Eighteen South African candidates have been selected to pitch to UK investors in April, as part of the final round of the Micro Enterprise Development Organisation (MEDO) International Trade Program (ITP).
HumanIPO reported last month on the ITP entrepreneurial bootcamp, which took place in mid-February in Cape Town.
“The entrepreneurs were well prepared and delivered business pitches of a world class standard,” Judi Sandrock, Chief Executive Officer at MEDO said.
The selection announcement was made public yesterday (Thursday) as the final session in Johannesburg took place on Wednesday, February 27.
This follows on a training programme in Cape Town and pitching sessions during the international bootcamp at the University of Stellenbosch Business School (USB).
Sponsored by Global Services and British Telecom (BT), the ITP aims to promote a trade relationship between South Africa and the UK by boosting local entrepreneurship.
The ITP programme supports job creation and economic growth in South Africa through assisting local entrepreneurship, while building a trade relationship between South Africa and the UK.
Business representatives travelling to the UK include entrepreneurs Veronica Shangali Aswani, Obakeng Mathlhoko and Nathi Shabalala and Sibongile Mbele from startups Wavunow, Sowertech and Mbele Social Concepts (Pty) Ltd, respectively.
Wavunow creates opportunities for crafters to earn fair income, while Sowertech is launching a taxi app, Afta-robot and Mbele Social Concepts (Pty) Ltd assists in rural computer education.
The trip is focused on startups in the ICT sector and sponsored by BT and Global Services.
