Enter the 2024 Lions Den Business Plan Competition

 

By Fred Felton | Mar. 22, 2024.

EThekwini Municipality invites local small, medium and micro enterprises (SMMEs) as well as co-operatives to apply for the 2024 Lions Den Business Plan Competition.

From left uMhlanga branch Mercedes-Benz Sales Executive Kitto Msomi handing over a R20 000 cheque to last year's emerging category winner Andile Madondo of Guru's Eatery (centre) with eThekwini Municipality's Head of Business Support, Tourism, Markets, and Agri-Business Unit Thulani Nzama. | Photo: ETHEKWINI MUNICIPALITY. 

The closing date for this competition is 5 April 2024.

This competition aims to stimulate good business ideas and encourage sustainable entrepreneurship, innovation, and competitiveness among entrepreneurs.

Those who enter have the chance to benefit from exciting business development prizes.

The competition will run in three categories as follows:

Emerging business with a viable business idea – will accept businesses with a turnover of less than R100 000 per annum.

Established business that need venture expansion – requires businesses with turnover of more than R100 000 and below R500 000 per annum.

Businesses that have demonstrated entrepreneurship excellence – this category is for businesses with a turnover of more than R500 000 per annum who has demonstrated exceptional business practice.

‘’This programme is yielding great results. We now invite more SMMEs to partake in this year’s programme,’’ said eThekwini Mayor Councillor Mxolisi Kaunda.

You can download the application on the following link: https://rb.gy/53nwb7

Application forms are also available here:

At the following address: Business Support, Tourism, Markets and Agri-Business Unit, 7^th Floor Embassy Building, 199 Anton Lembede Street, Durban (or at Security Desk on the ground floor entrance)

At all Sizakala Centres.

SEDA, eThekwini branch, 127 Johannes Nkosi Street.

You can also access a form at www.durban.gov.za by clicking on the Government tab followed by Document and browse on Public Notices.

Requests can also be made to yanga.nyakeni@durban.gov.za or nondumiso.mhlongo@durban.gov.za

Those who have won this competition before have seen a positive impact on their businesses.

‘’The business is growing from strength to strength and I would encourage other businesses to enter the competition,’’ said Lungani Nene, founder of Spot-on Fire Controls.

Nene won under the entrepreneurship excellence category last year. He won equipment worth R40 000 which he said was a game changer for his business.

Guru’s Eatery co-founder, Andile Madondo won the Emerging category and received kitchen equipment worth R20 000. Madondo said efficiency of his business operations has improved since receiving the equipment.