RentMyRide has joined forces with Tracker to further develop South Africa's first peer-to-peer car rental marketplace by providing security measures and peace of mind. Welcome to the future of car rentals.

RentMyRide is a solutions driven company with the goal of encouraging growth, trust and confidence in the shared economy.

Through this approach, RentMyRide has created a space for both the entrepreneur and individual interested in renting a vehicle.

Car sharing may be an atypical concept to South Africa as it is not a norm as of yet, but it is not uncommon anywhere else in the world. This new partnership between RentMyRide and Tracker should inspire a sense of security for both current and future stakeholders. RentMyRide expects to grow in popularity in a similar way Airbnb has over the past decade.

The reality of vehicle crime in South Africa is becoming more apparent which raises the question...will RentMyRide work in a place like South Africa? It appears so. Through a careful and meticulous signing up process which verifies the identification of both the renter and car owner, installation of a tracking device and stringent payment protocols, there is no reason for peer-to-peer car rental not to become a normal part of our everyday lives.

RentMyRide embraces a future that encourages South Africans to share vehicles rather than to buy and own them. This is currently a global ground swell following the COVID-19 pandemic that has seen changing travel requirements and increased financial pressures.

“We are excited to be pairing our tracking and telematics solutions with a technology platform that will bring mobility within reach of many more South Africans” says Spyros Marinis, Mobility Sales Manager at Tracker. “Tracker’s products and services can provide peace of mind to RentMyRide’s vehicle owners and renters alike, facilitating South Africa’s further advancement toward shared economy liberties.”

RentMyRide is about building a better South Africa for mobility seekers, providing opportunities to share vehicles and in doing so, share hope for a greater South Africa. Now is the time to stand together and take to the roads.

RentMyRide puts their consumers in the front seat. To learn more, visit www.RentMyRide.co.za
Thanks for the ride.

Our business environment has changed dramatically since the beginning of 2020. We have been either forced to start a business to survive or adapt. The first costs to go in most businesses are marketing; this is why this subscription service has been created.

Just about every business has PowerPoint but never use it.  It is a great program, it is user-friendly, and there are various formats that your documents can be saved in. Within our subscription service, there are a variety of templates to choose from, and new templates/graphics will be uploaded every month. Each category has a video explaining how to change colour and add text/logo. I have made use of Google fonts as everyone has access to them, and they are free.

Your thinking will be changed, and your creativity ignited without being distracted by too many technical details.  You will be learning a new skill that you can use for years to come, for both business and personal projects.

My hope is that this subscription service will add value for start-ups and small businesses.

Contact details:
Rebecca Potgieter, Owner
072 915 9350 | This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Leading educational software worth R100 Million will be given for free to teachers and learners in 500 schools 

Cape Town, SOUTH AFRICA, August 31, 2021: Head Start Education has partnered with the Superiate Upliftment Program (SUP), to distribute a free, world class education to primary and high school learners and teachers nationwide. The joint initiative aims to drive the upliftment of learners throughout South Africa and mitigate the effects that COVID-19 has had on the school calendar.

The Pandemic has led to learners falling between 75 percent and a full school year behind where they should be, according to latest statistics by UNICEF. Rotational school attendance, sporadic school closures and days off for specific grades, have resulted in school children losing 54 percent of learning time. Furthermore, In 2017, the World Economic Forum ranked South Africa’s primary education 116th and its maths and science education as 128th out of 137 countries.

There is a clear need for South African learners to receive as much attention and quality resources in mathematics as possible. To help address these problems, Head Start Education has partnered with two leading education companies to provide educational software worth R100 million to 500 000 learners and teachers.

Head Start is a key distributor for SplashLearn, the leading game-based learning program in the world and Presto, an app which provides access to study guides written by the top-performing students in South Africa.SplashLearn creates engaging and scalable learning experiences to transform children into fearless learners. Its Pre-kindergarten to Grade 5 game-based learning program has an adaptive algorithm that offers each child a personalized learning experience that is fun and immersive.

SplashLearn also allows teachers access to its content library which covers 400+ curriculum-aligned math skills with over 6500 games and activities, to help students learn new math concepts through engaging game-based learning modules. It is currently used by more than 40 million children and 750 000 teachers in over 150 countries. Head Start has partnered with SplashLearn to provide free access to their maths program to all teachers in South Africa. This digital educational offering is valued at over R5000 per teacher.

