Page 19 - Landscape SA 101

BUSINESS FEATURE

ENVIROPRENEURS PROGRAMME IN

SOUTH AFRICA’S GREEN ECONOMY

Earlier this year, the South African government published its Economic Reconstruction and
Recovery Plan, which recognises green economy interventions as a critical factor in not only
addressing the country's persistent challenges of inequality, poverty and unemployment
but also in offering a sustainable solution to driving economic competitiveness.

mvelisi, an early-stage business helps entrepreneurs' business ventures The programme is constantly evolving
development platform, is plugging the succeed by ensuring they have an to offer aspiring young environmental
Igap that exists in the country’s green understanding of their business’ feasibility, entrepreneurs the best business advice,
economy by developing young eco- that they're aware of operational processes technical insights relevant to their unique
innovators and their ideas through an and are knowledgeable about building environmental discipline and mentorship
innovative enviropreneurs programme. relationships and managing people. to help develop their business plans.
More recent developments include the
The programme is funded by the "There are hundreds of business introduction of guidebooks designed
Department of Science and Innovation incubators, enterprise development specifically for entrepreneurs looking to
(DSI) and is in partnership with and business mentorship programmes start businesses involving invasive alien
GreenMatterZA and the South African operating in South Africa, yet ideation plant species removal and beneficiation.
Young Water Professionals Network (YWP- phase enviropreneurs still struggle due
ZA). It consists of two key components: to a lack of support in the early stages of Partner and stakeholder investments
the first is a training bootcamp that the business development cycle," says have seen the programme digitise its
fosters entrepreneurship and business Janavi Da Silva, director of programmes at bootcamps to offer virtual, extended
success by giving 50 young and aspiring GreenMatter. month-long sessions, as opposed to its
entrepreneurs the opportunity to explore previous one-week bootcamp which
their ideas and gain insight into starting The enviropreneurs programme provides placed the entrepreneurs under pressure
a business in the water, biodiversity and ideation training to young enviropreneurs, to pitch after four days. Entrepreneurs
environmental sectors. equipping them with the knowledge, skills now have access to a more flexible
and resources to assess market potential, enviropreneur programme guided by
The second component of the programme structure a business and partnership industry experts who walk the journey
selects six participants who have shown proposal and test the viability of their with the attendees to ensure they develop
unique potential during the bootcamp, ideas and concepts. The programme their business plans more effectively and
giving them access to mentorship and creates opportunities for them to learn, obtain even more knowledge and insights
one-on-one support for 12 weeks. adapt and network in the green sector. from the training sessions.
The Imvelisi Enviropreneurs Programme Imvelisi not only helps break down the Da Silva says there has been a massive
has trained a total of 132 enviropreneurs barriers to entry but is also aware that many difference since the introduction of the
to-date and recently concluded its fourth entrepreneurs spend a significant amount virtual bootcamp, where entrepreneurs are
bootcamp, the first one having been of time and money trying to determine if pitching much stronger business ideas to
launched in 2015. This was in time for the there would be a potential market for their the team. This is a significant improvement
start of Global Entrepreneurship Week product or service offering. To simplify compared to previous years and is due
(16-22 November), which celebrated the process, Imvelisi provides detailed to the additional hands-on support from
innovators who launch start-ups that market intelligence reports that include a industry experts who have come on board.
bring ideas to life. wide range of business opportunities that Going into the future, innovation will
currently exist in the green economy. The continue so that more enviropreneurs can
Imvelisi draws knowledge and expertise reports significantly cut down the cost of be reached and the impact expanded. The
from industry mentors whose guidance market entry. goal is to look into the future for a greener
economy on the African continent.
According to Lucky Litelu from SA
Young Water Professionals, the Imvelisi
enviropreneurs programme is a necessary
step for entrepreneurs looking to develop
themselves professionally. This initiative
forms a critical part of early-stage
entrepreneurial development and the
programme enables entrepreneurs to turn
their green business ideas from thoughts
into tangible businesses. LSA
www.imvelisi .org

Landscape SA • Issue 101 2021 17