Entrepreneurship Archives - YIEDI https://yiedi.co.za/tag/entrepreneurship/ Youth, Innovation, Entrepreneurship Design Institute Mon, 04 May 2026 09:37:19 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.9.4 https://yiedi.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/cropped-cropped-YIEDI-Logo_New-32x32.webp Entrepreneurship Archives - YIEDI https://yiedi.co.za/tag/entrepreneurship/ 32 32 Five Hard Truths Every Entrepreneur Faces After the Support Ends https://yiedi.co.za/five-hard-truths-every-entrepreneur-faces-after-the-support-ends/ https://yiedi.co.za/five-hard-truths-every-entrepreneur-faces-after-the-support-ends/#respond Fri, 24 Apr 2026 11:54:30 +0000 https://yiedi.co.za/?p=3590 Last week, Gift Lubele had the opportunity to speak as keynote speaker during a graduation ceremony for 27 entrepreneurs, at a programme he has had the privilege of contributing to through YIEDI, the team worked closely with the cohort across mentorship sessions, business strategy, and AI adoption over the past several months for our client. Being part of the graduation, Gift wanted to do more than celebrate. He wanted to prepare them. Because the real test starts the morning after graduation, when the structure falls away and the building truly begins. Here are the five things he shared, lessons drawn from his own journey of building companies, failing publicly, and learning to keep going anyway. 1. Expect the post-programme dip, and plan for it “When the structure disappears, so does the momentum for many entrepreneurs. No more scheduled sessions. No more accountability check-ins. No more mentors automatically in their corner every week”. Many people mistake the end of a programme for the end of growth. That is a dangerous mistake. “The discipline provided by the programme was a framework. Now, the entrepreneurs have to internalise it. They need to build their own rhythm, weekly reviews, and monthly targets. They should find an accountability partner, ideally someone from their cohort, and commit to checking in regularly.” The loneliest trap in entrepreneurship is thinking you have to figure everything out alone. 2. Their biggest competitor is their own excuses Gift spoke about the the longest, most draining conversations of his entrepreneurial life, “Not with difficult investors or sceptical clients, but with myself” The internal voice that says it is too hard, too early, too risky. The version of himself that almost quit. The pitfall he sees most consistently in entrepreneurs is not a lack of skill or access. It is distraction disguised as opportunity. Someone offers a side deal. A new idea feels shinier than the unglamorous work already in front of them. They pivot before their original idea has had a real chance. Focus is a competitive advantage. It must be guarded accordingly. 3. Revenue is validation. Everything else is opinion. “Mentors, including those at YIEDI, can offer frameworks, feedback, and encouragement. But the market is the only stakeholder whose opinion is backed by real data”. One paying customer will tell an entrepreneur more than six months of planning, pitch rehearsals, or feedback surveys ever could. “Entrepreneurs need to stop perfecting and start selling.” If nobody is paying yet, they should not file that away as something to revisit eventually. “They need to ask themselves why, today, not tomorrow. The answer will tell them everything they need to know about where their energy belongs right now.” 4. Use AI, but use it wisely At YIEDI, a significant part of the mentoring work involves helping entrepreneurs understand what AI can and cannot do for their businesses. Gift has seen first-hand what opens up for small businesses when they adopt the right tools. He has also watched entrepreneurs use AI as a crutch rather than a catalyst, Generating content they have not read, automating decisions they have not made, and outsourcing their thinking entirely. “AI should save entrepreneurs time, not replace their judgment. They should use it to write faster, research smarter, and operate leaner. But they still need to know their customers, their numbers, and their value proposition inside out.” The entrepreneurs who win in the next decade are not the ones who fear AI, nor the ones who blindly defer to it. They are the ones who direct it. 5. The network in the room is a real asset, and should be treated like one “The entrepreneurs in this room have spent months alongside people who understand the loneliness, the uncertainty, and the sheer stubbornness it takes to build something from nothing. Most people in their broader lives will never fully grasp what they are attempting. The people in their cohort do.” Gift went on to say, “You should not let these relationships go cold after graduation. You should collaborate, refer each other, and share opportunities before sharing them anywhere else.” South Africa’s economy grows when people grow each other. And in a landscape where access is still unevenly distributed, a strong peer network can open more doors than any single mentor or investor ever will. That is part of what entrepreneurship support programmes are designed to build, and it is theirs to maintain. In closing, programmes like this do something that most business education does not: they meet entrepreneurs where they are. Not in a classroom divorced from real commercial pressure, but inside the actual mess of building a business. The 27 entrepreneurs graduating this week represent exactly the kind of grounded, resilient talent that South Africa’s economy needs. YIEDI is proud of each of them and remains committed to their journey beyond graduation. They are encouraged to stay connected, stay curious, and keep building.

The post Five Hard Truths Every Entrepreneur Faces After the Support Ends appeared first on YIEDI.

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Last week, Gift Lubele had the opportunity to speak as keynote speaker during a graduation ceremony for 27 entrepreneurs, at a programme he has had the privilege of contributing to through YIEDI, the team worked closely with the cohort across mentorship sessions, business strategy, and AI adoption over the past several months for our client.

Being part of the graduation, Gift wanted to do more than celebrate. He wanted to prepare them. Because the real test starts the morning after graduation, when the structure falls away and the building truly begins.

Here are the five things he shared, lessons drawn from his own journey of building companies, failing publicly, and learning to keep going anyway.

1. Expect the post-programme dip, and plan for it

“When the structure disappears, so does the momentum for many entrepreneurs. No more scheduled sessions. No more accountability check-ins. No more mentors automatically in their corner every week”. Many people mistake the end of a programme for the end of growth. That is a dangerous mistake.

“The discipline provided by the programme was a framework. Now, the entrepreneurs have to internalise it. They need to build their own rhythm, weekly reviews, and monthly targets. They should find an accountability partner, ideally someone from their cohort, and commit to checking in regularly.” The loneliest trap in entrepreneurship is thinking you have to figure everything out alone.

2. Their biggest competitor is their own excuses

Gift spoke about the the longest, most draining conversations of his entrepreneurial life, “Not with difficult investors or sceptical clients, but with myself” The internal voice that says it is too hard, too early, too risky. The version of himself that almost quit.

The pitfall he sees most consistently in entrepreneurs is not a lack of skill or access. It is distraction disguised as opportunity. Someone offers a side deal. A new idea feels shinier than the unglamorous work already in front of them. They pivot before their original idea has had a real chance. Focus is a competitive advantage. It must be guarded accordingly.

3. Revenue is validation. Everything else is opinion.

“Mentors, including those at YIEDI, can offer frameworks, feedback, and encouragement. But the market is the only stakeholder whose opinion is backed by real data”. One paying customer will tell an entrepreneur more than six months of planning, pitch rehearsals, or feedback surveys ever could.

“Entrepreneurs need to stop perfecting and start selling.” If nobody is paying yet, they should not file that away as something to revisit eventually. “They need to ask themselves why, today, not tomorrow. The answer will tell them everything they need to know about where their energy belongs right now.”

4. Use AI, but use it wisely

At YIEDI, a significant part of the mentoring work involves helping entrepreneurs understand what AI can and cannot do for their businesses. Gift has seen first-hand what opens up for small businesses when they adopt the right tools. He has also watched entrepreneurs use AI as a crutch rather than a catalyst, Generating content they have not read, automating decisions they have not made, and outsourcing their thinking entirely.

“AI should save entrepreneurs time, not replace their judgment. They should use it to write faster, research smarter, and operate leaner. But they still need to know their customers, their numbers, and their value proposition inside out.” The entrepreneurs who win in the next decade are not the ones who fear AI, nor the ones who blindly defer to it. They are the ones who direct it.

5. The network in the room is a real asset, and should be treated like one

“The entrepreneurs in this room have spent months alongside people who understand the loneliness, the uncertainty, and the sheer stubbornness it takes to build something from nothing. Most people in their broader lives will never fully grasp what they are attempting. The people in their cohort do.”

Gift went on to say, “You should not let these relationships go cold after graduation. You should collaborate, refer each other, and share opportunities before sharing them anywhere else.” South Africa’s economy grows when people grow each other. And in a landscape where access is still unevenly distributed, a strong peer network can open more doors than any single mentor or investor ever will. That is part of what entrepreneurship support programmes are designed to build, and it is theirs to maintain.