As part of this Initiative, Presto is giving away their study hacks guide for free (worth R200) to all learners in South Africa. This book is packed with the best study strategies by the top performing students in South Africa, including a Rhodes Scholar and a learner who came first for Matric in 2012.“We believe that the use of SplashLearn will provide a world-class mathematics education to millions of South African students.

In addition, learners who use Presto Study Hacks, can improve their study skills, confidence, marks and critical thinking skills”, said Shivad Singh, the 26-year-old founder & CEO of Head Start Education. SUP (Superiate Upliftment Program) will be present in 500 High Schools throughout South Africa within the next 2 weeks.

The aim is to close the gap between commercial and upliftment offerings direct to learners, with the Department of Basic Education, allowing access to the educational software. In an attempt to uplift and to raise the standards of education and improve outcomes across South Africa.

The sign up is not restricted to the 500 High Schools and those surrounding communities - Learners, teachers, parents and/or guardians throughout South Africa can join the SUP program by signing up and gaining access to further SUP brand partner offers.

This campaign is one of the first steps in Head Start’s mission to improve education in South Africa. “Every child has the potential to be a genius”, says Shivad Singh, a News24 Young Mandela of the Future and Queen’s Young Leader.

“We believe the partnership with the Superiate Upliftment Program helps fulfill our mission to equip learners and teachers with the 21st century and digital skills that can make them a success in this globalized world and lead to an improvement in learner's marks, mental well-being and development.”For teachers and schools who want to access SplashLearn for free, simply visit: https://www.splashlearn.com/teachers/register and choose your country as South Africa while signing up.

To access the study hacks books, simply download the Presto Books app by searching “Presto Books” in the Google app store. Once the app is downloaded, click on the “Study Hacks” book to get your free guide for you or your child.

About Head Start Education
Head Start Education serves as the Gateway to Africa for the leading education technology companies in the world, in order to lead the advancement of education across the continent.  Head Start is a full-blown edtech provider, having exclusive licenses of over 20 of the leading educational apps world-wide and in South Africa. Head Start is seen as a ‘Netflix for Education’ with a catalogue that has over 50 000 activities, games, videos and pdf content. Their offerings are award-winning, internationally recognized and research-tested and provided at prices more economical than the market rate. Head Start aims to equip learners and teachers with the 21st century and digital skills that can make them a success in this globalized world and lead to an improvement in learner's marks, mental well-being and development.

Siblings Gianna, Kenley and Danica McIntosh aren’t your average kids – they just launched Kidpreneurs, a handmade Bath Bomb business at 8,6 and 5 years old. These Durban kids were born in the Middle East and arrived in South Africa in 2015, and are groomed for business by the parents.

After a successful launch at their local shopping complex in Queensburgh, Durban, the siblings are being bombarded with bulk custom orders for Christmas, as well as orders for bath bomb party favours. Their online store, www.kidpreneur.online was set-up so that their bombs could be sold to South Africans across the country. Their booming business sells handmade bath bombs that transform your bath into a luxurious spa experience by fizzing and releasing essential oils and fragrances. In addition to bath bombs, the McIntosh siblings make Shower Steamers, which you place in the corner of the shower and as hot water splashes on the steamer, essential oil fragrances are released. The McIntosh siblings hope to see their products being sold in major stores across South Africa.

8-year-old Gianna hopes to be a property developer when she is older. 6-year-old Kenley hopes to be a builder, while the youngest sibling Danica wants to own a bakery. These money-savvy kids plan to invest their business proceeds to fund their tertiary education. One thing is for sure….with a strong entrepreneurial foundation, these kids are destined for greatness! 

Lolo Ntshiqa

The founder of the online thrifting marketplace Curated Fashion, assisting Peer2Peer selling of pre-owned garments, shares the valuable lessons she is learning from being a young, black, female entrepreneur in South Africa.

1. It’s not a race, it’s a marathon.

“Running a business is no smooth operation; and there is a temptation sometimes to make decisions as if you are running out of time, or try and take short-cuts in avoidance of the dirty hard work. This is a trap that I feel my generation falls for often. Unfortunately we were raised in the era of the microwave, and delayed gratification is a virtue we must acquire, especially when entering the business world. The vision for Curated Fashion came after four failed attempts with other business plans. I realized that when I slowed my pace, I could have quality creativity, and thoroughly assess my business and all its parts with a sober mind”.

