Standard Bank launches advice series for entrepreneurs

Entrepreneurship is often described as a lonely journey and even overwhelming at times. But being receptive to advice and support from different sources, whether it be veteran entrepreneurs or industry experts, can help to avoid the challenges of going at it alone. 

“Whether you’re an aspiring entrepreneur, just starting out as a business owner or have years of experience under your belt, there are people who you can learn or draw inspiration from and who could provide you with a fresh perspective to enhance your journey,” says Jenine Zachar, head enterprise and direct banking at Standard Bank. 

Standard Bank, which provides a diverse range of support and solutions to business owners, whether start-ups or multinationals, has made it easier for entrepreneurs to find advice from experts and hear from voices of inspiration by curating a series of masterclasses and podcasts that can be accessed at no cost on its website.

The Bank On Us content series, which was launched in 2021 in partnership with a host of experts and business owners, includes videos on how to start, manage and grow a business as well as podcasts with entrepreneur contributors such as Dr Aisha Pandor, co-founder of SweepSouth; and restauranter Sean Barber, Rockets Group founder and CEO. Entrepreneurs can also hear valuable insights from economists such as Dawie Roodt and trends expert Dion Chang. 

“This series is a must for business owners and can add immense value even if you’re just interested in entrepreneurship,” says Rofhiwa Madzena, news anchor and the host of the Bank On Us series. “The conversations we have facilitated with some of SA’s top industry experts and most successful entrepreneurs are aimed at helping and inspiring the country’s entrepreneurs as they navigate their own journeys to success.”

“The growth of entrepreneurship in SA is critical to enabling broad socioeconomic development and driving employment growth. In recognition of the role entrepreneurship plays in the economy, we remain committed to making valuable resources, support, and tools available to business owners in a convenient and accessible manner,” says Zachar.

The content series is just one part of efforts by Standard Bank to support entrepreneurs in the country. For entrepreneurs looking to take their business to the next level, a suite of solutions are offered — from business loans to trade assistance, tailored at unlocking the growth of SA’s businesses.

Standard Bank’s SimplyBlu e-commerce-in-a-box solution, was launched in 2019 to make it easier for businesses to participate in online trade. This offering allows entrepreneurs to easily set up an online store and securely accept payments from their customers. SimplyBlu has no set-up or monthly fees and only charges a card transaction fee of 3% per card sale. 

With an understanding of some of the working capital constraints businesses face, Standard Bank launched the BizFlex solution, which considers the on-call needs of SMEs and allows for a loan to be approved in 48 hours. As existing loan application processes prove onerous on entrepreneurs, there has been an uptake of this solution.

These efforts show Standard Bank’s effort to help business owners in tackling everyday business challenges by providing them with tangible banking solutions to help grow and sustain their businesses. From business loans to insurance, from self-service banking to international payments, “you can bank on us”.

This article was paid for by Standard Bank.