In closing, programmes like this do something that most business education does not: they meet entrepreneurs where they are. Not in a classroom divorced from real commercial pressure, but inside the actual mess of building a business. The 27 entrepreneurs graduating this week represent exactly the kind of grounded, resilient talent that South Africa’s economy needs.

YIEDI is proud of each of them and remains committed to their journey beyond graduation. They are encouraged to stay connected, stay curious, and keep building.

The post Five Hard Truths Every Entrepreneur Faces After the Support Ends appeared first on YIEDI.

]]> https://yiedi.co.za/five-hard-truths-every-entrepreneur-faces-after-the-support-ends/feed/ 0 How to Navigate the New World of Work: Technology, Innovation, and AI https://yiedi.co.za/how-to-navigate-the-new-world-of-work-technology-innovation-and-ai/ https://yiedi.co.za/how-to-navigate-the-new-world-of-work-technology-innovation-and-ai/#respond Fri, 20 Mar 2026 12:44:00 +0000 https://yiedi.co.za/?p=3525 When many of us started our careers, we were given a simple formula. Study hard.Get a good job.Work your way up. It was a clear and predictable path. And for a long time, that model worked. But the reality is that the world of work today looks very different. We are living in a time where change is constant. Technology is evolving at a pace we have never seen before. Artificial intelligence is beginning to reshape how work gets done. And the careers that graduates are entering today will not follow the same patterns as those that came before. Some of the jobs that will exist in the next ten years do not exist today. And some of the jobs that existed just a few years ago are already disappearing. So the question is no longer whether work will change. The real question is how we prepare people to navigate a world that is constantly changing. There are three important shifts shaping the future of work. The first is that technology cycles are accelerating. Innovation that once took years is now happening in months. Tools, systems and processes are evolving continuously, and organisations are having to keep up. The second is that skills are expiring faster. What you learn today will need to be updated, adapted or even replaced over time. This means that learning cannot stop at graduation. It must become a lifelong habit. The third is that work is becoming technology enabled across every role. It is no longer only technical teams that engage with digital tools. Whether you are in design, operations, manufacturing or strategy, technology and data are becoming part of how work is done. This brings us to one of the most important developments of our time, the rise of artificial intelligence. AI is often framed as something to fear. There is a perception that it will replace jobs or reduce the need for human contribution. But history tells us something different. Technology does not remove the need for people. It changes the nature of their work. AI is best understood as a tool. It can support research, improve efficiency, analyse data and even assist with decision making. But it still requires human input. It requires context, judgement, creativity and ethical thinking. The real shift is this. AI will not replace professionals. But professionals who know how to use AI will have a significant advantage. At the same time, we are seeing a growing demand for something that is often overlooked in traditional education and corporate environments. Entrepreneurial thinking. This is not only relevant to those who want to start businesses. It is becoming a critical capability within organisations. Entrepreneurial thinking is about how people approach problems, opportunities and uncertainty. It is the ability to see gaps where others see constraints. To move forward without waiting for perfect conditions. To test ideas and learn quickly. To adapt when things do not go as planned. And to focus on solutions rather than obstacles. These are the capabilities that allow individuals and organisations to respond effectively in a changing environment. Through the work we do at YIEDI and WomX, supporting entrepreneurs across South Africa, we see these traits in action every day. Entrepreneurs operate in environments where nothing is guaranteed. They do not have perfect resources or perfect conditions. Yet they continue to build, adapt and grow. What stands out is that the people who succeed are not always the ones with the most resources. They are the ones who are the most resourceful. And this is exactly the mindset that organisations need as industries evolve. As technology becomes more embedded in the way we work, the value of human capability becomes even more important. Skills like : curiosity, adaptability, problem solving and critical thinking Will define the professionals who thrive. Graduates entering the workforce today have access to tools and opportunities that previous generations did not. But with that comes a responsibility to continuously learn and evolve. Your career will not be defined by a single role or a single path. It will be defined by your ability to grow, to adapt and to respond to change. And for industry leaders, there is an equally important responsibility. If we want the next generation to succeed, we must create environments that support learning, encourage innovation and allow people to experiment. We must invest in skills development, mentorship and exposure to new technologies. Because the future of work is not something that will simply happen to us. It is something we will shape through the choices we make today. The technologies we adopt. The people we invest in. And the mindsets we choose to develop. The future will not belong to those who resist change. It will belong to those who are willing to learn, to adapt and to lead in a world that is constantly evolving. Extracts from a talk given by Jayshree Naidoo Institute of Packaging South Africa IPSA Graduation and Board Meeting 

The post How to Navigate the New World of Work: Technology, Innovation, and AI appeared first on YIEDI.

]]>

When many of us started our careers, we were given a simple formula.

Study hard.
Get a good job.
Work your way up.

It was a clear and predictable path. And for a long time, that model worked.

But the reality is that the world of work today looks very different.

We are living in a time where change is constant. Technology is evolving at a pace we have never seen before. Artificial intelligence is beginning to reshape how work gets done. And the careers that graduates are entering today will not follow the same patterns as those that came before.

Some of the jobs that will exist in the next ten years do not exist today. And some of the jobs that existed just a few years ago are already disappearing.

So the question is no longer whether work will change. The real question is how we prepare people to navigate a world that is constantly changing.

There are three important shifts shaping the future of work.

  1. The first is that technology cycles are accelerating. Innovation that once took years is now happening in months. Tools, systems and processes are evolving continuously, and organisations are having to keep up.
  2. The second is that skills are expiring faster. What you learn today will need to be updated, adapted or even replaced over time. This means that learning cannot stop at graduation. It must become a lifelong habit.
  3. The third is that work is becoming technology enabled across every role. It is no longer only technical teams that engage with digital tools. Whether you are in design, operations, manufacturing or strategy, technology and data are becoming part of how work is done.

This brings us to one of the most important developments of our time, the rise of artificial intelligence.

AI is often framed as something to fear. There is a perception that it will replace jobs or reduce the need for human contribution. But history tells us something different.

Technology does not remove the need for people. It changes the nature of their work.

AI is best understood as a tool. It can support research, improve efficiency, analyse data and even assist with decision making. But it still requires human input. It requires context, judgement, creativity and ethical thinking.

The real shift is this. AI will not replace professionals. But professionals who know how to use AI will have a significant advantage.

At the same time, we are seeing a growing demand for something that is often overlooked in traditional education and corporate environments.

Entrepreneurial thinking.

This is not only relevant to those who want to start businesses. It is becoming a critical capability within organisations. Entrepreneurial thinking is about how people approach problems, opportunities and uncertainty.

  • It is the ability to see gaps where others see constraints.
  • To move forward without waiting for perfect conditions.
  • To test ideas and learn quickly.
  • To adapt when things do not go as planned.
  • And to focus on solutions rather than obstacles.

These are the capabilities that allow individuals and organisations to respond effectively in a changing environment. Through the work we do at YIEDI and WomX, supporting entrepreneurs across South Africa, we see these traits in action every day.

Entrepreneurs operate in environments where nothing is guaranteed. They do not have perfect resources or perfect conditions. Yet they continue to build, adapt and grow. What stands out is that the people who succeed are not always the ones with the most resources.

They are the ones who are the most resourceful. And this is exactly the mindset that organisations need as industries evolve. As technology becomes more embedded in the way we work, the value of human capability becomes even more important.

Skills like :

  • curiosity,
  • adaptability,
  • problem solving and
  • critical thinking

Will define the professionals who thrive.

Graduates entering the workforce today have access to tools and opportunities that previous generations did not. But with that comes a responsibility to continuously learn and evolve. Your career will not be defined by a single role or a single path. It will be defined by your ability to grow, to adapt and to respond to change.

And for industry leaders, there is an equally important responsibility.

If we want the next generation to succeed, we must create environments that support learning, encourage innovation and allow people to experiment. We must invest in skills development, mentorship and exposure to new technologies.

Because the future of work is not something that will simply happen to us. It is something we will shape through the choices we make today. The technologies we adopt. The people we invest in. And the mindsets we choose to develop.

The future will not belong to those who resist change.

It will belong to those who are willing to learn, to adapt and to lead in a world that is constantly evolving.

Extracts from a talk given by Jayshree Naidoo Institute of Packaging South Africa IPSA Graduation and Board Meeting 

The post How to Navigate the New World of Work: Technology, Innovation, and AI appeared first on YIEDI.

