Latest news with #Bolt
IOL News
2 days ago
- Automotive
- IOL News
Bolt Invests over R400 000 to support emerging mobility entrepreneurs in SA
Launched in December 2024 in partnership with business academy Pranary, the program attracted over 578 applications nationwide, with Gauteng submitting the highest number. Image: Supplied. E-hailing company Bolt said it concluded its first Accelerator Program in South Africa, awarding €20,000 (over R400 000) in funding to ten participants. Bolt said that the initiative marked a significant step in the company's efforts to support entrepreneurial growth within its driver and courier community. Launched in December 2024 in partnership with business academy Pranary, the program attracted over 578 applications nationwide, with Gauteng submitting the highest number. Women made up 7% of the applicant pool. "When we empower everyday entrepreneurs with the tools to build, we don't just ignite businesses, we transform communities and shape the future of Africa's mobility. True innovation thrives in an ecosystem where ideas are nurtured, collaboration is championed, and every voice has a seat at the table. At Bolt, we're building more than a platform, we are cultivating a movement," said Lerato Motsoeneng, Bolt's Senior General Manager for South Africa. After a rigorous selection process, 120 drivers and couriers were chosen to join the Bolt Academy, where they received training in key areas such as market analysis, value proposition design, customer validation, and basic financial modelling. Twenty participants advanced to the final phase, where they worked closely with industry experts and mentors to refine their ideas. Their journey culminated in a live pitch event, with a panel evaluating their concepts on innovation, feasibility, and community impact. Each of the ten selected finalists received €2000 (over R40,000) in seed funding and will participate in six weeks of additional mentorship to further develop their ventures. At the awards event, three individuals received special recognition for their groundbreaking contributions to innovation and entrepreneurship. The awards highlighted excellence across three key categories: Kamogelo Modise received the Most Innovative Idea award for Lupa Township Delivery A sustainable, cost-effective, zero-emission bicycle delivery network designed to bridge the delivery gap in township communities through a community-driven model. Vutivi Shivambu was awarded the Most Scalable Idea for Liftsearch A ride-sharing platform that connects verified passengers with verified drivers, offering safe, affordable, and convenient long-distance travel to and from rural villages. Shannon Adams won the Best Pitch award for platform that links tourists with vetted drivers who also act as tour guides, enhancing travel experiences with local insights and safe transportation. Sandras Phiri, CEO of Pranary, emphasised the importance of practical application. 'These participants didn't just sit through lectures, they built real businesses,' he said. 'Our mentorship approach brought in active founders and investors to guide them in creating ventures that are not only viable but needed. These entrepreneurs are addressing genuine challenges in the transport space.' The Gauteng Department of Economics (GDED) is Bolt's strategic partner in creating a vibrant economy in Gauteng. Mpho Nawa, the acting Head of Department at GDED, lauded the Accelerator Program as a game-changer and said it was an example of initiative that impact our communities. 'The initiative signifies our commitment to playing a leading role in supporting initiatives that empower communities and create rising stars. This partnership would help with job creation and unlock further economic growth and diversification in townships, leading to more investment from various sectors. This will help us develop a vibrant and competitive economy in the townships, especially in the digital sector. As a Government that cares we recognise the pivotal role that innovation plays in uniting our country. This partnership with Bolt marks a significant step in supporting township businesses," Nawa said. The Accelerator Program reflects Bolt's broader aim to empower its driver and courier community with opportunities beyond the ride, helping them become active contributors to the country's evolving mobility landscape.
