Entrepreneurs on the go

Michelline NawatisesSanlam announced the winners of its entrepreneurial support programme the Sanlam Bridge on 01 September 2021. The programme which was launched earlier this year to replace the Sanlam Innovation Works is a launchpad for Namibia’s young future business leaders who have innovative and exciting business ideas but lack the necessary resources to turn their ideas into reality or grow their business.Part of the company’s corporate social responsibility, the Sanlam Bridge aims to create future business leaders in Namibia, promote business innovation and leadership, and promote employment creation while allowing young people the opportunity to develop their businesses and thereby earn their income.The top businesses selected for this year’s Sanlam Bridge are:1. Taxi Connect - a ride-hailing platform to request a taxi.2. Greenville Solars - is engaged in the distribution of portable solar lights and phone chargers. 3. Ndaka Mushrooms - process fresh oyster mushrooms into dried mushrooms, mushroom soups, mushroom snacks, and pickled mushrooms.4. Stimu Box Sensory Play Creations - is an online store that produces and sells personalised sensory boxes by order. They offer a variety of items that help children to explore and learn about the world through their senses.5. Petwa Medical Practice - is a clinical research centre that will conduct clinical trials in Namibia.The businesses are all at different stages of their entrepreneurial journey but will all walk away with a cash prize of N$50 000.00 seed capital from Sanlam. Coupled with this, the entrepreneurs will also receive support, mentorship and coaching from StartUp Namibia who has partnered up with Sanlam to help facilitate this programme. The top five businesses are expected to meet set criteria and achieve set goals and milestones to be in the running for the overall Sanlam Bridge winner who will walk away with an additional N$50 000.00 cash prize to further invest into their business.Speaking at the announcement event earlier this morning, Sanlam General Manager Brand and People, Dr Evans Simataa said “At Sanlam, we view entrepreneurs as national assets to be cultivated, motivated, coached and adequately supported to the greatest possible extent”.He also added that entrepreneurship drives innovation. “You are in the forefront of coming up with new products and improving the existing ones too which contributes to employment creation and this is important to us as Sanlam,”Simataa further added that is important to note that the Sanlam Bridge does not only provides young people with the much-needed financial support, but it gives them the necessary support which will help ensure they go the distance with their business.Speaking at the same event StartUp Namibia GIZ Project Manager Anna Vambe said she was humbled to be a part of this important project. Vambe further highlighted that StartUp Namibia is a German-Namibian technical cooperation project funded by the German Government that has been assisting Namibian startups since the project was launched in 2019.“I am excited that we had the opportunity to partner with Sanlam Namibia as you bring professionalism and connections and network in the corporate world to this project,” she said. Her advice to the recipient of the seed capital is that they need to think beyond just producing and selling locally but also internationally. She strongly encouraged the recipients to corroborate and learn from each other as the journey of entrepreneurship can be challenging.The owner of one of the top five businesses, Dr Twahafifwa Nambuwa said that she is excited about this. “We cannot wait for this journey as we will be based in Rhino Park to the public to cater a service that offers patients to come through and have new drugs and vaccines tested on them to find outside effects and closely monitor them on all pharmaceutical costs,” she said.

Entrepreneurs on the go

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Republikein 2026-03-04

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Entrepreneurs on the go

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Republikein 2026-03-04

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