]]> https://yiedi.co.za/how-to-navigate-the-new-world-of-work-technology-innovation-and-ai/feed/ 0 South Africa’s 2026 Budget Speech: Key Tax Updates for Small Businesses and the implifications https://yiedi.co.za/south-africa-2026-budget-speech-tax-updates-for-sa-small-businesses/ https://yiedi.co.za/south-africa-2026-budget-speech-tax-updates-for-sa-small-businesses/#respond Thu, 26 Feb 2026 12:50:51 +0000 https://yiedi.co.za/?p=3413 The 2026 Budget Speech introduced specific measures that directly apply to your operations and financial planning. From VAT adjustments to capital gains exemptions, here is a breakdown of the key updates you need to know.

The post South Africa’s 2026 Budget Speech: Key Tax Updates for Small Businesses and the implifications appeared first on YIEDI.

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If you run a small business in South Africa, the 2026 Budget Speech introduced specific measures that directly apply to your operations and financial planning. From VAT adjustments to capital gains exemptions, here is a breakdown of the key updates you need to know.

Quick Look: 2025 vs 2026 Small Business Tax Thresholds

This table outlines the major threshold changes announced in the latest budget.

Tax Category Previous Threshold (Up to 2025) New Threshold (2026 Budget) Impact on Business Owners
Compulsory VAT Registration R1 million turnover R2.3 million turnover Reduced compliance burden for smaller businesses.
Capital Gains Tax Exemption at Age 55+(Qualifying Business Market Value) R1.8 million
(R10 million)		 R2.7 million
(R15 million)		 Higher tax-free cash out upon retirement or sale. Allows larger small businesses to qualify for the CGT exemption.

VAT Registration Threshold Increased

The compulsory VAT registration threshold has been raised significantly, moving from R1 million to R2.3 million in annual turnover. As a result, businesses with a turnover below R2.3 million are no longer required to register for VAT.

Capital Gains Tax Exemption Increased

For qualifying small business owners aged 55 and older, the lifetime capital gains tax exemption has increased from R1.8 million to R2.7 million. Additionally, the maximum market value of the business that qualifies for this exemption has been raised from R10 million to R15 million.

Turnover Tax Adjustments

The budget speech also referenced upcoming adjustments to the turnover tax regime specifically for micro businesses. The detailed rates and updated thresholds can be found in the official Budget Review tables.

What This Means for Your Small Business

  • Reduced Admin: Businesses with a turnover under R2.3 million may remain outside the VAT system, significantly reducing compliance and filing requirements.
  • Strategic Pricing: Entrepreneurs who are approaching the new VAT threshold can better plan their pricing strategies and cash flow accordingly.
  • Retirement Benefits: Business owners planning for retirement or the sale of their company may benefit from a higher tax-free capital gains exemption, subject to the qualifying criteria.
  • Micro Enterprise Updates: Micro enterprises currently operating under the turnover tax system should review the updated thresholds and rates to ensure they are optimized for the new tax year.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. Do I need to register for VAT if my business makes R2 million a year? No. Under the 2026 Budget Speech measures, the compulsory VAT registration threshold has been increased to R2.3 million. If your annual turnover is below this amount, registration is not mandatory.

2. Who qualifies for the new R2.7 million Capital Gains Tax exemption? This increased lifetime exemption applies specifically to qualifying small business owners who are aged 55 and older, provided the maximum market value of their business does not exceed the new limit of R15 million.

Small business owners, accountants, and finance professionals should review these changes against their current turnover and tax structure to ensure compliance and maximize potential savings.

The post South Africa’s 2026 Budget Speech: Key Tax Updates for Small Businesses and the implifications appeared first on YIEDI.

]]> https://yiedi.co.za/south-africa-2026-budget-speech-tax-updates-for-sa-small-businesses/feed/ 0 How Jayshree Naidoo(Co-Founder & Chief Executive Officer at YIEDI) turned her journey as a two-time cancer survivor into a career uplifting others https://yiedi.co.za/how-jayshree-naidooco-founder-chief-executive-officer-at-yiedi-turned-her-journey-as-a-two-time-cancer-survivor-into-a-career-uplifting-others/ https://yiedi.co.za/how-jayshree-naidooco-founder-chief-executive-officer-at-yiedi-turned-her-journey-as-a-two-time-cancer-survivor-into-a-career-uplifting-others/#respond Mon, 16 Feb 2026 13:45:30 +0000 https://yiedi.co.za/?p=3384 From surviving cancer to building platforms for entrepreneurs, Jayshree Naidoo is Carol Ofori’s Woman Crush Wednesday this week. Jayshree Naidoo is an entrepreneur, ecosystem builder, mentor, author and two-time breast cancer survivor whose life and work are rooted in purpose and impact. She serves as the CEO of the Youth Innovation Entrepreneurship Design Institute(YIEDI) and is the founder of WomX Woman in Business. Her career has centred on entrepreneurship development, innovation and advocacy, particularly for women navigating the business landscape Jayshree Naidoo is a TEDx speaker and has been featured across multiple media platforms and publications for her work supporting entrepreneurs and championing women in business. Her contributions to award-winning leadership and entrepreneurship publications reflect a career shaped by thought leadership and practical impact. Jayshree is also the publisher of ‘WomX Her Story Her Success’, a flagship publication highlighting the journeys of 100 women entrepreneurs across South Africa. The publication celebrates resilience, leadership and lived experience while contributing to the national conversation on inclusive economic participation. Alongside her professional work, she is a committed advocate for early breast cancer detection and health awareness. Her lived experience continues to guide her efforts to encourage others to prioritise their health and seek support early. How did her career path take shape? Jayshree spent more than two decades working in corporate South Africa, where she became recognised as a thought leader in innovation and entrepreneurship. Her work focused on designing and implementing programmes and creating spaces that supported enterprise development and innovation. In her final corporate role as head of an incubator for a major bank, she saw how tailored entrepreneurial support programmes could help businesses grow, scale and create lasting economic impact. She also observed where traditional models often fell short by failing to reflect the real lived experiences of entrepreneurs. During this time, her personal life was also undergoing a profound transformation. Her diagnosis as a breast cancer patient changed how she viewed leadership, sustainability and impact. The experience highlighted the importance of early detection, self-advocacy and creating systems that recognise the human being behind the business. This combination of professional insight and personal experience led to the launch of the Youth Innovation Entrepreneurship Design Institute. A few years later, she founded WomX Woman in Business after recognising that women entrepreneurs face unique barriers that are not always addressed through conventional entrepreneurship programmes. What impact has her work had on entrepreneurs? Today, WomX supports a community of more than 700 women who actively share and seek business opportunities daily. The initiative includes a growing digital platform that provides weekly inspiration, including AI tools every FridAI, a free entrepreneurship academy with regularly updated content, free masterclasses and a structured accelerator sponsored by a major bank with more than 200 alumni. Many of these entrepreneurs are featured in WomX Her Story Her Success, further amplifying their journeys and contributions. Jayshree’s work is grounded in a belief that intentional, contextual and human-centred support can transform not only businesses but lives. How did cancer shape her life and leadership? Jayshree’s experience with breast cancer has been central to her journey. She is a two-time survivor and the experience reshaped how she views strength, leadership and resilience. Facing cancer while running a business was one of the most confronting periods of her life. Her first diagnosis led to a double mastectomy and reconstructive surgery. Just two years later, she and her husband contracted COVID-19, and she was hospitalised for six weeks. During that time, she lost her mother to COVID-19 and was unable to attend the funeral. She also lost the use of her legs and had to learn to walk again. There were moments marked by fear, exhaustion and uncertainty. What carried her through was early detection, access to care, a strong support system and learning to ask for help without guilt. These experiences reshaped her definition of strength and reinforced the importance of listening to one’s body and seeking assistance early. Her cancer journey continues to influence how she leads, mentors and advocates. It strengthened her commitment to health awareness and to encouraging conversations that can save lives. What role does family play in her journey? Family has been central to Jayshree’s life and perspective. She has been married for 34 years to her high school sweetheart, whom she describes as her rock. She is a mother to two children, a daughter living in Johannesburg with her husband and two pets, and a son living in Ballito with a love for padel. Her experiences of both profound loss and deep joy have shaped the way she approaches her work. They have brought greater compassion, patience and understanding for the complexities people carry into their professional and personal lives. What recognition has she received? Jayshree’s work has earned recognition across entrepreneurship, health advocacy and innovation platforms. She delivered a TEDx talk titled People are more than the Jobs they Do and has been featured as a thought leader in innovation in a recent Innovation Handbook publication for South Africa. A model she created on the management of innovation was also published in the Innovation Journal of South Africa. The Youth Innovation Entrepreneurship Design Institute was selected as a winner at the Africa Startup Awards for its contribution to entrepreneurship development and ecosystem building. On a personal level, she has received awards recognising her advocacy and resilience as a cancer survivor, promoting early detection and health awareness. She is also an Inspiring Fifty winner, an honour recognising women making an impact in STEM, innovation and technology-related fields in South Africa. What inspires her? Jayshree draws inspiration from resilience in all its forms. She is motivated by entrepreneurs who continue building despite challenges, by women carrying invisible loads while pursuing their ambitions and by individuals who rebuild after failure, illness or loss. Her cancer journey taught her that listening early can change everything. This lesson continues to shape how she leads, mentors, speaks and advocates. She believes that every person’s voice has the power to influence and change lives. What message does she share with others?

