“All I want for Christmas is the opportunity to pitch my business to the big players in our industry!”
Just imagine… the infinite value of the undivided attention of your industry’s biggest companies. For 15 minutes, you can tell them all about your enterprise and why they should partner with you to take your business to the next level. Sounds too good to be true right? Wrong! It’s not… it’s real and it’s happening NOW. Are you going to take up this unbelievable opportunity?
“The purpose of the Business Accelerator is to connect high potential, black-owned small businesses with large customers in their sector,” explains Kyle Ballard, Head of the Accelerators at BMA. He elaborates, “The outcomes of these partnerships are two-fold: the SMEs gain market access, world-class mentorship from industry experts, opportunities to secure investment and/or preferential loans, as well as invaluable exposure to industry leaders. Big business gains through access to cutting-edge innovation in their local supply chains and optimising their BBBEE scorecard.”
The Accelerator is facilitated through industrial manufacturing clusters, representing various sectors and follows a process of applications i.e. short-listing of applicants, pitch development support, a Dragons’ Den event, business case development and mentorship. eThekwini Municipality is a key sponsor of the Accelerator under the guidance of Ravesha Govender, who says, “High potential SMEs are identified through the application and screening processes and are then invited to a “Capacity Building” workshop. Here, SME participants develop their business cases in preparation for the Dragons’ Den event under the guidance of industry specialists. At the Dragons’ Den, participants present their business cases to the ‘Dragons’ who are top executives from big business in each sector, keen to find new high potential, local suppliers. There are cash prizes up for grabs on the day but more importantly, this is where SMEs have the chance to demonstrate their ability to large prospective customers to win the much bigger prize of procurement and supplier partnerships.”
Both the eThekwini Furniture Cluster and KwaZulu-Natal Clothing & Textile Cluster Accelerators are kicking off early in 2023 and applications are already open.
SMEs from the clothing and textile sector will have the opportunity to pitch their business to leading retailers including Mr Price Sport, Miladys, Mr Price, Pepkor Speciality and Woolworths who are looking for garment manufacturing specialists as well as unique sustainability offerings incorporating innovative packaging, logistics and raw materials into their value propositions to customers.
SMEs from the furniture sector will have the opportunity to pitch to Homewood, Mr Price Home and @home who are eager to find suppliers capable of designing and manufacturing products for their end consumers, and again, particularly when combined with sustainable and cost-effective packaging, raw materials, and innovative logistics offerings.
If this appeals to you and you’re ready to give your small business the best chance at a prosperous 2023, then apply now! Please refer to the following details for your business’s relevant sector:
Furniture Sector
ETHEKWENI FURNITURE CLUSTER (EFC)
Applications (open now) close: 28 February 2023
Apply here: https://furniturecluster.org.za/the-business-accelerator/
Download the Accelerator info pack here: https://lnkd.in/d23Raer2
Clothing & Textiles Sector
KZN CLOTHING AND TEXTILE CLUSTER (KZNCTC)
Applications (open now) close: 28 February 2023
Apply here: https://kznctc.org.za/kznctc-business-accelerator
Download the Accelerator info pack here: https://loom.ly/0OhSenA
“The Accelerator has a proven track record, having unlocked over R150 million in new commercial opportunities and over 870 jobs so far and we urge all qualifying businesses to apply now and take advantage of what could become the key to their future expansion and greater success,” concludes Kyle.
If you know of any promising, black-owned, businesses in the furniture or clothing and textile industries who are looking to step into the big-time, why not present them with a Christmas gift to top all gifts and tell them about the Business Accelerator opportunity.
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