The Cape Innovation and Technology Initiative (CiTi) and the University of Cape Town (UCT) have partnered to launch the Entrepreneurship Project, aimed at supporting students with their business ideas by providing skills and mentorship and where possible sourcing funding.
CiTi project the Bandwidth Barn is offering student entrepreneurs incubation and support from its Campus Barn Hub to reach more entrepreneurs and help bring their ideas to market.
The partnership also includes the Association of Black Securities and Investment Professionals (ABSIP), an on-campus society at UCT that has been supporting student entrepreneurs since 1995.
UCT and Bandwidth Barn’s incubation programme graduate Reza Handley-Namavar, founder of Dream Mobile, is the scheduled keynote speaker at the project’s opening.
“Dream Mobile’s success is largely based on the belief and support we received from the Barn. I think it is fantastic that they are now offering this support directly to students,” he said.
“Entrepreneurs and innovation are the source of solutions to problems that ordinary people face every day,” said Alan Maguire, programme facilitator and guest speaker from the Bandwidth Barn.
“We want to help entrepreneurs develop their ideas into viable products and services, so that these solutions find the people. Not to mention the financial and job creation implications these entrepreneurs can have on our economy and communities.”
“This collaboration will mean stronger support for entrepreneurs with a focus on tech and innovation, as well as women in business,” says Fred Ajusi, project manager of the Entrepreneurship Project. “We are excited about the possibilities that will arise from this collaboration.”
Disrupt Africa reported earlier this week CiTi had officially opened the Barn Khayelitsha incubator, with the project aiming to address the need for “inclusive growth” in business.