The post How Jayshree Naidoo(Co-Founder & Chief Executive Officer at YIEDI) turned her journey as a two-time cancer survivor into a career uplifting others appeared first on YIEDI.

]]>

From surviving cancer to building platforms for entrepreneurs, Jayshree Naidoo is Carol Ofori's Woman Crush Wednesday this week.

Jayshree Naidoo is an entrepreneur, ecosystem builder, mentor, author and two-time breast cancer survivor whose life and work are rooted in purpose and impact. She serves as the CEO of the Youth Innovation Entrepreneurship Design Institute(YIEDI) and is the founder of WomX Woman in Business. Her career has centred on entrepreneurship development, innovation and advocacy, particularly for women navigating the business landscape

Jayshree Naidoo is a TEDx speaker and has been featured across multiple media platforms and publications for her work supporting entrepreneurs and championing women in business. Her contributions to award-winning leadership and entrepreneurship publications reflect a career shaped by thought leadership and practical impact.

Jayshree is also the publisher of ‘WomX Her Story Her Success’, a flagship publication highlighting the journeys of 100 women entrepreneurs across South Africa. The publication celebrates resilience, leadership and lived experience while contributing to the national conversation on inclusive economic participation.

Alongside her professional work, she is a committed advocate for early breast cancer detection and health awareness. Her lived experience continues to guide her efforts to encourage others to prioritise their health and seek support early.

How did her career path take shape?

Jayshree spent more than two decades working in corporate South Africa, where she became recognised as a thought leader in innovation and entrepreneurship. Her work focused on designing and implementing programmes and creating spaces that supported enterprise development and innovation.

In her final corporate role as head of an incubator for a major bank, she saw how tailored entrepreneurial support programmes could help businesses grow, scale and create lasting economic impact. She also observed where traditional models often fell short by failing to reflect the real lived experiences of entrepreneurs.

During this time, her personal life was also undergoing a profound transformation. Her diagnosis as a breast cancer patient changed how she viewed leadership, sustainability and impact. The experience highlighted the importance of early detection, self-advocacy and creating systems that recognise the human being behind the business.

This combination of professional insight and personal experience led to the launch of the Youth Innovation Entrepreneurship Design Institute. A few years later, she founded WomX Woman in Business after recognising that women entrepreneurs face unique barriers that are not always addressed through conventional entrepreneurship programmes.

What impact has her work had on entrepreneurs?

Today, WomX supports a community of more than 700 women who actively share and seek business opportunities daily. The initiative includes a growing digital platform that provides weekly inspiration, including AI tools every FridAI, a free entrepreneurship academy with regularly updated content, free masterclasses and a structured accelerator sponsored by a major bank with more than 200 alumni.

Many of these entrepreneurs are featured in WomX Her Story Her Success, further amplifying their journeys and contributions. Jayshree’s work is grounded in a belief that intentional, contextual and human-centred support can transform not only businesses but lives.

How did cancer shape her life and leadership?

Jayshree’s experience with breast cancer has been central to her journey. She is a two-time survivor and the experience reshaped how she views strength, leadership and resilience. Facing cancer while running a business was one of the most confronting periods of her life.

Her first diagnosis led to a double mastectomy and reconstructive surgery. Just two years later, she and her husband contracted COVID-19, and she was hospitalised for six weeks. During that time, she lost her mother to COVID-19 and was unable to attend the funeral. She also lost the use of her legs and had to learn to walk again.

There were moments marked by fear, exhaustion and uncertainty. What carried her through was early detection, access to care, a strong support system and learning to ask for help without guilt. These experiences reshaped her definition of strength and reinforced the importance of listening to one’s body and seeking assistance early.

Her cancer journey continues to influence how she leads, mentors and advocates. It strengthened her commitment to health awareness and to encouraging conversations that can save lives.

What role does family play in her journey?

Family has been central to Jayshree’s life and perspective. She has been married for 34 years to her high school sweetheart, whom she describes as her rock. She is a mother to two children, a daughter living in Johannesburg with her husband and two pets, and a son living in Ballito with a love for padel.

Her experiences of both profound loss and deep joy have shaped the way she approaches her work. They have brought greater compassion, patience and understanding for the complexities people carry into their professional and personal lives.

What recognition has she received?

Jayshree’s work has earned recognition across entrepreneurship, health advocacy and innovation platforms. She delivered a TEDx talk titled People are more than the Jobs they Do and has been featured as a thought leader in innovation in a recent Innovation Handbook publication for South Africa. A model she created on the management of innovation was also published in the Innovation Journal of South Africa.

The Youth Innovation Entrepreneurship Design Institute was selected as a winner at the Africa Startup Awards for its contribution to entrepreneurship development and ecosystem building. On a personal level, she has received awards recognising her advocacy and resilience as a cancer survivor, promoting early detection and health awareness.

She is also an Inspiring Fifty winner, an honour recognising women making an impact in STEM, innovation and technology-related fields in South Africa.

What inspires her?

Jayshree draws inspiration from resilience in all its forms. She is motivated by entrepreneurs who continue building despite challenges, by women carrying invisible loads while pursuing their ambitions and by individuals who rebuild after failure, illness or loss.

Her cancer journey taught her that listening early can change everything. This lesson continues to shape how she leads, mentors, speaks and advocates. She believes that every person’s voice has the power to influence and change lives.

What message does she share with others?

Her advice is grounded in lived experience and practical insight. She encourages people to listen to their bodies and trust their instincts, emphasising that early detection can save lives. In business, she believes in starting where one is, building with integrity and prioritising sustainability over quick wins.

She also reminds people that their stories matter. When shared with courage, they can influence and uplift others. In a world of many possibilities, she urges kindness as a guiding principle.

The post How Jayshree Naidoo(Co-Founder & Chief Executive Officer at YIEDI) turned her journey as a two-time cancer survivor into a career uplifting others appeared first on YIEDI.

