Sharing experiences, ideas and networking was the order of the day at the 5th Invotech Business Breakfast held by DUT based business incubator, Invotech, at the Elangeni Hotel earlier this week.
Invotech is an innovation and technology business incubator that is supported by DUT and funded by the Small Enterprise Development Agency (SEDA). Invotech converts innovations and new technologies into sustainable commercially viable businesses and accelerates the development of technologically based start up enterprises.
In her opening address on sharing her experiences, CEO of the Association for Communication and Advertising (ACA), said her business journey had not been an easy one but she focused on what she considers best business practices and what she learnt during her days in her family business. “In business, you have to be constantly creative and you must have the science, knowledge and ambition. You must think out of the box and always think differently,” she said.
Lindo Duma, 2015 Ithala Bank Inkunzi’ Isematholeni Youth in Business Competition winner and founder of a stove that helps prevent shack fires, a serious social problem in informal settlements around South Africa, spoke about the importance of being creative in business. “You need to find a gap and fill it, there will always be people with the same business idea as you but the trick is to make sure that you are as creative as possible with yours,” he said. Duma’s stove business was incubated at Invotech.
The breakfast meeting also saw many young entrepreneurs networking with experienced businessmen. Invotech hosts a series of business breakfasts along with other events such as the upcoming Fun/Run Walk aimed at developing and creating positivity among the youth.
Some of the shared rules of running a business are:
· Never spend or misuse your profits.
· Waste nothing. Make use of everything that can help towards the growth of your business.
· Hand work will grow your business and get you promoted.
· Keep your eye on the ball.
· Customer service is very important.
· Give back to the community. Once you make it, never forget the community that helped you succeed.
· Think differently and see things differently.
· Your attitude towards people will get you very far. Never be on a pedestal.
· Education is always important. There is always something new to learn in business and in communities.
· Stay focused on your goals and that of your business.
Invotech is located on 123 Botanic Gardens Road, Berea Road 4001 and can be contacted on (031) 201 4788 or visit their website at www.invotech.org.za. Follow them twitter on at @Invotechdbn or on Facebook: Invotech Business Incubator.
– Noxolo Memela
Pictured: Odette van der Haar, ACA CEO; Lindo Duma, business owner; Kyle Langley, Poly Magnus, Chief Marketing Officer, and Patricia Malemia, Vuma Fm Regional Account Manager.
