Sanlam Namibia on Wednesday announced the winners of its entrepreneurial support programme aimed at developing future business leaders and promoting innovation and leadership.
The programme which runs under the Sanlam Bridge project also aims to encourage job creation by allowing young people to start their own businesses and earn their own money.
The Sanlam Bridge project, which replaced the Sanlam Innovation Works earlier this year, serves as a springboard for Namibia’s future business leaders who have creative and exciting company ideas but lack the resources to convert the ideas into reality or expand their businesses.
The winning businesses that were chosen for this year’s programme from among over 300 applications received include Taxi Connect, Greenville Solars, Ndaka Mushrooms, Stimu Box Sensory Play Creations and Petwa Medical Practice.
Sanlam General Manager for Brand and People, Evans Simataa, said he was pleasantly pleased by the range of the businesses who participated in the competition at the announcement ceremony.
“What I like about Sanlam Bridge is that the project not only provides young people with much-needed financial support, but that it gives them the necessary support which will help ensure they go the distance with their business,” he said.
Entrepreneurs, he added, are national assets that must be nurtured, motivated and rewarded in order for them to thrive.
The businesses are all in different phases of their entrepreneurial journeys and will each receive a cash award of N.dollars 50 000 in seed funding, as well as support, mentorship, and coaching from StartUp Namibia, which has collaborated with Sanlam to help administer the programme.
At the same occasion, StartUp Namibia GIZ Project Manager Anna Vambe encouraged entrepreneurs to be more open to corporations by putting greater trust in corporate partners.
“Working alone is ineffective. A corporation is highly significant, and I strongly advise you to begin placing greater trust in it. Trust your clientele and your business partners. It may be challenging at first, but in order for us to achieve greater and better heights, we must all work together to rebuild trust,” she said.
Source: The Namibia Press Agency
