Global start-up support initiative, Startup Guide, has partnered with SAP Next-Gen and Tshimologong Precinct to bring its entrepreneurship book project to the Johannesburg innovation ecosystem.
Founded in 2014 by German-based entrepreneur, Sissel Hansen, Startup Guide is a creative content and publishing company that produces online handbooks and entrepreneurial tools to help entrepreneurs connect to communities and resources in various cities around the world.
Each book looks into the local ecosystem, featuring advice from experts and successful founders, as well as curated lists of start-ups, coworking spaces and programmes.
So far, Startup Guide has produced guides for 20 different cities in the US, Europe and the Middle East, including London, New York, Berlin, Tel Aviv and Stockholm.
After launching in Cape Town early this year, Startup Guide now moves to Johannesburg and is calling on entrepreneurs, accelerators, innovators, coworking space companies and experts in the city to apply to be featured in Startup Guide Johannesburg, due to launch next year.
Hansen says SA's largest city is emerging as a key innovation hub for start-ups. "Johannesburg has recently emerged as a growing ecosystem for start-ups and entrepreneurs in Africa, particularly in the tech industry. We're thrilled to have the opportunity to create a comprehensive guide of resources for aspiring founders wanting to do business in South Africa's largest city."
Johannesburg has long been a hub for finance and trade. Now, a growing start-up community of techies looks poised to become one of Africa's most disruptive ecosystems, notes Hansen.
"Startup Guide Johannesburg edition will provide an inside look at some of the city's most successful start-ups. It will also include inspiring interviews with innovative founders and advice from the foremost experts in the local start-up scene. We're excited to share with the world what Johannesburg's innovative and creative start-ups have to offer."
Partnerships create 'disrupterpreneurs'
Startup Guide has partnered with SAP Next-Gen, an innovation university and community for the SAP ecosystem.
The company has also partnered with the Tshimologong Precinct, which focuses on the incubation of digital entrepreneurs, commercialisation of research and the development of digital skills for students, working professionals and unemployed youth.
Ann Rosenberg, senior VP and head of Global at SAP Next-Gen, explains: "We strive to connect digital innovators in an open innovation community to drive the future success and growth of industries through the use of technology. As we have witnessed in other high-innovation cities around the world, the introduction of knowledge resources, supported by opportunities for collaboration and partnership in an open ecosystem, enhances the overall success of entire start-up communities.
"Johannesburg's world-famous energy and business acumen will greatly benefit from the launch of Startup Guide Johannesburg and the support of industry partners, including SAP Next-Gen and the Tshimologong Precinct."
Startup Guide Johannesburg was launched at Wits University's Tshimologong Precinct, where entrepreneurs will also be supported with tools to help them navigate their journey and collaborate with experts.
Lesley Williams, CEO of Tshimologong Precinct, explains: "South Africa is fast-becoming a go-to source for innovation, especially in the tech sector. We believe the introduction of a dedicated resource for the start-up ecosystem in Johannesburg will unlock significant opportunities for innovation hubs such as ours to more easily connect with entrepreneurs, experts and other role-players, ultimately providing a more supportive environment for growth."
Nominations for the Johannesburg edition of Startup Guide are now open. Anyone can contribute by nominating candidates they'd like to see featured in the book.
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