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Entrepreneurship Development Programme

Skills, tools and support for growing a sustainable business

Next course starts: 10 Jun 2024

4.64/5 (129 ratings)

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Programme information

Start dates
Length of course 12 weeks
Medium Fully online
Registrations close 03 Jun 2024
Weekly demand 6-8 hours per week
Valued at

R22 000.00

(Bursaries available)

Apply now* *Apply now to secure your bursary.

What is the Startup School Entrepreneurship Programme?

This 12-week online course has been designed by experienced entrepreneurs and educational professionals to deliver practical value to your business. A combination of interactive learning activities, take-home tools and online coaching support will help you navigate your business from the ideation phase through to the completion and presentation of an actionable business plan to investors.

If you have an existing business, the course will equip you with the skills, mindset and strategic map for growing a successful and sustainable business in Africa.

Why take this course?

  • Practical skills and tools
  • Coaching and mentorship
  • Certificates of completion
  • R100,000 funding opportunity

Apply for a bursary and get your course fees paid in full

The bursary is valued at R22000. We encourage everyone to apply for an Investec bursary. Because we are so committed to growing entrepreneurship we will do everything we can to help you get onto the programme.

Simply submit a short video of motivation as one of the steps in the online application process. Your video doesn’t need to be long or fancy. If you like, you can record yourself on your phone or computer, explaining your motivation for applying for the programme.

The bursary is granted on a merit basis, and if you are successful, the full course fees will be waived. However, a R1100 administration fee will be charged*.  If you are unsuccessful in your application for a bursary, there will be no obligation for you to proceed with your course application.

(*If you are unable to pay the administration fee we are able to discuss options for wavering this)

Course outline

Our flagship Entrepreneurship course includes 12 modules (weeks) of interactive, supported learning. The first 8 modules are relevant to all entrepreneurs. From week 9 onward, the course splits into two streams. One stream is tailored to startup entrepreneurs and the other to scale-up entrepreneurs.

You will learn about the importance of developing an entrepreneurial mind-set, and study from the examples of successful global and home-grown entrepreneurs.

In week 2, you will learn about the challenges facing different communities today, and the work that is being done in overcoming them, various problem solving methods, and the ability to formulate solutions to a variety of problems.

Week 3 will discuss the fundamentals of business strategy and look at how to start formulating your business plan, as well as the importance of a personal entrepreneurial strategy.

In this week you will discover the world of marketing and learn how to define your target market. You will also learn how to define a specific value proposition for your business.

In week 5, you will learn various sales techniques and how to set and interpret sales targets and reports. Additionally, you will be guided in developing and presenting a sales pitch for your business’s value proposition.

Week 6 covers all you need to know regarding the basics of small business finance and accounting. This includes the interpretation of various accounting reports and setting and managing a budget for your business.

In this week you will learn about human resources and labour law in a South African context, discover when to outsource various tasks or when to hire full-time employees. You will also learn the characteristics of value-based leadership.

In week 8 you will discover the importance of constructive communication, how to improve as a communicator, and the best ways to approach conflict in your business.

You don’t need to own a business to have an entrepreneur’s mind-set. Week 9 looks at ways of progressing within organisations, working as a professional, and becoming a linchpin of an organisation.

During the course you will be led on a journey to completing a business plan. In this week, you will learn presentation skills and create a presentation of your business plan. You will also learn about ways in which you can foster further opportunities for presenting your business plan.

This week covers a broad-based look operations management as applied to different sector scenarios and will teach you to develop an execution framework based on your business plan.

In week 12 you will learn about a variety of tested growth strategies and how to discern when your business is ready to scale or expand into new markets.

You will learn about the importance of developing an entrepreneurial mind-set, and study from the examples of successful global and home-grown entrepreneurs.

In week 2, you will learn about the challenges facing different communities today, and the work that is being done in overcoming them, various problem solving methods, and the ability to formulate solutions to a variety of problems.

Week 3 will discuss the fundamentals of business strategy and look at how to start formulating your business plan, as well as the importance of a personal entrepreneurial strategy.

In this week you will discover the world of marketing and learn how to define your target market. You will also learn how to define a specific value proposition for your business.

In week 5, you will learn various sales techniques and how to set and interpret sales targets and reports. Additionally, you will be guided in developing and presenting a sales pitch for your business’s value proposition.

Week 6 covers all you need to know regarding the basics of small business finance and accounting. This includes the interpretation of various accounting reports and setting and managing a budget for your business.

In this week you will learn about human resources and labour law in a South African context, discover when to outsource various tasks or when to hire full-time employees. You will also learn the characteristics of value-based leadership.

In week 8 you will discover the importance of constructive communication, how to improve as a communicator, and the best ways to approach conflict in your business.

The following module outlines effective ways to capture an audience’s attention, offers guidance on identifying your personal pitching style and provides practical and real-life examples of pitch decks that have succeed and others that have not.

The following module examines and demonstrates the role of values-based leadership, its key principles and the role it has in promoting a visionary corporate culture.

The following module examines the role of operations and supply chain management, its impact on productivity and how specific principles might improve organisational performance.

The following module reviews the specifics involved in scaling a business, highlights potential growth strategies, and analyses how existing products and services might be introduces to new markets.

Download course outline

What our alumni say about the course

Palesa Moloi

31 Jul 2018

"The program is really an incredible experience. One gets to learn more about the internal character traits needed to withstand the challenges of this journey. Also find creative solutions to the problems within the company you are building. It teaches you to be purposeful about what you are doing and find your why. Everything else becomes secondary and mere steps to get to the ultimate why... I’d recommend this course to any entrepreneur who is willing to commit themselves to at least 60hrs a week of pure content and learning. It’s so worth it. You come out a different person."

Lucky Lugogwana

30 Jul 2018

"Marvelous course! Such a mass of valuable learnings and ideas. It was wonderful that it was clearly geared towards individual businesses, not a lot else like this out there. I loved the course's structure with the weekly activities which are specific to key areas of your business (Haha! a unique strategy to getting all your admin done!) The Startup School team is very engaging and helps tailor an approach that fits precisely with your business needs. You will never find an online course that is more concise, more in-depth. I learned a lot & went over the content at least four times. So stocked you're here!"