It is widely acknowledged by ICT analysts that are well-considered CAMMS (cloud computing, mega data analytics, mobile enterprises, social business, and security) strategy is central to the industry transformation demands of a country – such as South Africa – which requires world-class skills and innovation through ground-breaking research, culminating in a new foreground IP and know-how which has the ability to be commercialised globally, making a significant contribution to a country’s digital competitiveness.

IBM South Africa has specifically identified CAMMS as a high priority for South Africa, and is searching for revolutionary innovators who have disruptive technology ideas that have the potential to change an industry, a province, a country, and the world. In an effort to promote the creation of more disruptive ideas, IBM has launched the Aspiring Entrepreneurs Initiative to help conquer the challenges that we as a nation face with enterprise stimulation. Only the crème de la crème will be chosen to join this elite programme that will provide entrepreneurs with access to IBM South Africa’s labs, as well as their specialists, who will work closely with them to develop their ideas and make them become a reality.

This programme is more than just a standard ICT programme for enterprise development in South Africa, because it offers entrepreneurs – who may not have studied technology, or work in it – the chance to work with a world-renowned organization and its resources to create their very own disruptive technology that will catapult South Africa forward as a leader in the ICT industry.

The Aspiring Entrepreneurs Initiative is a business development and personal growth programme that IBM South Africa has launched, in partnership with Raizcorp. The programme is targeted at potential entrepreneurs who have innovative ICT-related business concepts or ideas, and will enable the entrepreneurs to build their business solutions into bankable feasibilities, which can later be pitched to financiers for investment, so that the final business solutions can be developed to the start-up phase.  

Successful candidates, who are accepted on to the programme, will receive business development, technology development and personal growth support via coaching and mentorship from Raizcorp’s Guides, as well as access to skills and business education. A level of financial support will also be provided, to enable the entrepreneurs to dedicate their time exclusively to the programme for its full duration.

IBM is looking for the following entrepreneurs who:

• Have a technology related business concept or idea that is based on ICT in one of the following categories:  cloud computing, mega data analytics, mobile enterprises, social business, and security.
• Are dedicated to put in the hard work to become an entrepreneur, and are hungry for growth.
• Are black South African citizens, who are 18 years or older, and have completed Grade 12.
• Have access to accommodation in the Johannesburg region, while they are on the programme.
• Are willing and able to participate in the programme for 6 months, on a full-time basis.

“South Africa needs a more powerful ecosystem surrounding the ICT industry, this programme goes a long way to provide those tech entrepreneurs with big ideas, with the requisite support to become global players,” says Allon Raiz, CEO of Raizcorp.

“IBM has been at the forefront of delivering these new disruptive technologies to its clients around the world, and is now focusing on South Africa and the potential ICT discoveries and offerings that it has to offer the rest of the world. This is an exciting opportunity for anyone who isn’t necessarily qualified or employed in the technical field, but has a disruptive tech idea that will transform each of our lives, the way we do things, and our digital economy.”

Applicants are encouraged to apply for this trailblazer programme offered by IBM by clicking here.