Samsung opens its third call for black-owned tech SMM enterprises
'Other direct benefits included grant funding, asset financing and continuous business mentorship, which is exactly what our business needed to move forward,' he says.
'We strongly believe the skills we acquired from this programme, which included business regulatory governance structures and strategic business growth approaches/methods, have contributed to the success of our business. It has really helped us achieve our goals, and take our business to new heights.'
Based in Sinoville, Tshwane, Dumisani Mkhwebane, a 38-year-old businessman who co-owns and runs IT company TIA Solutions with Boitumelo Mkhwebane, 36. Their business focuses on secure scalable IT solutions by building cloud infrastructure through collaborative team efforts. This provides their customers with resilience from cyberattacks and contributes to productivity, efficiency and business continuity.
'We partner with multinational vendors such as Microsoft, Fortinet and Veritas, which allow us to give our customers end-to-end, tailor-made IT solutions that cater to their business needs,' says Mkhwebane.
He says they entered the programme after seeing an advert on LinkedIn in 2023. 'We then received capital investment to buy computer equipment for our internal operations as well as company vehicles. We also received business training, management, marketing and skills development for our employees.'
The programme has both financial and non-financial benefits for business growth and sustainability, he says. 'We would like to encourage other SMEs to apply to be part of the programme. It will help grow other SMEs like it did ours and upskill their workforce.'
The Samsung ED programme aims to show future participants how the EEIP can help them start their businesses. The success of past beneficiaries proves Samsung's commitment to supporting entrepreneurs and small businesses in SA.
Nicky Beukes, Samsung SA EEIP project manager says: 'It's clear from these testimonials that through the reassurance and confidence offered by this Samsung EEIP ED programme, we are slowly achieving shifting the perception of potential candidates from 'I'm working on something' to 'I run a successful business'.
'As Samsung, we are happy to be delivering according to our programme's overall and multifaceted objectives, which include the creation of a more inclusive and prosperous society through strategic investments, skills development and entrepreneurial support.'
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