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Tag Archives: entrepreneurs


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Co-working space: The Common Room, open day 01-Sep-2013

Hi everybody

Thanks to everyone who responded to our post about a co-working space in Sandton, Johannesburg. We’ve found an incredible co-working space at The Common Room in Parkhurst, Johannesburg, and are partnering with them to open a Sandton, Johannesburg branch soon. Watch this space!

Here is more info about their Open Day session on Spring Day 01-Sep-2013:

“The Common Room is a communal co-working space in the heart of Parkhurst, designed with entrepreneurs, freelancers, startups and creatives in mind. We have a Sandton branch on its way.

On the Sunday the 1st of September, The Common Room will host an open day session for members, friends, family and folk who like free craft beer and gluhwein, good food to buy and some chilled music. Come through and have a look at what we have to offer.

RSVP here

The Common Room on Facebook”

See you there!

All the best

Colette


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Persistence pays off for entrepreneurs

persistent mountain climber at summitThis article also appeared in Finweek Magazine in their 30-May-2013 issue

The 12th series of US singing competition American Idol reached its finale last week. 23-year-old vocal powerhouse Candice Glover took the title. With her talent you’d think she would have been a clear favourite. But this wasn’t always the case. In fact, this was Candice’s third attempt on the show. She had auditioned for the ninth and 11th seasons but didn`t reach the finals until the 12th season. In a previous season, former Idols judge Simon Cowell condescendingly told Candice she would never amount to more than a lounge singer. But he didn’t bank on her strong sense of determination. “I always knew for some reason that it would happen if I kept going,” said Glover backstage after her 2013 win. There is a powerful lesson that many entrepreneurs can learn from Candice Glover: Persistence pays off. Continue reading →


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Venture capitalists: do entrepreneurs still need them?

money tree smallThis article also appeared in Finweek Magazine in their 11-April-2013 issue

Before World War 2, development capital was limited largely to wealthy individuals and families. It was only in 1946 that venture capital (VC) began to emerge. That year the first two VC companies, American Research and Development Corporation (ARDC) and JH Whitney & Company, were created in the US. Since then, entrepreneurs have pretty much depended on VCs to build high-growth businesses. But that could be changing. With the advent of crowd-funding and the dramatic drop in costs to launch an Internet start-up, do tech entrepreneurs still need VCs? Continue reading →


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Is South Africa’s labour law killing entrepreneurship?

This article also appeared in Finweek Magazine in their 20-Dec-2012 issue

In a recent talk about entrepreneurship, renowned South African entrepreneur, Herman Mashaba, spoke passionately about our labour laws stifling entrepreneurs in South Africa. As an entrepreneur, this is a subject very close to my heart.  Continue reading →