Sibusiso Mbonambi of Shayela.com was a speaker at the youth conference
Twitter was abuzz with updates from inspired young entrepreneurs attending the Youth Entrepreneurship Conference 2013 - an indication of the event’s overall impact.
Held at the Cape Town International Convention Centre, the event was aimed at student entrepreneurs, aspiring student entrepreneurs and entrepreneurial societies, and is an initiative of the Western Cape Department Economic Development and Tourism, which focuses on encouraging a culture of entrepreneurship in the Western Cape. This is also in line with the province’s strategic objectives of growing the economy and creating jobs.
The conference was all about unleashing ideas, spotting opportunities, taking risks, solving problems, being creative, building connections and learning from both failures and success.
This seemed to have been achieved, judging from the tweets during and after the conference.
This year’s theme was centred around innovation. Apt to have as a speaker the award-winning business owner Ludwick Marishane, who developed a gel that can be used to have a waterless bath. Other speakers included the Minister of Economic Development and Tourism, Alan Winde, Alex Mcleod of the School of Entrepreneurship Trust, and MC for the event Sibusiso Mbonambi, founder of Shayela.com.
Tweets @ YEC2013
Aspiring entrepreneur Bianca Blohm tweeted, “Thank you @ YEConnect @investsoc @WesternCapeGov for an amazing experience at #YEC2013. Met incredible people and learnt so much!”
“Today was such an interesting day. Met a lot of young entrepreneurs and
Ideas were exchanged. Progress. #YEConnect”, tweeted @ShinanaG.
A tweet from Samson Mbewe read, “#YEConnect. Indeed, great minds don’t think alike. A lot learnt today; visions are clearer.”
Speaker Sibusiso Mbonambi, entrepreneur and founder of Shayela.com, tweeted “Thoroughly enjoying #YEC2013. The people are great and so inspired by the pitch session.”
Another attendee, Tom Burke tweeted, “Just spent 12 hours in the company of the greatest young entrepreneurs in South Africa! Feeling priviledged and inspired! #YEC @YEConnect”.