2. Entrepreneurship changes who you are.

“The game of entrepreneurship transforms you as an individual. This is something that most leaders do not warn us about before we enter. The game is transformative because it forces you to expand your capacity of reasoning, problem-solving, empathizing, and consequently you begin to look at the world differently; with more maturity and clarity. During this process you may decide to have a change of lifestyle, or realize you share nothing in common with the friends or the lover who have. This is normal, and the change is beneficial in shaping you to be the kind of leader that is required to run your business successfully. Embrace the new you openly”.

3. Get back to basics.

“I realized after many failed business ideas that it is usually the most simple and elementary of ideas that become the most viable and successful. Just look at yourself and how your basic human needs are so simple. Your customers share the same basic needs, and if your business can respond to these straight-forward needs, you are on to something”.

4. It’s okay not to be okay.

“It is very common and normal for entrepreneurs to experience loneliness, depression, anxiety, or many other mental health illnesses during their journey. I have had many lonely times during the development of my e-commerce website because there were very few people who could relate to my career decision. Another contributor to my stress and anxiety was the scarceness of financial support to get me started. I know these issues are not unique to me, and many young entrepreneurs can relate. However, these are part of the highs and lows of this game, and we must try not to be so attached to our businesses that they take away our peace of mind, or take us to a dark place. Be okay with not being okay. Be okay with being broke, and having to miss out on a few events because all your money is going towards your business. Be okay with not meeting your goals in the set time. When you learn to be at peace in whatever circumstance you may find yourself in, you have the spirit to endure many other hardships that will be thrown at you in the future”.

5. Stay foolish.

“It is never a good idea to think you know everything because trust me, you will never know everything. Staying foolish allows you the space to make mistakes and learn. It also keeps you focused and on your toes, which is helpful especially in the technological world where every day, a new invention is replacing another. So my advice would be to network with other professionals often, read books about the past and the future, and ask questions as if you were a curious 5th grader”.

Online trading. A concept that has literally thrust the financial world into the fast lane. But for most armchair investors putting the pedal to the metal to get in on the action of this online infobahn can seem extremely daunting, and without some expert guidance many just get left behind in the pits. With the right tools and support everyone can become a successful trader, but it is also important to continually sustain entrepreneurial growth. With this in mind, CM Trading are running an unprecedented campaign that allows all Business Referrers who introduce new clients to the world of online trading the chance to win a stunning BMW Z4! Yes, you read that right! Just by being a business referrer you could be burning rubber in your very own, very exotic BMW Z4.

CM Trading, an award-winning online trading company is committed to providing an essential investment service to clients who prefer an out-of-the-box approach to investment opportunities. With so many vehicles for financial growth accessible to South African investors, making responsible choices that yield tangible returns requires sound expertise from a partner with a vested interest in your long-term success.

Getting your position on the grid
Knowing just where to start is key to your investment growth. “Although a vast majority of people are familiar with online trading, very few understand exactly where to begin the process”, says Daniel Kibel, Founder and Director of CM Trading. “We are here to rev up the engines in the market. To offer the guidance, tools and support that will become the driving force that not only gets average South African’s into the investment game, but could potentially change one of their lives with our awesome prize.”

Most of us believe that in order to effectively trade, one needs to be an expert with a large sum of investment capital. But this notion has been debunked with their development of new and unique software solutions;  webinars, training videos and e-books – all for free.  “It is important to understand that anyone can become a trader through our unique website and easy to use and understand portals,” says Kibel, ”You don’t have to be a trading genius or have years of experience as a stock broker – we have created the platform to allow you to do it yourself.”

Put both hands on the wheel and take control of your finances
It is important to remember that you are in the driver seat when it comes to the performance of your investments. It’s a hard pill to swallow, but there is simply no quick fix when it comes to making money. It’s up to you to ensure that you’re aware of the risks, mindful of the markets ebb and flow and ultimately make the most out of the opportunity that sound investing offers. When asked if online investing is a savvy financial move, the only advice that Kibel could provide was none. “We are not here to offer investment advice. Our role is to provide our clients with the very best education and tools possible so that each and every one of our traders fulfil their full potential and trade like a pro. It’s a fact that money in the bank provides absolutely no value yield. The return that one can make through online share trading is so much more than the interest rate that the banks will offer you (on a fixed deposit from the major South African banks, the average rate is between nine and ten percent).  Responsible and expertly guided share trading can nett you so much more.”

