Raizcorp set to Fast Forward the growth of 10 high-impact entrepreneurs

Only ten entrepreneurs have been selected out of an incredibly strong field of 276 applicants – for the chance to have their businesses’ growth increased dramatically by the unique Fast Forward programme offered by Raizcorp, one of the biggest entrepreneurial support organisations in Africa, in partnership with a major international financial organisation.

 

Rigorous selection process

The field was sifted through Raizcorp’s rigorous and gruelling eight-step selection process. The selection was made with the intention to allow the candidates to demonstrate convincingly the significant impact that top quality enterprise development programmes can have on entrepreneurs, their businesses, and communities.

 

The final candidates hung in there through the challenging process for good reason: the two-year Raizcorp Fast Forward programme is valued at R844 800 per business.

Management skills challenges facing start-ups in SA

Research[1] has shown that, while access to finance is a challenge for small businesses in South Africa, there are several pools of capital currently targeting the sector. A more pressing challenge is the lack of management capacity and skills in the start-up and early growth phases of small businesses.

The Fast Forward programme

For this reason, entrepreneurs selected to part take in the Fast Forward programme will receive a dedicated Raizcorp team to strategise and facilitate company growth over a two-year period: Raizcorp manages to increase the turnover and profitability of over 95% of the companies it partners with over such a timeframe. The support team for each entrepreneur comprises five guides, who will focus on strategy, finance, marketing, sales, and personal development. The programme further includes accredited learning and personal development modules.

 “It is exciting to be able to give ten outstanding, high-impact South African entrepreneurs a chance to grow from good to great. When we designed this programme, I asked the question, ‘What would have been the ideal environment for me when I started growing my business?’ Fast Forward is that programme!” says Allon Raiz, CEO of Raizcorp.

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[1] Research conducted by J.P. Morgan and Dalberg.