrow at the Protea Marine Hotel. The regional winner will be selected at a gala dinner later in the day.
One of the regional judges, Port Elizabeth architect Xabiso Sidloyi, a former winner of the SA Breweries Kickstart competition, said initiatives such as these gave struggling young entrepreneurs the help they needed to grow their fledgling businesses. "I will be looking for a unique business idea or a plan that is delivered in a new or unique way. I will be looking for an owner or manager who has a special skill that will make his or her business work."
Hansa Pilsener general manager Khensani Nobanda said the judges would also select one overall winner in the country to take part in SAB's Kickstart Foundation, which provides business training, business mentorship and start-up capital.
