The BIG Questions?

After launching the South African Startup Index we received many calls and request to explain the purpose of the index. What is it all about? Why do we need one? How will it make a difference for local entrepreneurs?

I spoke to Tony Blewitt on the Entrepreneurs' Network on two occasions to unpack what SASI is all about and where it fits into the entrepreneurship ecosystem. Over the next few weeks we will cover this in detail and unpack some of the different components of the ecosystem so make sure you tune in to Tony's show at 19h00 each Monday. In the last interview we spoke about Global Entrepreneurship Week and what I did not mention on the show was why we chose to launch SASI during GEW. The main theme behind GEW is "Unleash your ideas!" and this is exactly what we want to inspire South African entrepreneurs to do! They must unleash their ideas onto the global stage and become active global citizens with deep African roots. SASI hope to create a voice for these ideas and facilitate a platform that will showcase local ideas on the global stage. Our long term goal is more than just creating awareness and visibility and include a commitment to provide an international benchmark for investors, academia and policy makers that can be used to make decisions about the South African startup businesses, providing entrepreneurial insights.

We were not the only entrepreneurship support organisation to launch here in SA during GEW. The Aspen Institute launched the Aspen Network of Development Entrepreneurs (ANDE) a foundation that will focus on providing support to African businesses that can employ between 200 - 2000 people. Founding members include some big names such as the Aspen Institute, Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, Endeavor , Google.org, to name but a few. ANDE positioned itself as an "emerging network of entrepreneurial leaders, foundations and investors who will collaborate...". The BIG takeout for us and SASI is that collaborative capital is a common ingredient and our local collaboration with Business Report , SACVA and Raizcorp is committed to build a sustainable entrepreneurship ecosystem in SA.

Why do we need a Startup Index? These were some of the questions we tried to unpack with Justice Ramohlola on the Super Fantastic Breakfast Show recently. We need it to instill global awareness in South African entrepreneurs, we need it to inspire creative thinking and innovation that can facilitate local economic development and growth all through a sustainable entrepreneurship ecosystem. An ecosystem that provides more than just financial support, but also skills, experience, business acumen and mentorship that can assist with increasing our startup survival rate.

We chatted to Simon Brown on JSE Direct about how SASI hopes to make a difference for local entrepreneurs. Quite simply it should serve as training grounds for migrating or graduating to formal financial markets such as the Altx, by exposing entrepreneurs to the environment of providing transparent and accurate information about their business, products and services. This is by far the most ambitious goal for SASI, but perhaps the most important one. It will be the critical yardstick if we really hope to make a difference and create a robust and healthy investor pipeline that will deliver high economic impact in South Africa.

We value your comments and feedback, so visit us and unleash your ideas!