]]> https://yiedi.co.za/how-jayshree-naidooco-founder-chief-executive-officer-at-yiedi-turned-her-journey-as-a-two-time-cancer-survivor-into-a-career-uplifting-others/feed/ 0 Entrepreneur – When life throws you a curve-ball are you ready? https://yiedi.co.za/entrepreneur-when-life-throws-you-a-curve-ball-are-you-ready/ Tue, 02 Dec 2025 02:51:21 +0000 https://yiedi.co.za/?p=3157 During a recent interview with Ray White on the Money Show on Radio 702, we discussed the challenges that entrepreneurs face and how to adequately prepare for them. In December 2017, I stepped out of the corporate world to join my husband and re-launch our business. Just a month later, during a regular mammogram, I was diagnosed with breast cancer. What followed was a series of decisions, surgical procedures, chemotherapy, treatments and a complete disruption of our lives and our business. Having worked with entrepreneurs for many years and having stepped out of corporate world to be an entrepreneur twice within my career, I wanted to share some practical insights on how to prepare for unexpected challenges and share some of my journey. If you fall ill or have to take care of your loved ones or deal with unexpected personal challenges follow some of these basic principals to ensure sustainability of your business. Always give yourself a financial run way Before embarking on an entrepreneurial journey, ensure you have enough funds to cover your existing expenses for at least 6 to 9 months. This helps in a few ways. Firstly if you are establishing a new venture these funds will allow you to focus on the growth of your business without the stress of trying to sign on clients immediately. Also remember that many clients will not pay up front for your services, and depending on the clients payment processes, your payment can be delayed by up to 90 days from date of invoice. Identify Associates that can Deliver on your behalf If you are a SoloPreneur (the only one in your business) or if you have a unique technical skill that your business is dependent on, identify associates outside your business that can be brought in as and when needed. Negotiate these services and payment structures before you actually need them and create a database of possible associates that you can draw on. Remember that you may need a few associates to cover the spectrum of your skill set, include these contingency plans in all of your proposals to ensure that there is no breech of contract should you need to replace yourself on a project with an associate. Avoid Unnecessary Expenses Its quite tempting when launching a new business to make your mark and create visibility, although this is important be cautious about spending too much of your capital. These expenses could include signing of long term lease contracts with a 3 month up front payment towards rental of office space and could also have lock in and penalty clauses, costing you additional funds should you wish to get out of the contract earlier. Rather opt for a home office space if you are able to or alternatively look into co-working spaces that offer great services for the start up business and they have flexible desk options and month to month contracts if needed. We are situated at the OPEN in Sandton. The facility is professionally managed, open 24 hours, has adequate parking and is ideally located close to public transport and the Gautrain. In addition they have a track record of managing spaces and have locations across the country, which makes your presence in other locations affordable. Other expenses to avoid is permanently employing staff without first getting paying clients for your offering. Your corporate job may have afforded you with the luxuries of a receptionist and a personal assistant, as well as a financial controller and driver, but as an entrepreneur you will need to fulfill as many of these roles as possible until your business can pay for these services without undue pressure on its financials. Ensure you have Adequate Financial Protection Insurance is often thought of as a grudge purchase. However as an entrepreneur you need even more protection as you do not have the added security and benefits as a corporate employee. Ensure you have adequate medical cover that will cover yours and your loved ones medical expenses and look into oncology benefits before you actually need it. In addition investigate and ensure you have policies that will protect your income should you fall ill, or pay you a lump sum as a living benefit or dread disease cover. Discuss these options with your financial adviser, if you do not have a financial adviser speak to family and friends and ask for details of their financial planners that are trusted or search company websites that offer these services. Remember to this this before you actually need it, it is almost impossible to get cover once you have fallen ill. Be Present Being present is absolutely critical to stay relevant. Although you may be facing an unavoidable challenge you will have to get back to your business in the future. Its important for your clients to feel and experience your presence. Although I have not been able to make public appearances and give talks during this year, I have still contributed in the form of articles to publications, I have continued with my social media presence and I have taken a few meetings and interviews when I was able to. But being present also means being available to your loved ones and to yourself. Give yourself the time to heal and deal with your challenge. YOU ARE THE MOST IMPORTANT PERSON YOU KNOW! Do not take life for granted. Your life is precious. Take time for your health. Have your regular check ups and examinations. Breast Cancer is not a death sentence. Have regular mammograms and get your loved ones to do the same. Do not become a statistic. Of all the emotions I have felt this past year, regret is not one of them, don’t let it be one of yours!

The post Entrepreneur – When life throws you a curve-ball are you ready? appeared first on YIEDI.

]]>

During a recent interview with Ray White on the Money Show on Radio 702, we discussed the challenges that entrepreneurs face and how to adequately prepare for them. In December 2017, I stepped out of the corporate world to join my husband and re-launch our business. Just a month later, during a regular mammogram, I was diagnosed with breast cancer.

What followed was a series of decisions, surgical procedures, chemotherapy, treatments and a complete disruption of our lives and our business. Having worked with entrepreneurs for many years and having stepped out of corporate world to be an entrepreneur twice within my career, I wanted to share some practical insights on how to prepare for unexpected challenges and share some of my journey.

If you fall ill or have to take care of your loved ones or deal with unexpected personal challenges follow some of these basic principals to ensure sustainability of your business.

Always give yourself a financial run way

Before embarking on an entrepreneurial journey, ensure you have enough funds to cover your existing expenses for at least 6 to 9 months. This helps in a few ways. Firstly if you are establishing a new venture these funds will allow you to focus on the growth of your business without the stress of trying to sign on clients immediately. Also remember that many clients will not pay up front for your services, and depending on the clients payment processes, your payment can be delayed by up to 90 days from date of invoice.

Identify Associates that can Deliver on your behalf

If you are a SoloPreneur (the only one in your business) or if you have a unique technical skill that your business is dependent on, identify associates outside your business that can be brought in as and when needed. Negotiate these services and payment structures before you actually need them and create a database of possible associates that you can draw on. Remember that you may need a few associates to cover the spectrum of your skill set, include these contingency plans in all of your proposals to ensure that there is no breech of contract should you need to replace yourself on a project with an associate.

Avoid Unnecessary Expenses

Its quite tempting when launching a new business to make your mark and create visibility, although this is important be cautious about spending too much of your capital. These expenses could include signing of long term lease contracts with a 3 month up front payment towards rental of office space and could also have lock in and penalty clauses, costing you additional funds should you wish to get out of the contract earlier.

Rather opt for a home office space if you are able to or alternatively look into co-working spaces that offer great services for the start up business and they have flexible desk options and month to month contracts if needed. We are situated at the OPEN in Sandton. The facility is professionally managed, open 24 hours, has adequate parking and is ideally located close to public transport and the Gautrain. In addition they have a track record of managing spaces and have locations across the country, which makes your presence in other locations affordable.

Other expenses to avoid is permanently employing staff without first getting paying clients for your offering. Your corporate job may have afforded you with the luxuries of a receptionist and a personal assistant, as well as a financial controller and driver, but as an entrepreneur you will need to fulfill as many of these roles as possible until your business can pay for these services without undue pressure on its financials.

Ensure you have Adequate Financial Protection

Insurance is often thought of as a grudge purchase. However as an entrepreneur you need even more protection as you do not have the added security and benefits as a corporate employee. Ensure you have adequate medical cover that will cover yours and your loved ones medical expenses and look into oncology benefits before you actually need it. In addition investigate and ensure you have policies that will protect your income should you fall ill, or pay you a lump sum as a living benefit or dread disease cover. Discuss these options with your financial adviser, if you do not have a financial adviser speak to family and friends and ask for details of their financial planners that are trusted or search company websites that offer these services. Remember to this this before you actually need it, it is almost impossible to get cover once you have fallen ill.

Be Present

Being present is absolutely critical to stay relevant. Although you may be facing an unavoidable challenge you will have to get back to your business in the future. Its important for your clients to feel and experience your presence. Although I have not been able to make public appearances and give talks during this year, I have still contributed in the form of articles to publications, I have continued with my social media presence and I have taken a few meetings and interviews when I was able to.

But being present also means being available to your loved ones and to yourself. Give yourself the time to heal and deal with your challenge.

YOU ARE THE MOST IMPORTANT PERSON YOU KNOW!

Do not take life for granted. Your life is precious. Take time for your health. Have your regular check ups and examinations. Breast Cancer is not a death sentence. Have regular mammograms and get your loved ones to do the same. Do not become a statistic. Of all the emotions I have felt this past year, regret is not one of them, don’t let it be one of yours!

The post Entrepreneur – When life throws you a curve-ball are you ready? appeared first on YIEDI.

