Becoming mean, lean startup machines
LOWER HOUGHTON –Businesses are JETting off to clearer horizons as the ORT JET Eureka Entrepreneurial Competition 2015 gains momentum.
The competition was launched in partnership with the Liberty Group back in 2008 to empower entrepreneurs to develop solutions to problems facing South Africa by assisting them in building profitable and sustainable businesses using mentoring, coaching and training.
Of the 39 submissions received this year, 25 were shortlisted and invited to attend fantastic two-day intensive Lean Startup training with Paul Smith, founder of Ignitor Startup Acceleratio.
During this two-day period between 2 and 8 August, entrepreneurs spent time learning about the Lean Startup method; this included brainstorming, planning pitches, collecting data, testing products and ideas and preparing feedback to present to ORT JET mentors.
Each entrant was given a 20-minute session with five different mentors.
“To enter a competition like this puts your business into perspective. The Lean Startup training was phenomenal. To be surrounded by 25 like-minded people is a fantastic opportunity and the programme has been extremely informative,” said Jonathan Halliday, an enthusiastic applicant.
During the next step in the Eureka process, the 25 entrants will pitch to a panel of judges and the 10 successful finalists will be selected. The winners will be announced on 27 October at the Eureka prize giving.
