#BreakingGrounds’ Post

Unpacking the complexities of #African #entrepreneurship with Marsha Wulff 🌍 Join us for a deep dive into funding challenges, value creation, and the future of startups across the continent.

South African Entrepreneurs! Are you ready to take your business to the next level? 🚀💼 The 2024 Nedbank Pitch & Polish competition is here, and it's your golden opportunity to showcase your innovative ideas and business prowess to the world! 🌍✨ Entries are officially open, and you're just a pitch away from potentially winning an incredible prize worth R1 million! Yes, you heard that right - R1 million! The lucky winner will receive a cash injection of R650,000 to grow their business and a R350,000 bursary for a two-year business development programme with Africa's top incubator, Raizcorp. 🏆💰 Alan Shannon from Nedbank shares the excitement, highlighting how the Pitch & Polish programme has unveiled some of South Africa's brightest entrepreneurial talents, helping them scale their businesses through mentorship and funding. This year, it could be you! 🌟 Remember last year's winner, Tshireletso Mokate, aka 'The Camping Guy'? His advice to you is to soak in every moment of the competition. It's not just about winning the prize; it's about the invaluable entrepreneurial journey and the learnings you'll gather along the way - those are the real treasures. 💎🛤️ This competition is more than just a battle for the top spot. It's a celebration of innovation, a test of grit, and most importantly, a chance for you to polish your pitch to perfection. From the initial entries to the final showdown, it's an exhilarating ride with a wildcard twist that you won't want to miss. 🎢🃏 And let's not forget about the audience! By tuning into the live-streamed episodes, you'll not only be rooting for your favorite contestants but also stand a chance to win some exciting audience prizes. 🎉📺 So, if you're an entrepreneur with a registered business or a sole proprietor with a big dream, this is your call to action. Visit pitchandpolish.com to enter before the deadline on Friday, 5 April 2024. Don't let this chance slip through your fingers; your business could be the next big thing thanks to the Nedbank Pitch & Polish competition. Let's make it happen! 🌈💪 #NedbankPitchAndPolish #Entrepreneurship #BusinessCompetition #SouthAfricanEntrepreneurs

🌍 Connecting Changemakers 🤝 Yesterday, we had the incredible opportunity to host a group of aspiring and first-time entrepreneurs from Albania, Bosnia, Herzegovina, Ukraine, and Berlin at Vali Berlin! ⭐ As part of the Berlin Founders Program, an initiative implemented by enpact the founders who are in the early stages of their business ideas, explored how entrepreneurship can drive meaningful change. During their visit, Baris Efe, Co Founder and Head at Vali Berlin shared invaluable insights on the intersection of entrepreneurship, startups, investors, and corporates. He spoke about how these ecosystems can collaborate to drive innovation, scale impactful solutions, and navigate the challenges of a dynamic business landscape. 🌟 We’re excited to see how these trailblazers will lead the charge in creating a more sustainable and inclusive future. 🚀 We believe that innovation thrives when we embrace differences—whether cultural, professional, or geographical. Entrepreneurs from all walks of life bring unique solutions to global challenges, and today’s collaboration offered a meaningful opportunity to learn from one another’s experiences. A special thanks to SIBB - Digital Association of Berlin-Brandenburg, Senatsverwaltung für Wirtschaft, Energie und Betriebe and enpact for organizing this visit and bringing together such a talented group of entrepreneurs. ✨ Nicola Filzmoser Mikel Mangold Ron SIBB Elvir Bećirović Chiara Kadelka  #ESMT #ValiBerlin #DiversityInEntrepreneurship #SustainableDevelopment #SocialResponsibility #GlobalImpact

