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EC’s ICT hub hungry to deliver
Posted on: Thursday, 08 September 2005. Article source: Eastern Cape Business News
Newly appointed ECITI manager Lusanda Sam is to prioritise three deliverables in the next 12 months – to conduct a needs analysis of the start-ups, source additional funding and build robust relationships with other stakeholders such as the Buffalo City Municipality and provincial government.
The hub, located in Dyer Street, Arcadia, already houses eight firms. Six are start-ups which were awarded business mentoring contracts earlier this year - Simple Technologies, Thunga Technologies, K Computers and SA Solutions as well as Imara Consulting and Virtual Afrika; the latter two are headed by women.
The remaining two are established businesses – IBM and WJR Agencies.
All are ICT companies with their skills ranging from geographical information systems (GIS) to the analysis and supply of hardware and software.
The initiative, established last year, aims to grow the province’s ICT sector as well as assist its SMMEs. Another objective is to increase technological innovation. Part of this process is to nurture ICT entrepreneurs who have great technology ideas but limited business experience. ECITI’s support ranges from the use of the subsidized infrastructure to mentoring. The entrepreneurs are, however, liable for some costs such as telephone. The business mentoring contracts at valued at R15 000 per annum for three years.
“The venture is a new one and hence it is imperative that we ensure that there is a match between what ECITI wants to achieve and what the entrepreneurs need. Hence the imperative for a needs analysis which is going an exciting process,” explains Sam.
The other key deliverable for Sam is funding.
“ECDC has provided funding for this year – to help put infrastructure in place - but additional financial resources needs to be sourced to ensure its continued sustainability and expansion such as the establishment of a hub in Port Elizabeth next year. Support from national government is growing. However, to secure ECITI’s future, we need a much more robust stakeholder relationship building plan in order to get the support, including financial, from other role players such as the local municipality and provincial government.”
Furthermore, the hub is to grow the number of the start-ups.
“Currently we lease 500 sqm but there is room to grow this to 3000 sqm. Fortunately we already have several promising ICT companies shortlisted for the space. A decision on their incorporation should be known within the month.
Sam also plans to incorporate other businesses in the hub.
“This will have a huge effect on the efficiency and effectiveness of the hub. The Western Cape initiative, Barnwidth, does not any restrictions in terms of sectors and includes firms with expertise in tax and accounting, amongst others.”
Furthermore, as these start-ups become more established, they become liable for the services on an incremental basis.
“This is a very necessary part of becoming an established business – acclimatizing businesses with costs – and the best of way of doing this is by having the entrepreneur become responsible for them,” explains Sam.
September highlights another milestone for the initiative when the mentors are to be appointed.
“First, we need them to meet and see where the best match of skills and personality is,” says Sam.
Other initiatives underway include creating a tourism cluster where local software role players and tourism operators come together to see how they can leverage off the each other’s skills.
Sam, who holds a masters business degree from the University of KwaZulu-Natal, was born in Mdantsane and previously worked for First National Bank and DaimlerChrysler.
Imara Consulting’s Abongile Maqwazima says that the hub has provided him a business presence and helped to him keep in contact with prospective clients.
“The infrastructure is big plus,” Maqwazima says.
“The other benefit is the hub is home to other likeminded people so there is great potential to collaborate. The ECITI board has also been very helpful in terms of giving advice and providing informal mentoring. It’s just brilliant for me,” ends Maqwazima.
The hub, located in Dyer Street, Arcadia, already houses eight firms. Six are start-ups which were awarded business mentoring contracts earlier this year - Simple Technologies, Thunga Technologies, K Computers and SA Solutions as well as Imara Consulting and Virtual Afrika; the latter two are headed by women.
The remaining two are established businesses – IBM and WJR Agencies.
All are ICT companies with their skills ranging from geographical information systems (GIS) to the analysis and supply of hardware and software.
The initiative, established last year, aims to grow the province’s ICT sector as well as assist its SMMEs. Another objective is to increase technological innovation. Part of this process is to nurture ICT entrepreneurs who have great technology ideas but limited business experience. ECITI’s support ranges from the use of the subsidized infrastructure to mentoring. The entrepreneurs are, however, liable for some costs such as telephone. The business mentoring contracts at valued at R15 000 per annum for three years.
“The venture is a new one and hence it is imperative that we ensure that there is a match between what ECITI wants to achieve and what the entrepreneurs need. Hence the imperative for a needs analysis which is going an exciting process,” explains Sam.
The other key deliverable for Sam is funding.
“ECDC has provided funding for this year – to help put infrastructure in place - but additional financial resources needs to be sourced to ensure its continued sustainability and expansion such as the establishment of a hub in Port Elizabeth next year. Support from national government is growing. However, to secure ECITI’s future, we need a much more robust stakeholder relationship building plan in order to get the support, including financial, from other role players such as the local municipality and provincial government.”
Furthermore, the hub is to grow the number of the start-ups.
“Currently we lease 500 sqm but there is room to grow this to 3000 sqm. Fortunately we already have several promising ICT companies shortlisted for the space. A decision on their incorporation should be known within the month.
Sam also plans to incorporate other businesses in the hub.
“This will have a huge effect on the efficiency and effectiveness of the hub. The Western Cape initiative, Barnwidth, does not any restrictions in terms of sectors and includes firms with expertise in tax and accounting, amongst others.”
Furthermore, as these start-ups become more established, they become liable for the services on an incremental basis.
“This is a very necessary part of becoming an established business – acclimatizing businesses with costs – and the best of way of doing this is by having the entrepreneur become responsible for them,” explains Sam.
September highlights another milestone for the initiative when the mentors are to be appointed.
“First, we need them to meet and see where the best match of skills and personality is,” says Sam.
Other initiatives underway include creating a tourism cluster where local software role players and tourism operators come together to see how they can leverage off the each other’s skills.
Sam, who holds a masters business degree from the University of KwaZulu-Natal, was born in Mdantsane and previously worked for First National Bank and DaimlerChrysler.
Imara Consulting’s Abongile Maqwazima says that the hub has provided him a business presence and helped to him keep in contact with prospective clients.
“The infrastructure is big plus,” Maqwazima says.
“The other benefit is the hub is home to other likeminded people so there is great potential to collaborate. The ECITI board has also been very helpful in terms of giving advice and providing informal mentoring. It’s just brilliant for me,” ends Maqwazima.
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