Providing the driving force behind entrepreneurial growth
Online investment now truly is accessible to one and all. “This is an exciting time to invest. The markets are going wild with the Rand in its current state. Add to that the uncertainty surrounding Brexit, and the stage is set - with the market in a state of flux, one can be assured that there is money to be made”, concludes Kibel.

The crux of the matter is that when it comes to savvy investing, there is no checkered flag offering the sought-after podium finish. Constant warm up laps may be required; you may be forced to slow down and do an economy run every now and then; you will probably have to go up through the gears as you chase pole position… The only certainty is that the online trading circuit, and your navigation of it, is uncertain. It is essentially up to you to choose your team wisely. As the largest Forex broker in SA, and winners of the prestigious Best Performing Broker in Africa Award for the last three years, CM Trading provides a wealth of tools and resources at your fingertips because the better prepared you are, the better your trading performance will be.

To be a part of this incredible campaign to win a BMW Z4 visit www.cmtrading.com  or email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

Details for Startupbootcamp AfriTech’s global FastTrack Tour for 2019 has been confirmed and the search for top-performing disruptive startups seeking solutions for positive change in Africa is on.

Applications for each event close three days ahead of time – apply HERE.

Wednesday 6 February 2019, Cape Town – Startupbootcamp AfriTech is one of the most sought-after programmes for Africa-focused tech startups. In 2010, the Startupbootcamp programme was founded with a simple goal in mind: to support the world’s best innovators through all stages of growth. This led to the first-ever Africa-focused accelerator of its kind, namely Startupbootcamp AfriTech (SBC AfriTech), to launch in Cape Town in 2017.

In SBC AfriTech’s first two years, the twenty companies in the portfolio signed 52 pilots and commercial agreements with large corporations. In 2018, the programme was named the Top Accelerator on the continent by the Global Startup Awards.

Now, in its third consecutive year, SBC AfriTech is calling on high-growth startups in the tech industry to apply to a prestigious 3-month programme aimed at helping companies scale in the global market.

“Through Startupbootcamp’s expansion to numerous countries in Europe, Asia and America, and now Africa, it’s clear that the accelerator movement has caught on quickly, showing a demand for ongoing support in a globally growing entrepreneurial community,” says Startupbootcamp Founder and CEO, Philip Kiracofe.

“The SBC AfriTech FastTrack Tour for 2019 is an open canvas for forward-thinking startups to initiate a shift in traditional thinking while networking with hundreds of other innovative, like-minded people wanting to set new benchmarks in the African tech industry”, adds Nsovo Nkatingi, AfriTech Programme Director.

“Attending a FastTrack is useful for startups wishing to apply to the SBC AfriTech programme,” states Velani Mboweni, CEO of SBC AfriTech 2018 alumnus Lüla, “At the Cape Town FastTrack we engaged with corporate sponsors to the programme Old Mutual and Nedbank and engaged with them right from the get-go, which really gave us a leg-up in our SBC journey.”

Lula is a mobility-as-a-service startup and over the course of the 3 months spent at the SBC AfriTech accelerator, Lula completed 4 pilots in Cape Town with some of the biggest corporations in South Africa and is now raising its first formal investment round.

The SBC AfriTech FastTrack Tour for 2019 will cover 19 events in 14 countries.

Attending a FastTrack will boost your chances to joining SBC AfriTech’s highly-acclaimed and intensive three-month programme, by 20 percent. FastTracks are informal events hosted all over the world and the aim is for the SBC team, mentors and sponsors to have the opportunity to meet the most suitable early-stage companies interested in joining the 2019 programme. For each FastTrack, the top ten startups to apply will receive instant feedback from a panel of industry mentors, be able to network with the SBC investment team and learn more about the SBC AfriTech.

The accelerator is anchored and endorsed by leading corporate sponsors Old Mutual, RCS, BNP Paribas Personal Finance, Nedbank and PwC that will support and grow the program and selected startups. Leaders from these corporates will be present at the FastTrack events to engage and mentor.

Interested startups can click here to find the FastTrack nearest them and submit your application.

Applications to the FastTracks is currently open and applications to join the final accelerator will open on 20 February 2019.

