By Phesheya Mkhonta
The Royal Science & Technology Park (RSTP) has successfully hosted a workshop on how to build start-ups with only $100 (E1800).
The workshop was a collaboration between Eswatini and Israel, through RSTP. Also part of the collaboration is The Lutfo Dlamini Foundation, Dr. Adany, and other local partners.
This first-of-its-kind seminar saw thirty-five (35) tech-savvy young entrepreneurs get capacitated with the tools and skills to allow them to launch their start-ups with as little as $100.
Speaking to this publication, Dr. Adany expressed his delight at the resounding success of the workshop. He further mentioned that this was a personal dream as he is passionate about assisting aspiring entrepreneurs to reach their true potential.
The workshop gave participants the opportunity to learn and gain hands-on experience with cutting-edge tools and techniques on how to build start-ups with minimal funds. The workshop began with 35 selected applicants, however, by the end of the week-long exercise, only 17 participants were still immersed in the programme.
Some of the start-ups that made it to the final stage include an online student loans platform, a taxi-ride service, an online food delivery service, an online learning platform, an online clothing store, and a cargo and logistics tracking services provider.
As Dr. Adany unpacks the workshop, “The workshop was a very intense five-day activity that tested the capabilities and readiness of our participants to learn and successfully launch their startups. Our day typically started at 8 am and ended at around 6 pm in the evening. I was thrilled to observe that most of our participants were fully engaged throughout the day and you’d find some of them continuing to work well into the evening. That spoke of true passion and dedication to me. ‘’
He acknowledged that even though they started with 35 participants, they ultimately ended up with around half the number, but they still weren’t deterred. He noted that the workshop was a highly challenging undertaking, but it was important because it mirrors the real world of business.
Adani expressed excitement at some of the start-ups that received positive traction in just a couple of days. One particular start-up, AngloLearn, which is primed to teach English to non-English speakers in Africa via its online platform, launched its Facebook page and received almost instant engagement from its targeted adverts which were focused on the Mozambique market.
‘’I am incredibly proud that 17 participants completed the workshop, and seven start-ups were established in various tech-oriented domains. Additionally, some of the startups were able to gain initial traction and customers, which is a fantastic accomplishment. The workshop culminated in a pitching event that drew the attendance of representatives from the Eswatini government, members of parliament, and the European Union delegation to Eswatini, local businessmen, and the local media. The Israeli ambassador to South Africa even participated in the event via video.’’
Quizzed on what he hopes were the biggest takeaways for the participants from the five days, Dr. Adany says ‘’I hope our attendees grasped the basic fact that you don’t need a lot of money to start up. What you need is an idea, a team, and an execution plan. You obviously have to support this with pure dedication and the will to see your plan through. My wish is that we inspired and infused the spirit of entrepreneurship to Emaswati for them to realize that you can change your life, your community, and your country through entrepreneurship.’’