]]> Innovation and Why Entrepreneurship Matters https://yiedi.co.za/innovation-and-why-entrepreneurship-matters/ Tue, 02 Dec 2025 02:48:51 +0000 https://yiedi.co.za/?p=3151 Just over a decade and a half ago, an amazing new term took centre stage, it was used in almost every meeting, it became the key to strategies, marketing campaigns and if you could some how weave it into your job title then it gave you almost super natural like powers and started opening up new and exciting doors. The term was “Innovation” Those of us who were fortunate enough at the time to realise the super natural nature of innovation began working together, collaborating, sharing thoughts and strategies and for the first-time linkages started to emerge, across industry sectors, age groups, across the multi helix and indeed wonderful, magical futures were imagined. Innovation fuels economies, and in a developing country like South Africa it becomes the driving force of success and long-term sustainability. As groups and teams and in our own little offices we quickly began to realise that if it was easy everyone would do it. So, what was the key ingredient to driving innovation? And the answer was Entrepreneurship. The output of entrepreneurialism was innovation, and just like that the code was cracked or so we thought. Many of us were in large corporates at the time, further away from entrepreneurial thinking than any of us wanted to admit. But in order to drive innovation we had to start by driving entrepreneurial thinking and we had to embrace entrepreneurs, understand their world and bring them closer into ours, creating eco-systems and platforms that could add value and in doing so we hoped it would somehow rub off onto the corporate culture that we were in.  Its no wonder a decade or so later and this new term “Entrepreneurship” has made its way to corporate strategies, marketing campaigns and even presidential addresses. But like Innovation, Entrepreneurship is not new but it is novel enough for the smart consultants and agencies to latch onto, in order to make their clients look even more appealing to society. In my previous life as a corporate custodian of changing lives (my interpretation of my roles), I had the privilege within a couple organisations to work with both innovation and entrepreneurship functions. During the many public addresses that I had to give as part of my role, my favourite was to quote a line from Spiderman, “With great power, comes great responsibility”. The relevance of this line was addressed to large corporates. They indeed have great power, in terms of their size, scale, reach, resources, funding and the list goes on. With that power comes the responsibility to do more, be more and give more. Even though I love being an entrepreneur myself, I have to admit, being able to use a corporates cheque book to change lives and make an impact has been my second favourite role. I’ve spent almost two decades working for corporates, I am also fully aware that the responsibility we are seeking from corporates is not always easy to extract, or for them to volunteer especially when the bottom line is what drives most corporate strategies and decisions, despite what the marketing campaigns would have us believe. However, there are organisations all around the globe that have invested in great initiatives that support entrepreneurs and this support has translated into bottom line benefit. Imagine that, being able to do good and make money, while growing the support systems required for entrepreneurs and ultimately improving the innovation stack not just of the corporate but of the country.  Some of these initiatives include departments that drive a focus on developing entrepreneurs, incubators that provide spaces for growth and development or simply access to the internet, innovation or industry labs that drive and encourage open innovation and open working spaces that have been made available in unused or dead spaces for the use by entrepreneurs and or clients. All of these provide opportunities to leverage the resources of the corporate for the benefit of the entrepreneur. More recently we have seen the emergence of several platform businesses that are designed to rapidly increase the impact on creating access to market opportunities, showcase products and services more broadly and even out the playing fields so that even the township entrepreneurs have the same level of access to an opportunity as an established business. This is not some futuristic plan of action, all the above examples can and have been done. They have contributed positively to job creation figures, access to markets and showcasing opportunities and have assisted entrepreneurs positively with their growth and advancement. There has been discussions and debates around incubators and entrepreneurial programmes not having the desired benefit or not making an impact, but I have witnessed first hand the real impact that these initiatives can have if run properly with adequate funding and a long term run way, strategic intent and the right level of support and funding for the entrepreneur from the organisations that run them.  In addition to physical infrastructure and face to face engagements corporates have also partnered with global recognition organisations that provide platforms for innovative entrepreneurs to showcase their products and services both locally and abroad. These have opened up new opportunities for raising much needed funds, collaboration linkages and new markets access. The use of e-commerce platforms and opportunity market places by corporates has meant that entrepreneurs that have benefited from high touch initiatives can now also access further opportunities by being visible on online platforms. The common thread and major success factor across all of these approaches is access to markets. Entrepreneurs need clients and those clients are either the corporate that has created a touch point through any, or all the above initiatives and approaches or through the vast ecosystem that surrounds the corporate. Very often these ecosystem players include other corporates, industry bodies, academic institutions and international organisations and regulatory or government or state departments. In addition, South Africa is one of the few countries that has great funding instruments and codes that are designed to specifically focus on the development of entrepreneurs and additional and increased benefits for those that open supply chain opportunities

The post Innovation and Why Entrepreneurship Matters appeared first on YIEDI.

]]>

Just over a decade and a half ago, an amazing new term took centre stage, it was used in almost every meeting, it became the key to strategies, marketing campaigns and if you could some how weave it into your job title then it gave you almost super natural like powers and started opening up new and exciting doors. The term was “Innovation”

Those of us who were fortunate enough at the time to realise the super natural nature of innovation began working together, collaborating, sharing thoughts and strategies and for the first-time linkages started to emerge, across industry sectors, age groups, across the multi helix and indeed wonderful, magical futures were imagined.

Innovation fuels economies, and in a developing country like South Africa it becomes the driving force of success and long-term sustainability. As groups and teams and in our own little offices we quickly began to realise that if it was easy everyone would do it. So, what was the key ingredient to driving innovation? And the answer was Entrepreneurship. The output of entrepreneurialism was innovation, and just like that the code was cracked or so we thought. Many of us were in large corporates at the time, further away from entrepreneurial thinking than any of us wanted to admit. But in order to drive innovation we had to start by driving entrepreneurial thinking and we had to embrace entrepreneurs, understand their world and bring them closer into ours, creating eco-systems and platforms that could add value and in doing so we hoped it would somehow rub off onto the corporate culture that we were in.

 Its no wonder a decade or so later and this new term “Entrepreneurship” has made its way to corporate strategies, marketing campaigns and even presidential addresses. But like Innovation, Entrepreneurship is not new but it is novel enough for the smart consultants and agencies to latch onto, in order to make their clients look even more appealing to society. In my previous life as a corporate custodian of changing lives (my interpretation of my roles), I had the privilege within a couple organisations to work with both innovation and entrepreneurship functions. During the many public addresses that I had to give as part of my role, my favourite was to quote a line from Spiderman, “With great power, comes great responsibility”. The relevance of this line was addressed to large corporates. They indeed have great power, in terms of their size, scale, reach, resources, funding and the list goes on. With that power comes the responsibility to do more, be more and give more. Even though I love being an entrepreneur myself, I have to admit, being able to use a corporates cheque book to change lives and make an impact has been my second favourite role.

I’ve spent almost two decades working for corporates, I am also fully aware that the responsibility we are seeking from corporates is not always easy to extract, or for them to volunteer especially when the bottom line is what drives most corporate strategies and decisions, despite what the marketing campaigns would have us believe. However, there are organisations all around the globe that have invested in great initiatives that support entrepreneurs and this support has translated into bottom line benefit. Imagine that, being able to do good and make money, while growing the support systems required for entrepreneurs and ultimately improving the innovation stack not just of the corporate but of the country. 

Some of these initiatives include departments that drive a focus on developing entrepreneurs, incubators that provide spaces for growth and development or simply access to the internet, innovation or industry labs that drive and encourage open innovation and open working spaces that have been made available in unused or dead spaces for the use by entrepreneurs and or clients. All of these provide opportunities to leverage the resources of the corporate for the benefit of the entrepreneur. More recently we have seen the emergence of several platform businesses that are designed to rapidly increase the impact on creating access to market opportunities, showcase products and services more broadly and even out the playing fields so that even the township entrepreneurs have the same level of access to an opportunity as an established business.

This is not some futuristic plan of action, all the above examples can and have been done. They have contributed positively to job creation figures, access to markets and showcasing opportunities and have assisted entrepreneurs positively with their growth and advancement. There has been discussions and debates around incubators and entrepreneurial programmes not having the desired benefit or not making an impact, but I have witnessed first hand the real impact that these initiatives can have if run properly with adequate funding and a long term run way, strategic intent and the right level of support and funding for the entrepreneur from the organisations that run them. 

In addition to physical infrastructure and face to face engagements corporates have also partnered with global recognition organisations that provide platforms for innovative entrepreneurs to showcase their products and services both locally and abroad. These have opened up new opportunities for raising much needed funds, collaboration linkages and new markets access.

The use of e-commerce platforms and opportunity market places by corporates has meant that entrepreneurs that have benefited from high touch initiatives can now also access further opportunities by being visible on online platforms. The common thread and major success factor across all of these approaches is access to markets. Entrepreneurs need clients and those clients are either the corporate that has created a touch point through any, or all the above initiatives and approaches or through the vast ecosystem that surrounds the corporate. Very often these ecosystem players include other corporates, industry bodies, academic institutions and international organisations and regulatory or government or state departments.