To apply to the FastTrack nearest you, please visit http://bit.ly/ftapply19

FastTrack Tour Dates for 2019:

• 19 February 2019 Johannesburg
• 23 February 2019 Nairobi
• 25 February 2019 Dar es Salaam
• 18 March 2019 Kigali
• 20 March 2019 Kampala
• 22 March 2019 Nairobi
• 8 April 2019 Accra
• 10 April 2019 Dakar
• 25 April 2019 Casablanca
• 27 April 2019 Lagos
• 28 April 2019 Lagos
• 30 April 2019 Abidjan
• 30 April 2019 Durban
• 3-4 May 2019 Johannesburg (Hackathon)
• 7 May 2019 Gaborone
• 9 May 2019 Harare
• 14 May 2019 Zurich
• 17 May 2019 Paris (VivaTech)

Beyond the FastTracks

Startupbootcamp AfriTech sees the potential of African startups solving real-world problems with disruptive technology. As part of a global family of industry-focused accelerators, the team believes in the power of Africa. In 2018, 20 percent of the number of applications received across the Startupbootcamp global family of accelerators came from African-based startups. Over the past seven years, the United States has been the leader with the highest number of funding applications submitted, followed by India, United Kingdom, Nigeria, South Africa, Italy and Mexico.

“Another of the aims of SBC is to support gender- and ethnically diverse teams at any stage in their growth”, says Zachariah George, CIO and Co-Founder of SBC AfriTech, “In 2018, 30 percent of the teams who went through the programmes were led by female founders – a 7 percent increase from 2017. Additionally, SBC AfriTech is the only accelerator of its kind to be led by a powerhouse of females, seasoned in startup coaching – Nsovo Nkatingi.”

SBC AfriTech is focused on high-growth startups in Big Data, Dashboard & Predictive Analysis, Process Automation & Simulation, Machine Learning, Content Aggregation & Knowledge Management, Digital Customer Journey, HealthTech, Sensors, Health Data Analytics, IOT & Asset Tracking, Distributed Ledgers, Digital Identity Management & Authentication, FinTech for Financial Management & Financial Inclusion, P2P and Sharing Economy, On-Demand Pricing, Usage-Based Solutions, Smart Mobility & Open Transportation Networks, RetailTech, Augmented Reality, Computer Vision and Sensors.

“The greatest highlight of attending SBC AfriTech in 2018, was just having that cushioning through mentorship and access to an ecosystem that we would normally not get,” states Kamogelo Kekana, co-Founder and COO of Akiba Digital, SBC Alumnus 2018, “For us, SBC has tremendously accelerated our business. We’ve forged partnerships with corporates that wouldn’t previously have taken us seriously – so it’s given us significant credibility.”

Global sponsors include Google Cloud, Amazon Web Services, and Cisco, with service partners The Loudhailer, Brevity Law, Cloudworx, the Inner City Ideas Cartel and VC4A.

For more information about SBC AfriTech, visit www.startupbootcamp.org/accelerator/afritech and follow @SBCAfriTech on Twitter, Facebook and LinkedIn.

or more information about Startupbootcamp, visit www.startupbootcamp.org and follow @Sbootcamp on Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, Google+, flickr and Instagram.

-- ENDS --

For more information on Startupbootcamp AfriTech or this release, please contact:

Mika Stanvliet | 081 534 6237 | This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

The Cape Innovation and Technology Initiative and the Royal Academy of Engineering once again work together on the Africa Prize for Engineering Innovation 2018. Two South African companies are amongst the final 16 shortlisted candidates.

Monday 3 December 2018, Cape Town – Pelebox Smart Lockers and the Hybrid Five-Axis Machine Tool are the two South African innovations that are on the shortlist for the Royal Academy for Engineering’s Africa Prize for Engineering Innovation, accelerated by the Cape Innovation and Technology Initiative (CiTi).

CiTi is Africa’s oldest tech incubator, in its 20th year in 2019, and the Royal Academy of Engineering is the United Kingdom’s prestigious national academy for engineering and technology since 1976. Since 2017, the Royal Academy of Engineering has worked with CiTi to support engineering and tech entrepreneurs from across the continent in developing their unique scalable solutions to local challenges. After a highly successful first cohort together, the Royal Academy of Engineering once again selected CiTi as the primary programme incubation partner to support the 16 businesses from the following 6 African countries in 2018/19: Nigeria, Zambia, Kenya, Uganda, Burkina Faso and South Africa.