Daily Maverick
2 days ago
- Business
- Daily Maverick
Digital dispatch from Estonia, the eGovernance capital of the world
Daily Maverick was invited to Estonia as a guest of the minister of foreign affairs to attend the African Business Forum and 11th annual eGovernance Conference. Minister Leon Schreiber was also in attendance, but I missed his panel discussion at the forum. 'When Estonia was part of the Soviet Union the decisions were made in Moscow; now we're part of the European Union and decisions are made in Brussels. There's no change,' says my driver — it's a private trip, but he also does Bolt work — while racing to the African Business Forum that I'm already late for. It takes about 10 minutes to get from Tallinn airport to the Radisson hotel where the event is happening. 'It's 2pm' chimes the digital assistant on my Sony WF-1000XM5 earbuds. There is almost no traffic on a Tuesday. I've been in transit for 24 hours since boarding Ethiopian Air flight ET 846 in Cape Town. I should have arrived on Sunday, but my passport was still at the VFS operational centre in Pretoria on Friday, on its journey which started when Godongwana ended his Budget 3.0 speech en route to Cape Town from the Swedish embassy in Nairobi. Technology should have solved this problem by now. I'm also in desperate need of a shower. A problem of scale I dialled into the media roundtable with Estonian Minister of Foreign Affairs Margus Tsahkna from the downstairs lobby of the VFS offices in Cape Town. He said that we 'cannot compare your big country with us' in response to questions about scaling his country's digital advancements to the South African context. It's a fair point. Estonia has 1.3 million people — roughly the population of Johannesburg's northern suburbs. The entire country runs on what they call the 'XRO solution', a system they developed nearly 20 years ago that allows different government databases to talk to each other seamlessly. So remember, when Tsahkna says '100% of public services are online' and 'everyone knows exactly what their rights are', he's talking about a population smaller than eThekwini municipality and a land area the size of Gauteng. But here's what struck me about his response: he wasn't dismissive. 'There are technological solutions available, of course… and you have (natural) resources to invest,' he said. The key, he insisted, was political leadership. 'We can (share with) you our experiences about digitalisation.' Digital dreams and African realities The Africa Business Forum is in full swing by the time I arrive. I excuse myself briefly to brush my teeth in the fancy bathroom – the only thing I couldn't do while changing in the restroom at Frankfurt Airport before boarding flight LH 880 to Tallinn. I'm led straight into a conference room buzzing with conversations about digital transformation, but the context is distinctly different to what I'd expected. This isn't Estonians lecturing Africans about efficiency — it's a more nuanced conversation about partnership and practical realities. Estonian and EU officials are refreshingly candid about their limitations. When they talk about their digital achievements — tax returns in three minutes, businesses started in 18 minutes online — they acknowledge these come with caveats. For real though, eFiling is dope, but the Estonian Tax and Customs Board (exclusively for Estonian tax residents) online platform is something else. Their entire digital infrastructure was built 'together with the private sector mainly' over 'more than 30 years', they explain, and it works for a population of 1.3 million. The geopolitical subtext is never far from the surface. Estonia is 'under heavy heavy cyberattacks', as officials put it, and they're 'very careful' about technological cooperation with certain countries — a not-so-subtle reference to Russia, their 'difficult neighbour' The digital-first approach wasn't just about efficiency; it was about survival. The Global Gateway pitch The forum's centrepiece is the European Union's Global Gateway strategy — a €150-billion investment promise for Africa by 2027. EU officials position this as a 'value-based alternative' to other global powers' approaches, though they're diplomatically vague about which alternatives they have in mind. 'We are not coming in to put the conditions there,' comes the refrain from multiple speakers. 'We have long-term partners based on values.' The pitch includes 'literally thousands of procurement actions every year', with opportunities ranging from direct private sector contracts to partnerships through organisations like the UN Office for Project Services (UNOPS), which spent $130-million across various African countries. Digital infrastructure is positioned as one of five key pillars of Global Gateway, with the EU (and Estonia) offering expertise in 'payments identity interoperability' and promising a 'more explicit message to our partner countries' about digital public infrastructure. Estonian companies in Africa The Estonian presence in Africa is already more substantial than I'd realised. Companies like Positum use mobile data to provide insights for governments, working with UN agencies and the World Bank. And the 'digitisation services' industry is in advanced talks to set up a pop-up to deliver e-residency cards in Mzansi — they're aware of our country's challenges with keeping card printing equipment working. Estonian businesses have implemented projects in 'Botswana, in Nigeria, in Kenya, many of them in Tanzania', according to forum speakers. The approach seems less about grand pronouncements and more about practical problem-solving — using Estonia's digital experience as a starting point rather than a template. 'Estonian expertise is really sought after,' one official notes, encouraging participation in international expert groups, 'even if it is pro bono work.' The message is clear: build relationships first, business follows. The e-residency proposition Oh, yes… Perhaps Estonia's most audacious offering is e-residency — a programme started in 2014 that makes you a digital resident without requiring physical presence. 