13 Dec 2017

Boteti Investors Summit (BIS) is expected to serve as an alternative initiative to promote entrepreneurs and create a platform for investment opportunities.

BIS director, Mr Collen Mosu said this on December 11 during the summit pre-launch workshop held in Letlhakane.

He said government has done a lot in giving support to the youth through various programmes, but that there was a gap that still needed to be filled hence the summit. 

Mr Mosu explained that the summit, which is scheduled for Saturday (December 16) at Thakadu Hotel, would create a platform that would link aspiring enterpreneurs with potential investors.

He said it would also provide an opportunity for established and running businesses to sell their products and services.

He said during research they conducted through random sampling, it was realised that a lot of people who could be potential investors lacked knowledge on how they could invest their money. 

He said they also discovered that there were a lot of youngsters in Boteti with good business ideas but that they lacked mentors and funds.

Mr Mosu said participants at the summit would be awarded 10 minutes presentation each to pitch their ideas in the interest of investors. 

He said they intended to create an online- application where businesses would be categorised according to products and services they offered.

He added that it would afford aspiring enterpreneurs an opportunity to partner with investors online.

Boteti Ministry of Youth Empowerment, Sport and Culture Development official, Ms Chedza Malapela said the summit was financed by their department. 

She said the ministry had funded 304 projects, and that 90 per cent of them were unsatisfactory.

She said if their  request was approved, it would rescue collapsing projects.

Ms Malapela said some entrepreneurs lacked knowledge and did not perform self-evaluation in order to position themselves in the market. 

She reiterated that there was need to close the gap in business networks existing in Boteti, adding that entrepreneurs should have perseverance and passion.

She further explained that market research, establishing products in the market and tapping on new opportunities were the basic aspects for a successful business.

Ms Malapela said MYSC would continue supporting the youth in their efforts to make changes in their lives through the creation of business opportunities.

Mentor, Mr Ronald Lephodisa of Lalla Guest House said the summit would aid young entrepreneurs to relate with other business owners and seek assistance. 

He described an entrepreneur as a risk taker, a person who sets goals and plans properly.

He said entrepreneurship begins with opportunity identification and creation of a vision.

Mr Lephodisa pointed out that most businesses failed because a market survey was not carried, and that it was important to carry a market research before establishing a business. 

He encouraged participants to talk to experts in the same field of their businesses and urged them to persevere against any challenges that they might encounter. 

The summit would be targeting three categories of people being those with capital but without passion for business, employed people with insufficient time for business and well established business but interested in investing more. ENDS