By Ntokozo Nkambule
A total of ten (10) start-ups in the country have been selected to be part of the Innovation Bridge Portal (IBP) and Entrepreneur Community.
The revamped Innovation Bridge Portal (IBP) and Entrepreneur Community were launched in May 2022 as a digital regional entrepreneurship community aimed at assisting underserved entrepreneurs by facilitating access to relevant business support services and by increasing their opportunities to access early-stage finance, markets, and innovation.
The IBP event is hosted by the Department of Science & Innovation, the Centre for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), and the Department of Small Business Development South Africa (DSBD), and is held in partnership with the World Bank Group, Thinkroom, and national counterparts in Botswana, Eswatini, Lesotho, South Africa, and Namibia.
The Royal Science and Technology Park in an interview with Inside Biz details how they got involved in the project.
“RSTP was approached by the World Bank team in South Africa to be an ecosystem supporter between IBP and entrepreneurs in Eswatini which we gladly accepted. An ecosystem supporter in this context serves to address the fragmented ecosystem within the SADC region, a listing of curated ecosystem support is accessible to the IBP community.”
RSTP discloses that from the selected ten local entrepreneurs, only two will emerge as winners.
“There are two entrepreneurs that will be the Innovation Bridge Portal Eswatini winners and will receive branded material in addition to access to investors from the World Bank and IBP network that will be watching the pitching sessions.”
A total of 36 entrepreneurs in the region will each pitch in-person at a venue (either the World Bank offices or the partner company’s office) in their respective countries, while the other entrepreneurs will join online to watch the other pitch events.
The pitches will be judged by a team of judges both online and in person at the country venues.
RSTP states that each country has its own pitch day. The pitch days will run from 9-10 May 2023, with Eswatini’s one being on the 10th of May.
The 10 Local Start-Ups
Kimono Shop Eswatini
Kimono Shop Eswatini makes beautiful and affordable kimonos for women for every season and occasion, owned by Nkosingiphile Nonkhanyiso Simelane. Nkosingiphile is looking to expand her business and will pitch at the IBP 500 pitch events from 9 – 12 May 2023.
Healinghands
Healinghands’ owner, Bianca Litchfield’s mission is to end chronic disease in Africa by providing high-quality herbal products, proper nutrition training and coaching.
Barns Investments (Pty) Ltd
Led by Banele Mdluli, Barns Investments (Pty) Ltd is an agri-tech, green-tech start-up that is working towards green-fuel alternatives through the production of biodiesel from recycled cooking oil conversion and extraction of plant oils from locally identified alien/invasive species (harvesting for Biodiesel production).
Agri-Fresh Investments
As an Agri-tech start-up, Agri-Fresh Investments specializes in agriculture farming and operates in Mbabane, Eswatini and is run by Lindiwe Mncina.
Afrishopon
Afrishopon is an online shopping platform selling products from local shops in Eswatini to their customers. This e-commerce, technology start-up was established by Sphephelo Dlamini.
Sanitize Eswatini
Sanitize Eswatini offers water quality assessment services and is owned by Beished Majahonkhe Shabangu.
Jonathan Cyber
Jonathan Investments (Pty) Ltd, trading As Jonathan Cyber, is a start-up currently in its development phase. The services offered are cyber security services of all kinds ranging from cyber security awareness training, cyber security advisory, security assessments, security controls, and cyber forensics. Jonathan Cyber will be pitching in the hopes of securing legal advice and marketing assistance.
iMatrix
Owned by Mzamane Mndzebele, iMatrix is a Renewable Energy/ Agriculture/Agri-tech company that specializes in solar electricity system design, installation, and maintenance services in Eswatini.
The Waffle Place
The Waffle Palace, run by Ndaya Lukoji, is Eswatini’s first-ever waffle specialist offering a tasty, unique, quirky waffle experience. They are pitching in the hopes of gaining funding and assistance with structural management.
High Purpose Investments (Pty) Ltd.
High Purpose Investments (Pty) Ltd. is an Agri-tech business, producing vegetables for local and international markets. Siphamandla Mfanzile Mamba, who owns the business, is looking to expand into high-value crop production done in a protected environment, i.e. tunnel technology and greenhouse farming.
Additional information has been sourced from Thinkroom Consulting’s website.
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