By: Donna Rachelson, Seed Engine CEO, incorporating Seed Academy and the WDB Seed Fund It has been a difficult year for South Africa. In September the World Bank downgraded South Africa’s 2017 growth forecast to 0.6 percent, down from 1.1 percent at the beginning of the year. To get ahead the South African economy is […]
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AccelerateHer calls on Ekurhuleni-based, black women entrepreneurs
Applications now open for SA’s most impactful fully-funded business accelerator Seed Academy in partnership with WDB is calling on young, black female-owned businesses to fast track their success through AccelerateHer – a three-month business accelerator sponsored by Shell Downstream South Africa. AccelerateHer provides women entrepreneurs with an intensive programme including developmental workshops, high impact business development […]
Continue readingMore TagSeed Academy making strides in the development of female entrepreneurs
WDB Seed Fund continues to creatively address funding scarcity At a time when South Africa faces a number of significant economic challenges from slow growth to high unemployment, creating suitable funding opportunities for entrepreneurs and small businesses has never been more important. “The question of funding is not just about entrepreneurs getting the support […]
Continue readingMore TagWDB Investment Holdings increase equity stake in Seed Engine to 51%
Partnership reaffirms commitment to development of black women and youth entrepreneurs WDB Investment Holdings (WDBIH) has increased its stake in Seed Engine (incorporating Seed Academy and the WDB Seed Fund) from 35% to 51%, officially confirming Seed Engine as a proudly 51% black women owned company. Venture capital company Grovest is Seed Engine’s second major […]
Continue readingMore TagThe time is now! SA youth can blaze a trail to entrepreneurial success
South Africa’s latest unemployment figures make for sombre reading. While official unemployment is now 27.7 percent, the most affected group are young people under the age of 35 with a staggering 38.6 percent of youth unable to find work. Interestingly, according to the 2016 Seed Academy Startup Survey results only four percent of entrepreneurs started […]
Continue readingMore TagYoung black, female owned businesses on the fast track to success
The inaugural Seed Academy/WDB AccelerateHer programme, a three-month business accelerator for female entrepreneurs, sponsored by Shell Downstream South Africa concluded by notching up a string of successes for young black female owned businesses. The fully-funded AccelerateHer programme provided 25 black female entrepreneurs with an intensive programme including developmental workshops, high impact business development support and […]
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