The narrative surrounding African entrepreneurship has often been clouded by misconceptions and stereotypes, perpetuating an inaccurate portrayal of the continent's vibrant and dynamic entrepreneurial landscape. For far too long, prevailing beliefs have painted a picture of African entrepreneurs as lacking innovation, struggling with access to resources, and confined to traditional sectors. However, upon closer examination, it becomes evident that these perceptions fail to capture the true essence and potential of African entrepreneurship. In this comprehensive article, we embark on a journey to debunk these myths and shed light on a rich world of innovation, resilience, and ingenuity that defines African entrepreneurship. https://lnkd.in/dkkWzDpH

The narrative surrounding African entrepreneurship has often been clouded by misconceptions and stereotypes, perpetuating an inaccurate portrayal of the continent's vibrant and dynamic entrepreneurial landscape. For far too long, prevailing beliefs have painted a picture of African entrepreneurs as lacking innovation, struggling with access to resources, and confined to traditional sectors. However, upon closer examination, it becomes evident that these perceptions fail to capture the true essence and potential of African entrepreneurship. In this comprehensive article, we embark on a journey to debunk these myths and shed light on a rich world of innovation, resilience, and ingenuity that defines African entrepreneurship. https://lnkd.in/dUS4GeeN

🇧🇷 Celebrating Brazil’s Independence Day! ✅ Today marks 202 years of Brazil’s independence from #Portugal—a celebration of rich culture, immense potential, and a booming entrepreneurial landscape! 🚀 At IntGrows, we take pride in helping #startups and #founders #entrepreneurs from around the globe establish a successful soft landing in Brazil. From #business setup and #tax #compliance to navigating #immigration challenges, we’re here to ensure your success in Brazil’s dynamic market. Whether you’re expanding your business into Brazil or tapping into the growing opportunities across Latin America, we’re ready to guide you every step of the way. 🇧🇷 Happy Independence Day, Brazil! #IndependenceDayBrazil #SoftLandingInBrazil #BrazilBusiness #StartupsInBrazil #Entrepreneurship #IntGrows #InnovationInBrazil #LatAmExpansion #BrazilianVisa #BusinessGrowth Soft landing soft-landing softlanding

🌍✨ Boundless Opportunities for Ukrainian Entrepreneurs in Ireland 🌍✨ In times when the entrepreneurial spirit knows no bounds, the Erasmus for Young Entrepreneurs Programme shines as a lighthouse of opportunity, especially for Ukrainian entrepreneurs seeking refuge and a new beginning after February 24, 2022. HelpingNetworks is proud to be the bridge to transformative benefits for these courageous innovators, offering: 🤝 Practical Experience & Mentorship: Pairing with seasoned business owners for direct experience and learning. 💡 Innovation through Fresh Perspectives: Exchange of strategies and innovations with entrepreneurs from diverse business cultures. 🌐 Expansion of Business Contacts: Access to an extensive network of businesses across 27 EU member states and COSME countries. 🚀 Start-up Support: Tailored counseling and recommendations for your business needs. 💳 Financial Assistance: Monthly support to cover basic costs during physical exchanges. For Irish business owners, this is a call to become hosts, opening your doors to Ukrainian innovation and entrepreneurial spirit, enriching both your businesses and personal experiences. Discover more about how HelpingNetworks is facilitating this transformative journey and how you can be a part of it in our latest article: "The Future of Ukrainian Entrepreneurship: Opportunities Abound". This is not just an opportunity for growth; it's an invitation to be part of a dynamic and supportive European business community. Whether you are a Ukrainian entrepreneur with a vision, or an Irish business owner eager to support, join us on this transformative journey! #ErasmusForYoungEntrepreneurs #UkrainianEntrepreneurs #IrishBusiness #Innovation #Entrepreneurship #SupportUkraine #UkrainianActioninireland https://lnkd.in/e_fr7CTd

Migrant founders have less access to networking and to fundings, so my research. (Positionspapier zum Thema "Talent und Gründerinnen mit Migrationshintergrund", u.a. @Bundesverband Deutscher Startups eV) We can complain or we can change things. This Thursday 21.3.2024 in colaboration with Frauenalia gUG we start our Stammtisch for Spanish speaking female founders. Every third Thursday of the month 21.3. Patricia Pieke "Mi camino en redes desde cero" 18.4. Rebeca Barjola "Como presentarse en redes" 16.5. Natascha Mina Marketing #womensupportwomen #femaleentrepreneur #migrantentrepreneur #entrepreneurship

