Founders Dinner Bolsters Entrepreneurs
Pauline Dikuelo | Monday November 12, 2018 18:00
Founders Dinner Series that brings together leading captains of industries into one intimate dinner thus affording upcoming entrepreneurs an opportunity to network and learn from them.
Since inception early this year, the sessions have hosted business magnates amongst others Base Sebonego, Tonderai Tsara, Samuel Mpuchane, Ebrahim Mohamed and Mompoloki Mogobe.
Lethola told Monitor Business it was after his first business magazine publication when he realised that most of Small to Medium Enterprises (SMEs) need to be mentored and can expand through the right networking.
“Research has shown that most SMEs locally don’t grow beyond infancy stage. I thought I should start something that would create some network between the industry leaders, SMEs’ and upcoming ones so that they can impart the skills and knowledge with them,” he said.
According to Lethola, the platform exposed aspiring entrepreneurs and SMEs to resourceful information, ideas, leads, business opportunities, financial capital, power and influence, emotional support, even goodwill trust and cooperation.
“We are passionate about helping founders, entrepreneurs and start-ups succeed. We intend to make their business journey less lonely, more connected and more memorable,” he said.
From a cocktail reception to a sit-down dinner, the evening provides the perfect opportunity for business founders, business managers, venture capitalists, creatives, aspiring entrepreneurs and freelancers to sit together and build meaningful relationships.
In addition, Lethola said the event offers a platform to discuss business challenges, ideas and network with fellow business leaders, pioneers and other stakeholders of note in the different spheres.
Through the sessions, start-ups also get the opportunity to pitch their ideas before these investors who then decide if they can invest some capital, mentorship or business start-up toolkit. To date some businesses have successfully found funding while some have been offered mentoring.
“I strongly believe that businesses are built on the back-end of relationships and having the right conversation with the right people is an important part of growth. This is possible through a dedicated team that I am working with,” he said.
He further shared their vision of penetrating the SADC region targeting countries like South Africa, Namibia and Zimbabwe. The next dinner is billed for next February at the same time with the founders’ dinner in Johannesburg that will be followed by other launches in Harare and Windhoek.