Western Cape, November 2021: Entries for the Firstwatch Entrepreneur’s Challenge 2021 are now open nationwide, to provide motivated local entrepreneurs, both current and aspiring with an opportunity to win R50 000 in cash plus business support. A renowned panel will hand-pick 160 people to join the Challenge’s intensive two-day skills development workshop, which encompasses robust, hands-on experiential learning with some of the country's leading business experts. The workshop will be supported by a podcast series featuring Ambassadors from across the country sharing their stories, tips and tricks to navigate the world of entrepreneurship.

These Ambassadors are all self-made entrepreneurs, proudly representing their provinces as leaders in their fields and communities. Bheki Kunene, the Western Cape Ambassador and Director at digital media agency, MindTrix Media, expands on the importance of providing entrepreneurs with opportunities to shine.

“As a Firstwatch Ambassador, firstly, I hope that I will inspire others to think about entrepreneurship differently; secondly, I would really like to encourage new talent to take advantage of the opportunity to gain incredible business and financial support,” says Bheki. He adds, “I hope that my involvement will help provide answers about how to effectively start a business and grow it to its full potential”.

As an Ambassador, Bheki’s qualifications and achievements speak for themselves. Following the completion of his Diploma in graphic design and a national certificate in web and software development at the Ruth Prowse School of art, Bheki went on to study business management.

His business acumen has clearly been instrumental in the success he has had at just 30 years old. A decade ago, Bheki founded his company with just R600. Since, MindTrix Media has gone global. In his personal capacity, he has also been awarded an Honorary Doctorate Degree of Philosophy in Business Management, won an Acacia Global Leadership Award and a Hennessy Businessman of the Year Award, and he has featured on the cover of Forbes Africa, listed as one of Africa’s future billionaires.

Bheki’s involvement in the Firstwatch Entrepreneurs Challenge will see him lending his knowledge and experience to contenders from the Cape Town region. Bheki adds, “My main area of focus in the podcast series will be sales and marketing for small businesses. I will be sharing my business journey and, among other things, discussing the challenges I have faced along the way. I hope to talk about some of the issues that are often not spoken about in entrepreneurship.” 

Bheki and his fellow Ambassadors from the Eastern Cape, Gauteng and KwaZulu Natal will, through their podcasts and networking sessions, guide this year’s contenders and communities at large through the challenge journey, creating the perfect build-up to the workshop modules on topics that include Passion and Purpose, Marketing and Sales, Finance, Leadership and Pitching. The workshop will conclude with a chance for the entrepreneurs to pitch their business to the judges, ending in 10 lucky contenders one step closer to claiming the title.

Bheki concludes, “This initiative is an unmissable opportunity for talented entrepreneurs to brush up on key skills like pitching and pitch readiness. It will help them understand their own companies better, in that when they are expected to pitch their business in a limited amount of time, they gain valuable insight into the core value their businesses offer. Of course, last but certainly not least; having started my business with very limited capital, I can only imagine the possibilities for success that come with winning R 50 000 worth of business funding and support”.

As the countdown to the crowning of the 2021 Firstwatch Entrepreneur’s Challenge Winner continues, we wish all the future business leaders competing for the title the best of luck. May every part of the journey be rewarding. Firstwatch. First for Everyday Entrepreneurs. First for Reward.

To find out more about the Challenge, visit https://firstwatchwhisky.co.za/