The Watershed Design Lab is a special place in the V&A Waterfront that helps new design businesses grow for a whole year. This program gives local brands, especially those led by women, a chance to shine in a unique retail space while reaching customers from all over the world. Many creative entrepreneurs, like Nadia with her beautiful jewelry and Nomava with her stylish leather goods, are turning their dreams into reality. The lab not only supports these amazing talents but also celebrates the stories and cultures behind their work, making it a vibrant hub of creativity and empowerment. Visitors can see and support these inspiring brands every day!
Acclaiming the Champions of Green Progress: A Tribute to 2024 GreenPitch Challenge Achievers
The GreenPitch Challenge in Cape Town is more than just a contest, it’s a launchpad for ecofocused innovation. Entrepreneurs are crucial to the success of the green economy, generating concepts and inventions that can change lives and create employment opportunities. Dragonfly, Aero Greens, and Silence SA were the winners of the 2024 GreenPitch Challenge, each demonstrating a remarkable commitment to green economic principles. The future of green innovation looks positive thanks to the resources provided by GreenCape, who are steering Cape Town towards a more resilient and ecoaware future.
Delft’s Urban Waste Management (UWM) EPWP Entrepreneurship Trainee Programme is a city initiative in South Africa that provides entrepreneurs with the necessary skills and abilities through a series of training and development modules. This programme’s holistic approach combines practical mentorship with theoretical knowledge and helps city entrepreneurs realize their business objectives while contributing to job creation and revenue growth among participating businesses. Bonolo Holdings, a family enterprise, has seen considerable growth under the guidance of this city initiative, and its success is a testament to the programme’s effectiveness in supporting small businesses on their journey towards expansion and success.
Luspin Manufacturers is a successful textile company in Khayelitsha, led by entrepreneur Pinkie Hlengisa. Their commitment to quality and dedication to handson learning experiences for degree students has contributed to their growth. Luspin’s workforce includes four fulltime employees, 12 trainees, and 13 distributors, with expertise spanning a variety of clothing items. Pinkie’s entrepreneurial journey has been guided by the City’s Expanded Public Works Programme (EPWP) Entrepreneurship Trainee Programme, highlighting the transformative power of governmentfunded education and training schemes. Luspin’s success story serves as an inspiration for aspiring entrepreneurs in the community.
Zulfah Hartley, founder of Auburn Botanicals, has become a rising star in local entrepreneurship with a natural health and beauty business that offers relief to women aged 30 and over from menopausal symptoms. Auburn Botanicals gained momentum through the City’s Urban Waste Management Expanded Public Works Programme, which provides budding entrepreneurs with experience, mentorship, and peer advice. Hartley’s vision for Auburn Botanicals includes broadening her product line and stepping into wellness services such as massages.
The success of AgriKey Farming highlights the critical role of entrepreneurship training in catalyzing economic development and the transformative potential of connecting entrepreneurs with educational resources and support. AgriKey Farming in Mfuleni, South Africa started as a small chicken farming business but expanded into pig farming, crop cultivation, and vertical farming systems on school grounds to reinforce school feeding programs and create job opportunities. The owner, Khaya Burwana, also established five meat stands, providing fresh, locallyproduced meat products and creating job opportunities.