This year the popular North-West University (NWU) student business competition, Leopards Lair, saw more than 180 students compete for the winning spoils. These students, from all three the university’s campuses, also included representatives from the Vaal University of Technology (VUT) in Vanderbijlpark.
The winners were announced at a gala dinner in Vanderbijlpark, and Melanie Pieterse walked away as the winner. In second place were Ruben Kriel, Henco Kriel and Niel Behnke with their business, Wicked Vapes. The third place went to GD van Tonder and Ruben Steenberg and their business concept, Bean.
More about the competition
The competition which is based on international business challenges such as Shark Tank and Dragon’s Den, was facilitated by the NWU’s bhive Enterprise Development Centre (EDC) and took place over the course of two semesters.
During this time the participants had ample time to work on their business pitches while benefitting from several workshops aimed at strengthening both their academic and the practical understanding of entrepreneurship.
According to Johann Landsberg, manager of the bhive EDC, the competition was decided over several rounds. The participants first submitted their Idea to Concept proposal after which 40 students were invited to take part in the Business Model Canvas phase of the competition.
From here, 20 students proceeded to the next round during which they had to produce a video pitch and face off against each other. Next, 12 participants faced an independent panel of business owners, investors, successful entrepreneurs and members of academia to battle it out for a place on the winners’ podium.
The 12 finalists were:
|
Deslandi Fernando |
VUT |
|
GD van Tonder Ruben Steenberg |
NWU Potchefstroom |
|
Izak Adendorff |
NWU Potchefstroom |
|
Khaulani Miti |
NWU Vanderbijlpark |
|
Melanie Pieterse |
NWU Potchefstroom |
|
Meolody Mtombeni |
NWU Potchefstroom |
|
Natalie Nilsson |
NWU Vanderbijlpark |
|
Neo Lefakane |
NWU Potchefstroom |
|
Ruben Kriel Henco Kriel Niel Behnke |
NWU Potchefstroom |
|
TDS Mbatha |
NWU Potchefstroom |
|
Tendai Mupfawa |
NWU Vanderbijlpark |
|
Themba Maduka |
NWU Mahikeng |
The value of entrepreneurship
According to Johann, the annual business competition is one of the ways in which the NWU is actively promoting entrepreneurship as an innovative career alternative for graduates.
“Through initiatives such as Leopards Lair, the NWU aims to address the challenges many start-up entrepreneurs face,” says Johann. He adds that empowered entrepreneurs will be able to make informed and creative decisions that will positively impact South Africa’s strained economy. In short: an entrepreneurial mind-set will henceforth be a crucial commodity within the ever changing world of work.
Ruben Steenberg, GD van Tonder, Melanie Pieterse, Niel Behnke and Henco Kriel.
