The Columbia Business School will in May bring 100 Executive MBA students to Cape Town, offering free mentorship to South African startups.
The Columbia Business School is bringing the students to South Africa as part of its global immersion programme on the state of entrepreneurship, and emerging tech startups from Cape Town are offered to chance to pick the brains of the students.
Startups will be given the opportunity to obtain international insight and formative advice from students in a half-day meeting, with the organisers saying it could be a key opportunity for those looking at expanding to the United States (US)>
Three to four students will be assigned to each company, having reviewed the business plan before arriving in South Africa.They will meet in person to discuss questions, challenges and strategies, after which the students will send the startup a detailed report with recommendations.
“Even more valuable than this personal guidance is the global networking opportunity it presents with future industry leaders. We have seen these relationships blossom, with mentorship extending well beyond the scope of the initial meeting and follow-up report,” the organisers said.
Interested startups must complete an application form by April 1.
