My Mentor Project background ...

There are many IT entrepreneurs who have developed valuable technology or business concepts but who struggle to translate them into well funded, successful businesses. They often find themselves stuck in an endless cycle of devoting too much time chasing business inefficiently, which makes it difficult for them to focus on core activities such as recruiting a leadership team, commercializing their products and getting business traction.

Mentoring is about at providing both personal and professional mentorship support and addressing challenges faced by entrepreneurs of growing businesses. With the right credentials, experience and a track record of successful implementation, mentors look for ways to assist SME's and address burning issues like turnover, profit, cash, capacity, clients, staff matters, bank funding, etc. Cape Venture Partners will be working with us to ensure dynamic, focused engagement.

The My Mentor Programme will require the following commitment from the Entrepreneur:
• All participants will spend 5 hours per month dedicated to the programme for 6 months
• This includes: Attending monthly sessions with their mentor
• Attending monthly 2 hour group sessions at the Bandwith Barn
• Attendance at social get-togethers, with guest speakers (every 2nd month)

Participant Profile:
The selected companies
• will be Western Cape based
• will be ICT focused or significantly ICT enabled
• will be growth-focused, we are not interested in a life-style business assessment
• will be financially breaking-even (or about to) and have financial reports to prove so
• will have at least 5 employees
• will have an existing customer base

We invite you to forward an application with the following:
• A detailed copy of your business profile
• The My Mentor application form

Cost: This initiative is funded by Provincial Government of the Western Cape.

Applications with supporting documentation should reach us by 15 July 2009 at 09h00, and be addressed to the project manager, Ansi Gilfillan.
email: ansi@bwb.org.za

For queries call Ansi on 021 409 7000.