The programme, designed by CiTi specifically for the Royal Academy of Engineering, uses a remote incubation model, delivering entrepreneurial training, coaching and mentorship over the 7-month programme period; coupled with three residency weeks which include workshops, networking events and local entrepreneurial engagement sessions. The first residency week took place in Cape Town at the Bandwidth Barn in early November, and the following two will take place in London and Kampala. The entrepreneurs also stand a chance to receive £25,000 (R450,000) at the end of the programme, and all will have direct access to both the Academy and CiTi’s vast network of engineers, tech professionals, businesses and industry leaders.

“We have found a dynamic synergy with the Royal Academy of Engineering, especially around our shared impact values,” states Ian Merrington, CEO of the Cape Innovation and Technology Initiative (CiTi), “Making a difference and improving lives through technology by accelerating African innovation and African entrepreneurs is an objective shared by both organisations. CiTi has relished the opportunity to design a pan-African incubation programme. We now find ourselves strongly positioned as an African partner to international organisations who want to deliver high-impact support for entrepreneurship on the continent through hybrid models of training and mentorship.”

On why the Royal Academy of Engineering selected Cape Town-based CiTi as its incubation partner, Meredith Ettridge, Senior Manager for International Development at RAE, states: “Earlier this year we undertook a competitive tender process with a number of strong applications, following careful review we were very pleased to appoint CiTi as the training provider for the 2019 Africa Prize for Engineering Innovation, building on the success of the previous year. We were particularly pleased to award the contract to a training provider based in sub-Saharan Africa, and with such a strong history of support for entrepreneurs nationally and regionally.”

With Cape Town recently being named the leading Tech Hub of Africa, it should come as no surprise that two of the companies hail from SA.

“CiTi has a strong network of trainers and mentors in Cape Town so it was an easy decision to hold the first training session here. Cape Town also has a thriving technology ecosystem which was evident during the myriad of events happening as part of Global Entrepreneurship Week which allowed our shortlist to make excellent new connections,” adds Meredith Ettridge.

The Hybrid Five-Axis Machine Tool is the first of the South African innovations on the shortlist, developed by Dr Lukas du Plessis. Du Plessis’s hybrid machine tool works on five axes to allow users to shape, cut, grind, shear and otherwise form metals and hard materials with more precision.

“There’s so much manufacturing in South Africa that could be greatly improved if small and medium-sized businesses could afford machining tools like this – and my hope is to change that,” states Dr Lukas du Plessis, founder of the Hybrid Five-Axis Machine Tool.

He continues: “What I hope to gain from this experience is twofold: (i) A fundamental understanding of entrepreneurial business so that I can support entrepreneurs in South Africa to establish compact manufacturing firms that are competitive internationally. (ii) I also hope to find a partner who shares my manufacturing vision and passion for machine tools.”

The second South African innovation is the Pelebox Smart Locker system developed by Neo Hutiri.

Pelebox is a smart locker system designed for public healthcare facilities to dispense chronic medicine to regular patients, cutting down on long queues and easing pressure on clinic resources.

Developed by Hutiri and his team for the South African healthcare system, the Pelebox is a simple wall of lockers, controlled by a digital system in the centre. Healthcare workers stock the lockers with chronic prescription refills, log the medicine on the system, and secure each locker. Pelebox then sends patients a one-time PIN, which they simply enter into the system to unlock their medicine.

“The public healthcare system is so often under strain, and Pelebox can take a lot of pressure off clinics who fill repeat prescriptions for regular patients,” comments Neo Hutiri, founder of Pelebox Smart Lockers.

He adds: “To be considered amongst thousands of innovators and entrepreneurs that would have applied for this prize is a testament to the work that we are doing on the ground in leveraging technology to serve people. Our vision is to create and promote inclusive technologies solving challenging issues in health. We feel that we are well positioned to solve the issue of long queues in clinics through technology that is patient-centric and easy to use.”

Cape Town, South Africa (September 2018) - Nic Haralambous - entrepreneur, author, speaker and stylish sock icon - has done it again. The businessman behind startups such as Motribe, ForeFront Africa and the popular fashion brand Nic Harry, has released his debut book, Do.Fail.Learn.Repeat. and it is exactly what you need to read if you are looking for an honest, open look at the life of an entrepreneur.

From the age of 16, Nic has been exercising his entrepreneurial skills. Starting with building web-based products and moving on to creating full-sized companies in the tech world. He has built businesses from the ground up and seen many of them succeed, but he’s also seen a number of them fail.

