BELOW, LEFT: Yehuda Raff, founder of the Open Agency, and Damian Michael, founder of Innovo Networks
BELOW, RIGHT: Entrepreneur Jody Aufrichtig; former Cape Board head of Media & Diplomatic Affairs Dan Brotman; SABEF
executive director Matsi Modise; former Cape Board chairman Li Boiskin; and executive director David Jacobson; SABEF’s Vuyisa
Qabaka; and entrepreneur Khaya Gobodo at a B-JEN gathering
REAL BUSINESSES, REAL
PARTNERSHIPS
Despite being brief, these interactions
have the potential to lead to bigger
things. For example, because of one
such meeting, David Chait of Mr Delivery and Naushad Khan of ‘The Next 48
Hours’ newspaper are now working together, where the paper is distributed
through the delivery service. Their partnership was formed as a direct result of
meeting at a B-JEN event. “We distribute the paper to our customers over the
weekend as a ‘value-add’ for ordering
their meals,” explains Chait. “The paper
is a great way to see what is hot and
happening in Cape Town. We pride ourselves on convenience, and therefore,
having the paper delivered is the ultimate in service.” In terms of expanding
the partnership, “There is a possibility
of going national with the paper and I
think there are other advertising possibilities that we can pursue,” says Chait.
Karen Venter of InnovateBiz and
Vuyisa Qabaka of Abaphumeleli Business Consultants also formed a business relationship following a B-JEN
networking opportunity. “The collaboration with Vuyisa plays a vital role in
my work. He has an extensive network
of key people who I need to deal with in
my business, which is still in the early
stages of growth and development. This
‘short-circuits’ the process of me getting to the right people, which translates to me not spending enormous
amounts of time trying to find the strategic people I need to speak to,” explains Venter. “Once the introductions
have been made, Vuyisa remains by my
side, partnering with me in the negotia-
tion process, which is one of his
strengths. My business has taken a substantial leap forward as a result of our
collaboration.”
Chait and Venter agree that B-JEN is
an important project. “Both black and
Jewish entrepreneurs have a strong
urge to succeed, so it is a powerful and
exciting combination. It’s a great forum
to meet like-minded people looking to
get ahead in a country with so many
opportunities,” says Chait.
Venter adds that she “would encourage
others to attend B-JEN as an opportunity to make strategic partnerships, which
can potentially positively impact their
businesses, while strengthening the relationship between both communities”.
EXPANDING TO JOBURG
AND DURBAN
Indeed, this is not charity or ‘outreach’,
but rather a positive platform where
young, dynamic South Africans can
partner as equals. “People are very open
to being in the same space and sharing
ideas,” comments Ross Horak at a gathering. “I thought it would possibly be
very segmented, but it’s not at all.”
“This is one of those rare events
where I’ve seen integration between
black and white entrepreneurs taken
seriously. At the same time, there is no
patronising – we are on an equal level.
It’s a unique platform to actively promote that,” says Pascal Fröhlicher of
Impact Amplifier, who attended a recent B-JEN gathering as one of a number of interested observers, demonstrating how the project is gaining traction and interest in the South African
business space.
The variety and calibre of businesses
are another factor that makes B-JEN
such an exciting initiative. Examples include Glenn Stein’s multilingual app,
which allows for translation between
South Africa’s 11 official languages and
can be used for anything from tourism
to healthcare. It is this combination of
cutting-edge start-ups combined with
an essence of empowerment that BJEN aims to nurture.
Many participants have also looked
beyond the business side, reflecting
on the common links between the two
communities. “We can learn so much
from each other about healing divisions,” says Donovan Goliath. “The
black community needs to stand tog