WATCH | Episode 71 of SME show with Rams Mabote

The Entrepreneurial SME, hosted by Rams Mabote, is a weekly TV programme that charts the road to success for small business owners.

Tune in to the show on Business Day TV each week, Channel 412 on DStv, at 8.30pm on Tuesdays.

Whether your business is facing an obstacle or is caught in a highly competitive cycle, Mabote talks to the captains of the SME sector and other experts and professionals who have the knowledge and insights to help SMEs grow and reach their full potential.

These are the many entrepreneurs who make it against the odds — those who do not quit at the first sign of trouble.

EPISODE 71 Part 1

Small business owners in SA’s vibrant creative industry are increasingly turning to lucrative craft of bespoke rug making.

Host Rams Mabote speaks to Rug Life founder Bahedile Dikwetla about the growing appreciation for handcrafted goods and home décor in SA, and how he aims to grow his brand further.

EPISODE 71 Part 2

EPISODE 70 Part 1

Isa B Jewellery Designs is local bespoke jewellery company founded by Isabel Botha, who is based in Germiston, on the East Rand of Johannesburg. The company makes creative, contemporary and custom pieces of jewellery at the Rand Refinery Estates.

Host Rams Mabote speaks to Botha about product development strategies, the importance of partnerships among SMEs and access to markets through e-commerce.

EPISODE 70 Part 2

EPISODE 69 Part 1

On this instalment of The Entrepreneurial SME, Rams Mabote sits down with innovative business owner and founder of Balini Braille Clothing, Balini Naidoo Engelbrecht.

They look at the power of identifying a gap in the local market and how Naidoo Engelbrecht has developed her business model over the years to improve systems and customer experience.

EPISODE 69 Part 2

EPISODE 68 Part 1

Digital transformation is helping to improve the resilience of entrepreneurs at a time when small businesses make up the backbone of economies around the world.

Host Rams Mabote explores digital solutions and innovations for SMEs with Randall Abrahams, group executive for digital solutions at Telkom, and Tshepo Phetla, executive for business development at Telkom.

EPISODE 68 Part 2

EPISODE 67 Part 1

Serial entrepreneur and founder of Colleen’s Handmade Sauces Colleen Flowers prides herself on her business success and her ability to provide natural ingredients sourced from local organic farmers.

Flowers shares the failures encountered thus far, her partnerships with other SMEs in the agricultural space and the work that goes in to securing investment as a start-up.

EPISODE 67 Part 2

EPISODE 66 Part 1

Itumeleng Moima, a patisserie and culinary arts graduate, founded SoLuna in 2018, with the aim of creating high-quality products and making SoLuna cakes and desserts into a lifestyle brand.

Moima talks about her business model and some of the hurdles that prevent her from expanding her brand.

EPISODE 66 Part 2

EPISODE 65 Part 1

Women taking on more leadership roles is a complex and multifaceted issue in SA, as it is in many other countries.

Today’s female executives are redefining what leadership means, overcoming obstacles and promoting diversity in the workplace. Award-winning marketing professional and Telkom chief marketing officer Gugu Mthembu talks about her journey of leadership in the world of business and the changing landscape of consumer marketing.

EPISODE 65 Part 2

EPISODE 64 Part 1

Metropolitan Collective Shapers is a youth empowerment initiative that aims to equip young people with specialised knowledge and technical skills in various sectors.

The organisation’s chief marketing officer, Lindiwe Gumede, shares how the organisation plans to equip young entrepreneurs with these tools to create more income-generating opportunities through business development.

EPISODE 64 Part 2

EPISODE 63 Part 1

The growth of the mineral industry has resulted in various environmental issues and geological challenges, with Southern Africa particularly hard hit.

This has forced SMEs to implement strategic solutions that will keep their business afloat in the green economy. Host Rams Mabote invites Ndu Mining Solution founder and director Nondumiso Mdodana to talk about her business model and how to companies can diversify their service offerings in SA’s mining and agricultural sectors.

EPISODE 63 Part 2

EPISODE 62 Part 1

SMEs account for 95% of all registered businesses, contributing about 50% to the total GDP of sub-Saharan countries. However, many obstacles stand in the way of their growth and prosperity, despite the significant role they play.

Rams Mabote invites Telkom’s senior channel specialist for financial services, Refilwe Madigage, and Retail Capital’s head of sales, Chad Tessendorf, to talk about the latest SME financing solutions for entrepreneurs.

EPISODE 62 Part 2

EPISODE 61 Part 1

The advice to not “go into business with family” is often given, but what if you need family to explore an opportunity?

To answer that question, host Rams Mabote puts the spotlight on Berry Homeware, a locally based homeware and lifestyle brand owned by brother and sister duo, Neo Dulaze and Katleho Mchalla.

EPISODE 61 Part 2

EPISODE 60 Part 1

VisionAI is an AI-powered solution that is able to monitor properties and areas and recognises in real time the occurrence (or potential occurrence) of crimes such as arson, burglary, robbery and others.

Host Rams Mabote speaks to entrepreneur and co-founder Nhlanhla Simelane about the company’s current business model and how he aims to improve the AI technology emergency response times in this service, which is in the process of being rolled out across homes, townships, schools and private organisations.

Watch Episode 60 Part 2 below

EPISODE 59 Part 1

Nontokozo Madonsela was the owner of Spa88, an internationally-themed spa which unfortunately closed down its operations.

Madonsela shares her experiences and lessons learnt from her entrepreneurial journey with the brand, emphasising the importance of financial backing, risk management and leadership.

She highlights the challenges of balancing passion with business objectives and the necessity of building industry relationships.

Watch Episode 59 Part 2 below

EPISODE 58 Part 1

2023 came with its fair share of challenges for the SME sector. A lagging economy, rising interest rates and cost of living coupled with high unemployment held many small businesses back from reaching their full potential.

Host Rams Mabote is joined by Kurt Septoe, manager digital products & solutions at Telkom Business and Liam-Anthony Moses, head of commercial at Mobiz. Together they investigate some of the latest digital trends dominating the industry and how SMEs can adapt to the current socioeconomic landscape.

Watch Episode 58 Part 2 below

EPISODE 57 Part 1

SA’s unemployment rate has climbed to 32.9% in Q1 2024, with women remaining the most vulnerable. This concerning trend is pushing women towards entrepreneurship, with 87.9% of women entrepreneurs citing job scarcity as their reason for starting businesses.

One promising avenue for female entrepreneurs is the e-hailing industry, currently dominated by men. Business development representative for inDrive in SA, Vincent Lilane, discusses the opportunities this field holds for women seeking employment.

Watch Episode 57 Part 2 below

EPISODE 56 Part 1

Watch Episode 56 Part 2 below

EPISODE 55 Part 1

Street Wallet was born out of the recognition that SA’s millions of street vendors have largely been excluded from the ever-growing digital economy. The digitalisation of financial services and the decline of cash, which accelerated during the Covid-19 pandemic, has had an economic impact on SA’s poorest citizens.

Cape Town-based entrepreneur and CEO Kosta Scholiadis shares his journey in developing an innovative fintech solution that allows street vendors to access the digital economy.

Watch Episode 55 Part 2 below

EPISODE 54 Part 1

Up to 99% of South African start-ups now rely on bootstrapping (building a business without investment) due to a funding crunch.

Host Rams Mabote sits down with local entrepreneur and Luxity co-founder, Michael Zahariev, to discuss practical bootstrapping strategies that local start-ups can use to navigate the challenging economic landscape.

Watch Episode 54 Part 2 below

This series is sponsored by Telkom.