'You don't need to become an Estonia resident,' they explained to me. You apply online, and once approved, 'all our digital infrastructure is open for you about how to start business, run the business, taxation and the services that we have online'. They claim to be the 'only country in the world that can actually be part of this environment'. For African entrepreneurs navigating complex regulatory environments, it's an intriguing proposition — remote access to Estonia's digital infrastructure, running businesses through their systems while remaining physically based elsewhere. It's become a community of more than 120,000 digital citizens, generating €15-billion (R304-billion) in combined revenue from more than 33,000 companies. When Estonia says it is selling a lifestyle to African entrepreneurs, they really mean it — but being an e-resident doesn't come with the same benefits as being a tax resident, so it will still be SARS systems for you. Looking ahead The organisers of the eGovernance Conference told me that they were aware of how previous iterations had been hijacked by the now decidedly out of vogue idea of 'put it on the blockchain' — this year was shaping to be all about 'AI' but they insisted that it would be less of a ride on the hype train. The forum has been about relationships and possibilities; whereas the conference will be about implementation and practicalities. But already, one thing is clear: the Estonian model isn't about copying and pasting solutions. It's about understanding principles and adapting them to local contexts. As Tsahkna puts it, each country needs to find its own model while drawing on available technological solutions and investing in political leadership. I bump into Minister Leon Schreiber at the eGovernance Conference reception — he says I must pull him aside for an open discussion about the eVisa he is trying to get going back at home. I said ' yes ' but was forced to pull away from his typically South African, manly affirming embrace (he is, after all, a Paul Roos old boy) because I was heading out the door to finally take that shower at my hotel room. DM
Sky News AU
3 days ago
- Politics
- Sky News AU
Andrew Bolt exposes ‘the hard truth' about Albanese government
Sky News host Andrew Bolt discusses the press conference announcing Woodside's North West Shelf gas extension which exposed 'the hard truth' about the Albanese government. 'It's actually criminal how we've let climate hucksters and panic merchants freak Australians in this mad crusade to scrap our coal-fired electricity system and try to run this country on wind and solar power instead,' Mr Bolt said. 'This Labor government is freaking that its green energy revolution is collapsing. 'Today the Albanese government finally said yes, after three years of delay and denial to extending Western Australia's massive North West Shelf gas project for another 40 years.'
Sky News AU
4 days ago
- Business
- Sky News AU
‘This is insane': Bolt slams Albanese government on housing crisis
Sky News host Andrew Bolt talks about the 'scandal' of the housing crisis in Australia. 'I don't know about you, but this housing crisis is so bad,' Mr Bolt said. 'Homes have never been so hard to buy. 'It now takes half of a medium income to pay the mortgage of a medium-priced home. 'This Albanese government has just put out a report that admits the government's insane immigration intake … is making this worse.'
Zawya
4 days ago
- Business
- Zawya
South Africa: Bolt backs township mobility startups with $22,664 accelerator boost
Ten new ventures born from Bolt's first South African startup accelerator show promise in transforming transport and tourism. Image supplied Bolt has invested €20,000 (approximately R406,600) in seed funding for ten emerging South African entrepreneurs, marking the end of its first-ever Accelerator Program in the country. The initiative, launched with startup academy Pranary, was open to drivers and couriers on Bolt's platform — aiming to turn gig workers into business builders. From 578 applications, 120 candidates joined a business boot camp covering market analysis, financial modelling, and product validation. Twenty made it to the final round, pitching their ventures to a panel of judges. The top ten each received €2,000 (approximately R40,660) in seed funding. Three standout entrepreneurs received special recognition: - Kamogelo Modise: Most Innovative Idea for Lupa Township Delivery, a zero-emission bicycle delivery network tailored for township communities. - Vutivi Shivambu: Most Scalable Idea for Liftsearch, a ridesharing platform connecting verified passengers and drivers for long-distance rural travel. - Shannon Adams: Best Pitch for linking tourists with vetted drivers doubling as local guides. Each finalist will also participate in six weeks of additional mentorship to further develop their ventures. Sandras Phiri, CEO of Pranary, emphasised the programme's practical approach: 'These participants didn't just sit through lectures; they built real businesses. Our mentorship brought in active founders and investors to guide them in creating ventures that are not only viable but needed.' The Gauteng Department of Economic Development (GDED) partnered with Bolt in this initiative. Mpho Nawa, acting head of department at GDED, stated: 'This partnership helps with job creation and unlocks further economic growth and diversification in townships, especially in the digital sector.' Bolt's Accelerator Program reflects its broader aim to empower its driver and courier community with opportunities beyond the ride, helping them become active contributors to the country's evolving mobility landscape. All rights reserved. © 2022. Provided by SyndiGate Media Inc. (