In addition, South Africa is one of the few countries that has great funding instruments and codes that are designed to specifically focus on the development of entrepreneurs and additional and increased benefits for those that open supply chain opportunities and provide funding to entrepreneurs. With all of the positive benefits and the associated impact that these can have on the economy its actually quite surprising that only a fraction of corporate South Africa has embraced and leveraged of this opportunity. So maybe its time to change my favourite Spiderman quote to “With great power comes great opportunities”.

These opportunities will ensure we build the thriving ecosystem for entrepreneurs to produce more innovations, and innovations will continue to fuel our economy.

About the author:

Jayshree Naidoo is a thought leader in the space of innovation and entrepreneurship. She has led the innovation and entrepreneurship functions of large corporates in South Africa. Her last corporate role was the Head of the Standard Bank Incubator. She is currently an entrepreneur consults in the space of Innovation, Incubation and Entrpreneurship. You can follow her on Twitter and Instagram on @jayshnaidoo 

As published in Fast Company South Africa, July/August 2018 Issue

The post Innovation and Why Entrepreneurship Matters appeared first on YIEDI.

]]> Changing the narrative….one Entrepreneur at a time! https://yiedi.co.za/changing-the-narrative-one-entrepreneur-at-a-time/ Tue, 02 Dec 2025 02:44:21 +0000 https://yiedi.co.za/?p=3142 We are currently delivering a Business in a Box Programme for a client. To date we have trained about 100 staff that have embarked on an entrepreneurship journey after being impacted by Section 189 processes. The experience has been extremely rewarding as we have watched staff members shift from a place of despair and anger to one of gratitude and excitement. It reinforces our commitment to up-skilling and re-skilling and creating awareness around the need for embedding skills like innovation and entrepreneurship into training curriculum’s. Our past experience with new entrants into entrepreneurship highlights a few areas that require focus They include but are not limited to the following: Idea Validation – using tools to test and validate your idea Gap Analysis – What are your Soft Skills and Hard Skills Gaps that you need to address before embarking on your new business Strategy and Business Modelling Tools – How to use them to understand and run your business Company compliance and registration, – Do you know what your obligations and responsibilities are and are you selecting the correct business model Human Capital – As a startup, its important to understand the requirements and legislation Financial Management – Understand the psychology of money and how you can effectively manage your finances Social Media and Networking Platforms – Learn the basics of using social media to grow your business effectively Marketing and Branding – How to create meaningful brands for your business Pitching, and effective communication. Can you effectively pitch your business and articulate its key offering The Business in a Box high touch programme is suited to new entrants into the world of entrepreneurship and provides all of the necessary tools, resources and skills to validate your business idea and kick start your business. In addition to addressing some of the gaps, the delegates get a registered company with CIPIC, marketing and Branding Support, a professional Logo, electronic Business Cards and Banners and access to an E-Commerce platform were they can sell their products and services. To help entrepreneurs on their journey we exposed them to some amazing guest speakers and facilitators who helped inspire them with real life experiences. Some of the feedback we have received from delegates on the programme: “This course has given me a lot of confidence and I’m not looking back” “Top quality excellent, authentic and real. All the speakers, presenters and material was greatly appreciated” “A very informative session; learned a lot and I am taking what I’ve learned home to inform other people” To date 15 new businesses have been registered since January and 6 have already started trading and landing contracts. We are looking forward to many more success stories and we are sure that these new entrepreneurs will be helping change the narrative as we move forward. Article by:Jayshree Naidoo – CEO of YIEDIjayshreen@yiedi.co.za  

The post Changing the narrative….one Entrepreneur at a time! appeared first on YIEDI.

]]>

We are currently delivering a Business in a Box Programme for a client. To date we have trained about 100 staff that have embarked on an entrepreneurship journey after being impacted by Section 189 processes. The experience has been extremely rewarding as we have watched staff members shift from a place of despair and anger to one of gratitude and excitement. It reinforces our commitment to up-skilling and re-skilling and creating awareness around the need for embedding skills like innovation and entrepreneurship into training curriculum’s.

Our past experience with new entrants into entrepreneurship highlights a few areas that require focus They include but are not limited to the following:

  • Idea Validation – using tools to test and validate your idea
  • Gap Analysis – What are your Soft Skills and Hard Skills Gaps that you need to address before embarking on your new business
  • Strategy and Business Modelling Tools – How to use them to understand and run your business
  • Company compliance and registration, – Do you know what your obligations and responsibilities are and are you selecting the correct business model
  • Human Capital – As a startup, its important to understand the requirements and legislation
  • Financial Management – Understand the psychology of money and how you can effectively manage your finances
  • Social Media and Networking Platforms – Learn the basics of using social media to grow your business effectively
  • Marketing and Branding – How to create meaningful brands for your business
  • Pitching, and effective communication. Can you effectively pitch your business and articulate its key offering

The Business in a Box high touch programme is suited to new entrants into the world of entrepreneurship and provides all of the necessary tools, resources and skills to validate your business idea and kick start your business. In addition to addressing some of the gaps, the delegates get a registered company with CIPIC, marketing and Branding Support, a professional Logo, electronic Business Cards and Banners and access to an E-Commerce platform were they can sell their products and services.

To help entrepreneurs on their journey we exposed them to some amazing guest speakers and facilitators who helped inspire them with real life experiences.

Some of the feedback we have received from delegates on the programme:

“This course has given me a lot of confidence and I’m not looking back”

“Top quality excellent, authentic and real. All the speakers, presenters and material was greatly appreciated”

“A very informative session; learned a lot and I am taking what I’ve learned home to inform other people”

To date 15 new businesses have been registered since January and 6 have already started trading and landing contracts. We are looking forward to many more success stories and we are sure that these new entrepreneurs will be helping change the narrative as we move forward.

Article by:
Jayshree Naidoo – CEO of YIEDI
jayshreen@yiedi.co.za

 

The post Changing the narrative….one Entrepreneur at a time! appeared first on YIEDI.

]]> IBM opens nominations for black tech firms with its Techscale programme https://yiedi.co.za/ibm-opens-nominations-for-black-tech-firms-with-its-techscale-programme/ Tue, 02 Dec 2025 02:39:10 +0000 https://yiedi.co.za/?p=3137 Established black owned tech companies in the financial services, healthcare and telecommunications sectors can get help from IBM to grow their business — with the latest call of IBM’s Techscale programme. IBM South Africa has opened applications for its six-month IBM Techscale programme. Applications can be made through Joburg-based consultancy Youth Innovation Entrepreneurship Design Institute (Yiedi) which is implementing the programme on behalf of IBM. Applications close on 10 April, while the selected companies will be announced later on in the same month. Over the course of programme, participants will get the opportunity to collaborate with decision makers from the tech industry and gain access to mentors and coaches. Some of the topics that will be covered include business development and enablement, as well as investor readiness.Yiedi’s six-month long IBM Techscale programme is aimed at tech companies operating in the financial services, healthcare and telecommunications sectors The programme is open to commercially sustainable SA registered companies that are black owned and managed, as well as older than a year. To be considered for the programme, companies must have a turnover of at least R500 000, or must have secured purchase orders and verified contracts to the value of more than R500 000 within 2019. Applicants must also be involved in the business’s daily operations and management on a full-time basis. Moreover, the business must no be currently participating in any other enterprise development programme at IBM, or any of its competitors.

The post IBM opens nominations for black tech firms with its Techscale programme appeared first on YIEDI.

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Established black owned tech companies in the financial services, healthcare and telecommunications sectors can get help from IBM to grow their business — with the latest call of IBM’s Techscale programme.

IBM South Africa has opened applications for its six-month IBM Techscale programme. Applications can be made through Joburg-based consultancy Youth Innovation Entrepreneurship Design Institute (Yiedi) which is implementing the programme on behalf of IBM.

Applications close on 10 April, while the selected companies will be announced later on in the same month.

Over the course of programme, participants will get the opportunity to collaborate with decision makers from the tech industry and gain access to mentors and coaches. Some of the topics that will be covered include business development and enablement, as well as investor readiness.Yiedi’s six-month long IBM Techscale programme is aimed at tech companies operating in the financial services, healthcare and telecommunications sectors

The programme is open to commercially sustainable SA registered companies that are black owned and managed, as well as older than a year.

To be considered for the programme, companies must have a turnover of at least R500 000, or must have secured purchase orders and verified contracts to the value of more than R500 000 within 2019.

Applicants must also be involved in the business’s daily operations and management on a full-time basis. Moreover, the business must no be currently participating in any other enterprise development programme at IBM, or any of its competitors.