After graduating from Rhodes University, Nic tried to make his way up the corporate ladder, but soon found that working on his own passions and interests was what he really wanted to be doing. So, that’s what he pursued. Founding multiple startups until he found his current brainchild, Nic Harry.

The funky sock brand has taken South African men’s fashion by storm, and recently added a range of underwear and T-shirts as well. All products are made with soft bamboo fibres, allowing for comfort, style and variety for guys who want variety in their wardrobes.

Now, Nic has written and released a business biography, in which he outlines his business successes and failures, as well as the lessons he learnt along the way. In the book he gives an accurate and truthful account of how he got to where he is today. He opens up about failing, and shares how he got back up after each failed attempt.

The book came out in July 2018 and has hit all major bookstore shelves. It is also available on his website. Online buyers will receive a signed copy, and can add a pair of Nic Harry socks, that match the book’s cover, to their carts as well. Nic is also available to be booked for talks, where he shares his experience and knowledge with like-minded individuals.

https://nicharry.com/

Get in Contact

Facebook:

• https://web.facebook.com/NicHWrites/
• https://web.facebook.com/NicHarryStyle/

Twitter:

• https://twitter.com/nicharry
• https://twitter.com/nicharrystyle

Google plus:

• https://plus.google.com/u/0/+NicholasHaralambous

Instagram:

• https://www.instagram.com/nicharrystyle/

YouTube:

• https://www.youtube.com/user/nicharry

LinkedIn:

• https://www.linkedin.com/in/nicharalambous/

Many entrepreneurs fall into the trap of thinking that partnering with a business coach will solve all their business challenges. This is only partly true, however. Read on to find out why. 

Imagine you’re training for a marathon. You have your goal, your have your training plan, and it’s all going well. But, still, you feel you could do better. So, you hire a running coach. What happens now? Well, that’s up to you, isn’t it? If you diligently follow the coach’s advice, you’re certain to see progress. If you think the mere fact you’ve appointed the coach is enough, and continue without making any changes, you probably won’t.  

The same applies to business coaching, says Pieter Scholtz, master franchisor of ActionCOACH. “Appointing a coach is the first step. Thereafter, the hard work starts,” he says.  

Scholtz adds that there’s often a misconception about the business coach’s role. “You can’t expect your coach to solve your business challenges for you,” he explains. “A good coach will tell you the truth about you and your business, no matter how uncomfortable it may be, or how hard it is to share with you the realities of your business and the changes you need to make.” 

A business coach will help by providing training, skills, guidance and advice, Scholtz answers. “When you’re working by yourself, it’s easy to get off track,” he comments. “You might have a vague idea that you’re not happy with where the business is headed, but you’re not sure how to correct its course. This might be because you’re too close to the business and you can’t see where the areas of weakness might be, or maybe it’s simply because you don’t know how to fix things.” 

This is where the objective view of a business coach can help. Because they are less invested in the business, especially from an emotional perspective, they aren’t afraid to take a critical look at what’s going wrong. They can make the hard calls that business owners are afraid to. What’s more, they have the business experience and insight to understand what changes need to be made. 

But this is where the responsibility of the business coach ends and that of the business owner begins, Scholtz says. “Your coach may suggest books to read, conferences to attend, webinars to watch. You’ll also need to be prepared to think up issues that you want to discuss before each session if you are to get the most out of the relationship. There’s a lot of homework involved,” he points out. 

Of course, you can choose not to follow up on your coach’s recommendations. After all, entrepreneurs often carry a heavy load, and it can be difficult to find the time for ‘enrichment work’ in between income generating tasks. But, says Scholtz, “as with most things in life, the benefits you receive from coaching will correlate directly with the time and effort you invest. If you don’t think you’re ready to make the commitment, this might not be the right time for you.“Remember,” he continues, “growth comes from doing. When you are part of a coaching relationship, you’ll be doing a lot of doing. You’ll be answering a lot of tough but important questions. You will be challenging your paradigms and perspectives. You will be unlocking your potential. You will be on your way to becoming the person, the leader, that you need to be in your life and in your business, whilst achieving your personal goals too. You will be made aware of the obstacles, and you’ll learn how to overcome them.” 

It won’t be easy – but then change and growth (and all the other uncomfortable situations that ultimately benefit us) seldom are.