Future business leaders’ project launched

By Confidente Reporter

ON February 15, Sanlam Namibia announced the opening of its entrepreneurial support programme called Sanlam Bridge.

The programme is a launch pad for Namibia’s future business leaders who have innovative and exciting business ideas but lack the necessary resources to turn their ideas into reality.

The Sanlam Bridge is a revamp of the previous Sanlam Innovation works programme which the company ran for the past five years in partnership with the Namibia Business Innovation Institute (NBII).

Part of the company’s corporate social responsibility programme, the Sanlam Bridge aims to create future business leaders in Namibia, promote business innovation and leadership, and promote employment creation while allowing young people the opportunity to earn their own income.

The programme is open to young Namibians between the ages of 18 to 35 who either have a business idea or who have a start-up business not older than one year.

On its part, Sanlam will provide N$50 000 seed capital to the selected top five businesses, support and mentorship from established Namibian business personalities and additional capital to the overall Sanlam Bridge winner to be announced in November.

The top five selected businesses are expected to meet the set criteria and achieve set goals to be in the running for the overall Sanlam Bridge winner.

The business must be committed to work with Sanlam for a period of eight months.

Sanlam manager for marketing and communication, Hilaria Graig, said the company is very much aware of the challenges the economy is faced due to Covid-19 pandemic that has negatively affected lots of businesses.

Graig is therefore calling on young Namibians countrywide to apply for the Sanlam Bridge programme.

“Sanlam is aware of the challenging times we are finding ourselves in with the Covid-19 pandemic.

Many people have lost their jobs and are now turning to entrepreneurship as a source of income and employment creation. Sanlam Bridge comes at the right time when many young people are trying to start their own businesses but are often faced with the challenge of start-up capital. The programme was developed to encourage young people to chase their entrepreneurial dreams,” she said.

Interested business hopefuls are encouraged to submit their business profiles to marketing@sanlam.com.na on or before March 1 2021 and can also contact Hilaria Graig on 061 294 7111 to find out more about the programme.