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]]> Seven black tech firms chosen for IBM Techscale initiative https://yiedi.co.za/seven-black-tech-firms-chosen-for-ibm-techscale-initiative/ Tue, 02 Dec 2025 02:28:00 +0000 https://yiedi.co.za/?p=3128 IBM SA and Joburg-based consultancy the Youth Innovation Entrepreneurship Design Institute (Yiedi) have welcomed seven SA tech startups into the IBM Techscale programme. The six-month programme is targeted at established black-owned tech companies in the financial services, healthcare and telecommunications sectors. The programme was officially launched at an event last Tuesday (21 May) in Johannesburg at Workshop 17 in Sandton, where the programme will take place. The seven companies range from firms focusing on software-as-a-service (SaaS) to artificial intelligence (AI) and bitcoin. The six-month IBM Techscale programme is targeted at established black-owned tech companies The startups and their founders are: Qualip Solutions (Sizwe Hlongwane): Qualip Solutions is a software and application development consulting company which builds applications and systems to help organisations automate their processes. KryszanTec (Jermain Kallideen): KryszanTec has developed Subware, a solution that allows businesses to understand how they are spending money on IT. Through the solution, the company is able to show a business how much it would cost them to move to any new technology. Smartech Holdings (Florah Ngwenya): Smartech Holdings is a custom software development company which helps clients digitally transform their businesses through solutions that are tailored to clients’ requirements. GeoPay (Thabang Mashiloane): GeoPay is peer-to-peer (P2P) blockchain remittance platform that helps people living in the diaspora to transfer money across borders quicker and more affordably. Zyelabs (Ismail Dhorat): Zyelabs facilitates and supports data driven decision-making so that clients can improve their customer experience, boost revenue and reduce costs. The firm helps companies make sense of big data by providing data engineering, data science and analytics and data operations services. BotsZA (Harmony Mothibe): BotsZA is a research and development company specialising in applications powered by AI. The startup helps companies integrate AI, machine learning and chatbots into their business processes to improve their customer experience, productivity and efficiency. Konecta (Yandisa Sokhanyile): Konecta builds wireless networks and platforms to enable value-added services and data analytics. In a statement last week Yiedi CEO Jayshree Naidoo (pictured above, far left) said IBM SA COO Ziaad Suleman committed at the event to closely engaging with the cohort as the businesses grow further into their respective areas. Naidoo added that IBM SA VP for partner ecosystems Craig Holmes offered to make as many IBM resources available to the participants and encouraged them to partner and grow with IBM. “Over the past few weeks we have already seen them grow and learn from some of the mentors we identified,” she said. She said the IBM leadership team had made the launch event “extremely beneficial” for the programme participants by giving them insights into available opportunities as well as on IBM’s strategy. Said Naidoo: “For many entrepreneurs one of the major barriers to success is access to markets and having a giant like IBM on the side of these businesses will give them the edge to succeed and grow”.

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Seven black tech firms chosen for IBM Techscale initiative

IBM SA and Joburg-based consultancy the Youth Innovation Entrepreneurship Design Institute (Yiedi) have welcomed seven SA tech startups into the IBM Techscale programme.

The six-month programme is targeted at established black-owned tech companies in the financial services, healthcare and telecommunications sectors.

The programme was officially launched at an event last Tuesday (21 May) in Johannesburg at Workshop 17 in Sandton, where the programme will take place.

The seven companies range from firms focusing on software-as-a-service (SaaS) to artificial intelligence (AI) and bitcoin. The six-month IBM Techscale programme is targeted at established black-owned tech companies

The startups and their founders are:

Qualip Solutions (Sizwe Hlongwane): Qualip Solutions is a software and application development consulting company which builds applications and systems to help organisations automate their processes.

KryszanTec (Jermain Kallideen): KryszanTec has developed Subware, a solution that allows businesses to understand how they are spending money on IT. Through the solution, the company is able to show a business how much it would cost them to move to any new technology.

Smartech Holdings (Florah Ngwenya): Smartech Holdings is a custom software development company which helps clients digitally transform their businesses through solutions that are tailored to clients’ requirements.

GeoPay (Thabang Mashiloane): GeoPay is peer-to-peer (P2P) blockchain remittance platform that helps people living in the diaspora to transfer money across borders quicker and more affordably.

Zyelabs (Ismail Dhorat): Zyelabs facilitates and supports data driven decision-making so that clients can improve their customer experience, boost revenue and reduce costs. The firm helps companies make sense of big data by providing data engineering, data science and analytics and data operations services.

BotsZA (Harmony Mothibe): BotsZA is a research and development company specialising in applications powered by AI. The startup helps companies integrate AI, machine learning and chatbots into their business processes to improve their customer experience, productivity and efficiency.

Konecta (Yandisa Sokhanyile): Konecta builds wireless networks and platforms to enable value-added services and data analytics.

In a statement last week Yiedi CEO Jayshree Naidoo (pictured above, far left) said IBM SA COO Ziaad Suleman committed at the event to closely engaging with the cohort as the businesses grow further into their respective areas.

Naidoo added that IBM SA VP for partner ecosystems Craig Holmes offered to make as many IBM resources available to the participants and encouraged them to partner and grow with IBM.

“Over the past few weeks we have already seen them grow and learn from some of the mentors we identified,” she said.

She said the IBM leadership team had made the launch event “extremely beneficial” for the programme participants by giving them insights into available opportunities as well as on IBM’s strategy.

Said Naidoo: “For many entrepreneurs one of the major barriers to success is access to markets and having a giant like IBM on the side of these businesses will give them the edge to succeed and grow”.

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]]> The Evolving Customer: Rethinking Design Thinking in a Technologically Shaped https://yiedi.co.za/the-evolving-customer/ Fri, 05 Sep 2025 06:40:04 +0000 https://demosites.royal-elementor-addons.com/landing-page-business-v2/?p=139 Over the years, Design Thinking has fundamentally reshaped how we approach product and service development, placing the customer at the centre of every solution. As an Innovation and Design Thinking practitioner, I have witnessed a profound shift in customer personas, prompting critical reflection on the role of technology in influencing customer behaviour, personality traits, and cultural values. There is no doubt that customer behaviour has evolved, particularly among younger generations. However, this shift is not exclusive to youth, technology has impacted every generational cohort, reshaping expectations, interaction patterns, and decision-making behaviours across the board. These shifts add both richness and complexity to the Design Thinking process. At the heart of any effective Design Thinking methodology lies empathy mapping and persona profiling. These are not just steps in the process, they are foundational to developing meaningful and impactful solutions. To design for the customer, we must first understand the customer holistically, their needs, pain points, motivations, and contexts. While the tools and frameworks we use, such as design questionnaires and customer problem statement templates, may vary across industries and organisations, the core methodology remains consistent. This adaptability ensures Design Thinking continues to be a powerful, relevant approach in a world where customer expectations are dynamic and constantly evolving.As we move forward, our ability to remain curious, empathetic, and reflective will determine how effectively we continue to innovate with and for our customers.

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Over the years, Design Thinking has fundamentally reshaped how we approach product and service development, placing the customer at the centre of every solution. As an Innovation and Design Thinking practitioner, I have witnessed a profound shift in customer personas, prompting critical reflection on the role of technology in influencing customer behaviour, personality traits, and cultural values.


There is no doubt that customer behaviour has evolved, particularly among younger generations. However, this shift is not exclusive to youth, technology has impacted every generational cohort, reshaping expectations, interaction patterns, and decision-making behaviours across the board. These shifts add both richness and complexity to the Design Thinking process. At the heart of any effective Design Thinking methodology lies empathy mapping and persona profiling. These are not just steps in the process, they are foundational to developing meaningful and impactful solutions. To design for the customer, we must first understand the customer holistically, their needs, pain points, motivations, and contexts.


While the tools and frameworks we use, such as design questionnaires and customer problem statement templates, may vary across industries and organisations, the core methodology remains consistent. This adaptability ensures Design Thinking continues to be a powerful, relevant approach in a world where customer expectations are dynamic and constantly evolving.
As we move forward, our ability to remain curious, empathetic, and reflective will determine how effectively we continue to innovate with and for our customers.

The post The Evolving Customer: Rethinking Design Thinking in a Technologically Shaped appeared first on YIEDI.

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