In Standard Bank Group’s efforts to not only be a bank for the people, but to also support community efforts, we have teamed up with TechnoServe (
http://www.technoserve.org/) to offer the comprehensive entrepreneurship development programme: Believe Begin Become.
TechnoServe helps entrepreneurial men and women in poorer areas of the developing world to build businesses that create income, opportunity and economic growth for their families, their communities and their countries.
The aim of the programme is to assist entrepreneurs with promising businesses or ideas and who are eager to succeed but are confronted with obstacles in their businesses.
The programme has two phases the Business Plan Competition and Aftercare. Phase one begins with the selection of promising entrepreneurs primarily from rural areas in four industry sectors (light manufacturing, agriculture, construction and tourism).
These aspiring entrepreneurs are trained and mentored to write their business plans so that they reflect the vision of the business and set tangible goals for the entrepreneur.
During this process, the entrepreneurs compete, using their business plans for seed capital, business development services vouchers and the Aftercare service.
Ultimately, the 20 top business plans are selected, and the entrepreneurs are awarded R35 000 in business development service vouchers and one year of Aftercare.
An additional R75 000 is awarded to the top 10 entrepreneurs. All trained entrepreneurs become members of an Alumni network that provides ongoing business development support and fraternity.
Standard Bank Group supports community initiatives, which, over the long-term, strengthen democracy and promote economic and financial literacy, economic empowerment and education and job creation.
