A significant milestone in Namibia’s entrepreneurial landscape was marked on 26 March 2024 as Sanlam hosted a pivotal phase of the Sanlam Bridge session. In collaboration with Sanlam’s partner the Namibia Investment Promotion and Development Board (NIPDB), they welcomed 11 ambitious entrepreneurs who showcased their innovative ideas during a pitch competition.
The Sanlam Bridge programme serves as a beacon for emerging business leaders, providing vital support to registered businesses under one year old, or those with compelling ideas but lacking adequate financial resources. Among the remarkable contenders during the recent pitch were Africa Brandberg Investments, Apakaso Cotton, Echo Recyclers, Keme Trading, Londa, Ndipwa Trading, SoapCycles, Ununtu Aquatics cc, United by Skateboarding Namibia, and WYK C.G.I.
These ventures competed fiercely for the top five spots, each vying to secure N$50 000 in seed capital ,along with a six-month mentorship and coaching programme.
“The Sanlam Bridge initiative aims to empower young Namibians by imparting essential business skills, and offering vital seed funding to kickstart their ventures. Additionally, it serves as a platform to bridge the gap between micro, small and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) and financial institutions, fostering a conducive environment for future funding,” stated Laurencia Prinzonsky, Sanlam’s brand marketing and communications manager. The top five Sanlam Bridge winners announced were WYK (Windhoek), Ubuntu Aquatics (Erongo), Echo Recycle (Omaruru), African Brandberg (Windhoek) and Ndipwa Trading (Omusati). Their outstanding performance earned them N$50 000 each to fuel their business growth, complemented by mentorship and coaching from NIPDB tailored for MSMEs.
The winning businesses will benefit from a range of NIPDB MSME incentives, including Branding Masterclasses, Financial Symposiums, Digital Bootcamps, Business Support Weeks, and the Start Improve Your Business Training Programme. As per tradition, an overall winner will be announced later in the year, with the top contender standing a chance to win an additional N$50 000. This honour typically goes to the business which demonstrates significant progress towards achieving milestones, and exhibits exceptional growth potential throughout the programme.