The innobiz DUT Centre for Entrepreneurship and Innovation recently hosted a three-day Pitch Training and Selection Programme to shortlist student businesses that will represent the Durban University of Technology (DUT) in the 2023 Entrepreneurship Development in Higher education (EDHE) Intervarsity Competition.
The competition invites all 26 universities in South Africa to compete for the ultimate price of R100 000 that will assist them in accelerating their businesses. The programme started off with a short welcome by the Centre Manager, Ms Nontokozo Ngcobo who encouraged students to give this competition their maximum effort and learn as much as they can. She further expressed that this training is not only preparing them for this competition but for other opportunities available.
“Use every advice and skill that will be shared in this programme to advance your business, even if you do not win this competition, look for more opportunities available for small businesses and apply,” said Ngcobo.
Business Support Advisor, Thabi Ndaba took the students through the EDHE Intervarsity Competition on what it entails and why it is important for students to participate in it.
innobiz DUT Mentor from Business Doctors, Ms Mandisa Jostrey took the students through a Pitch Deck training aimed at enhancing their pitching skills, developing proper pitching presentations, and the important factors to include when selling one’s business. The students were tasked with various activities to gauge their presentation and pitching skills, to determine areas of improvement.
Students further received testimonials and words of advice from entrepreneurs, Luvo Gugwana who won the Engen Pitch and polish 2022 competition and the winners of the 2022 SAB Sharp competition, Siphiwe Ntuli and Siyabonga Mngadi. The winners gave entrepreneurs useful tips that will help them in the competition, mentioning things such as the importance of researching and understanding one’s market, possible questions they can expect, how to structure their presentation and more.
From the students shortlisted, the Centre selected eight students that will represent DUT at the regional stage of the competition.
Pictured: Student entrepreneurs who were part of the Pitch Training and Selection Programme.
Nontethelelo Mzizi
