A great report from McKinsey on Africa´s Growth Story

Africa's economies experienced a marked acceleration in growth during the past ten years. This first package, part of a four-week series on the future of Africa, explores what factors underpinned Africa's development and the continent's prospects.

They conclude that if recent trends continue, Africa will play an increasingly important role in the global economy and the rate of return on foreign investment is higher in Africa than any other developing region. Global executives and investors can not afford to ignore this, Africa must be part of their long term planning. The time for businesses to act on these plans is now. Companies already in Africa should consider expanding.

Working together, businesses, the government and society can confront the continent´s challenge and lift the living standards of its people.  

To read the report: http://www.mckinseyquarterly.com/Whats_driving_Africas_growth_2601

Think Better, Think Further, Think Faster

Afriversity proudly presents Cognician, a marvelous South African innovation by Barry and Patrik Kayton, winners of the Idea Track Award at the Cape Town Entrepreneurship Competition 2010.

Cognician is a software platform for deploying book content in a new, dynamic, participative form. The tool turns books, training guides, articles, research papers and even blogs into thinking wizards to use on the web, the iPhone and the iPad. Cognician mimics the workings of an agile mind by allowing you to click your way through the thinking process. Cognician bridges the gap between what you know and what an expert knows. It does this by asking you all the right questions an expert would ask you. You simply enter the subject that you want to think about and Cognician asks you thought-provoking questions that guide you to think in innovative ways about that subject. The questions set the agenda for your thinking, helping you can see patterns and make connections that you might struggle to identify on your own. Cognician gives you all the know-how you need, just in time. Go from clueless to clued up in a couple of clicks.

Afriversity and the Kayton brothers are working on launching the product later on this year so watch this space!

For more information, please visit www.cognician.com

Congratulations to JO´M Cosmetics!!

Afriversity would like to congratulate Johannah and Solomon, owners of JO´M Cosmetics for their nomination as a finalist in the Global Entrepreneurship Competition-Hit Barcelona 2010 !

HIT-Barcelona’10 is an international summit that will bring together CEOs, presidents, general directors, directors of innovation, businesspeople, entrepreneurs and investors from around the world in Barcelona on June the 16th and the 17th, 2010. They will size up the latest international tendencies in innovation and technology, identify new commercial innovations, network with the international innovation community and formalize new businesses and investments.

We wish Johannah and Solomon the best of luck and are crossing our fingers!!

You can read more about JO´M Cosmetics at www.jomcosmetics.co.za

Warm Welcome to New Afripreneurs!

Afriversity would like to send a warm welcome to all the new participants that have started the Afriversity business training programme in Stellenbosch!

We look forward to learning more about you and your businesses!

There is no business like soul business!

 

Today we met with two heartening and uplifting people, Anna and Stefan Jonsson. They own SAJ, an intermediary for speakers / lecturers and conference planning which encompasses an impressive list of celebrities, motivational speakers and job coaches. Their passion for their work is contagious and we praise their dedication to clients and good will. Watch this space for more news....in the meantime, read more about SAJ on www.saj.se

World Entrepeneurship Day Offer!

In honour of World Entrepreneurship Day (Friday April 16th), Afriversity is offering a free three hour workshop for business owners in Cape Town. This 3-hour workshop will outline the broad strokes for developing a 3-year strategy and give introduction to various assistance programmes for those serious about business growth and sustainability.

If you wish to attend, please send an email or call Vuyokazi at the Business Place 021 371 3350 - vuyon@tbp.co.za.

Don´t miss this great opportunity!