Belfast’s entrepreneurial scene is as rich and smooth as its whiskey! Just wrapped up an inspiring week arranged by the excellent team of Queen's University Belfast and Start for Future, where we gathered with researchers from across Europe to explore the power of entrepreneurship in ecosystems. Key insights into why entrepreneurship is so crucial for Belfast: 🏛️ A captivating presentation by Margie McKay, of Belfast City Council, at the iconic City Hall (an architectural gem!) showed how 𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐫𝐞𝐩𝐫𝐞𝐧𝐞𝐮𝐫𝐬𝐡𝐢𝐩 𝐝𝐫𝐢𝐯𝐞𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐥𝐨𝐜𝐚𝐥 𝐞𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐨𝐦𝐲, 𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐯𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐢𝐚𝐥 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐁𝐞𝐥𝐟𝐚𝐬𝐭’𝐬 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐍𝐨𝐫𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐧 𝐈𝐫𝐞𝐥𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐠𝐫𝐨𝐰𝐭𝐡. They nationally pro-actively arrange support, referrals to partners and access to funds for start-ups, with extra focus on underrepresented groups. Meanwhile we got our sweet tooth covered with scones and traybakes by a social enterprise. 💷 Ulster Bank provides a free Entrepreneur Accelerator to support new entrepreneurs. Their hubs are throughout the UK, including Belfast. A bold move that wasn’t easy to sell but 𝐨𝐧𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭’𝐬 𝐢𝐧𝐜𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐬𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐢𝐧𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐞𝐬, 𝐛𝐨𝐨𝐬𝐭𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐞𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐨𝐦𝐲 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐔𝐊 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐮𝐬 𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐮𝐥𝐭𝐬 𝐢𝐧 𝐫𝐞𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐧 𝐨𝐟 𝐯𝐚𝐥𝐮𝐞. 🌎 Given Belfast’s unique political landscape, 𝐢𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐧𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐝𝐞 𝐢𝐬 𝐯𝐢𝐭𝐚𝐥 𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐧 𝐚𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐮𝐩 𝐥𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐥, as the local market quickly hits its limits. Often a step taken at a later stage in the start-up growth process is quickly integrated in businesses in Belfast. From the history-laden streets to the cutting-edge ideas shared, Belfast was the perfect backdrop for igniting fresh entrepreneurial energy across Europe. Now onto our computers back home to further write on project proposals in our EU consortia. Might turn on some folk music to keep the spirit going. #Belfast #Entrepreneurship #LocalEconomy #InternationalTrade #Ecosystems

As we kick off a new year, I felt the need to look back at all that was achieved through Platform Calgary’s Global Startup Visa (GSUV) Program, which continues to transform how international entrepreneurs build and scale their businesses in Canada. In 2024, this program became a powerful launchpad for talented founders to establish roots in Calgary, connect with a thriving ecosystem, and accelerate their global ambitions. What makes GSUV special? It’s more than a program—it’s a community that provides entrepreneurs with access to expert guidance, world-class coaching, and the support they need to overcome the challenges of scaling a business in a new country. It’s about creating opportunities for growth, building connections, and making Calgary a hub for global innovation. Last year, we saw remarkable founders bring incredible ideas to life, tapping into diverse industries and markets. The program’s success reflects not just the numbers but the lives impacted and businesses transformed. The stories we’ve heard from our founders have truly been inspiring: 🌟 Entrepreneurs connecting with investors and partners 🌟 Startups refining their strategies and unlocking new markets 🌟 Founders transforming their bold ideas into global realities In 2025, we’re excited to continue fostering innovation, scaling big ideas, and welcoming more entrepreneurs to the Calgary ecosystem. 🚀 #StartupVisa #Innovation #Entrepreneurship