It is my privilege to meet up with many different leaders within the entrepreneurial ecosystem in the work I do.
These men and women relentlessly contribute to building our country’s economy in big and small ways.
Dr Thobekani Lose, the 35-year-old head of the Centre for Entrepreneurship Rapid Incubator (CfERI) at Nelson Mandela University (NMU) is one such leader.
I had the pleasure of hosting a bootcamp on site late last year and was struck by the “buzz” within the incubator. This was displayed by staff and incubatees alike.
I thought their story is an inspiring way to kick off 2025.
Dr Lose grew up in Dutywa and Centane in the Eastern Cape. He went on to study at Sinethemba High School in Philippi.
Dr Lose is a founder and board chairperson for the Business Incubation Web Association (BIWA) and the Township Cannabis Incubator (TCI) and a board member for several incubators across South Africa.
He has over 10 years’ work experience in a senior management role. His academic qualifications span the field of business management – a Doctorate in business, a Master’s degree in business administration (full research-based project) and a Bachelor’s degree in entrepreneurship management.
He has over 13 years of work experience within the entrepreneurial and incubation ecosystem: development and lecturing business management subjects.
During his days at the Small Enterprise Development and Finance Agency (SEDFA) as well as in his present role as a CfERI director, he directly and indirectly mentored more than 1 284 small businesses in various provinces throughout South Africa.
He has fund-raised over R100 million thorough stakeholder engagement and partnership.
I asked him some questions on the incubator.
You recently started the CfERI at NMU. Please share about that.
The CfERI prides itself as a vehicle for innovation and entrepreneurial development for NMU students, local entrepreneurs, and alumni.
In reflecting the university’s posture on student entrepreneurship, this centre cultivates high-level enterprise initiatives for students and develops a community of entrepreneurs to participate meaningfully in socio-economic activities.
The centre further aims to inculcate the entrepreneurial mind-set within the catchment area and address the issue of youth unemployment in South Africa by transforming the mindset of a job seeker to a job creator.
If we want to lower and minimise the massive unemployment levels, we need our universities to be the cornerstone of student entrepreneurship.
With funding from SEDFA, the CfERI provides an 18 to 36-month incubation programme and other business services to students, graduate entrepreneurs, unemployed youth, and young township entrepreneurs. We assist our incubatees to grow their own businesses and transform their thinking about their own enterprise from an idea to a fully fleshed out business.
What makes the NMU incubator different?
Nelson Mandela University is proud to position itself as an entrepreneurial university.
The conceptual underpinnings of the incubation model are a combination of international best practices drawn from the International University, Lean Start Methodology, General System Theory and the Nest Principles.
These four conceptual positions are then merged within SEDFA’s Technology Demonstration Model of business incubation to create the CfERI programme that is relevant to the unique South African business environment but incorporates international best practices.
Their business incubation unique selling proposition is the quality of our training they provide, the experienced mentors and coaches we have on our programme. We have included the University Enterprise Fund (UEF) that funds our incubated clients.
In our first year of operation we have dispersed R2.7 million towards our incubatees to purchase business equipment.
What drives you to do what you do?
Entrepreneurship is the salt of life – because it is what adds to life to make it spark.
This is innovation; this is what transforms our universities from institutions that produce graduates for the workplace to graduates who are job creators.
You can unshackle others with entrepreneurship.
Why is your focus on growing young entrepreneurs so relentless?
My goal is to see youth choose entrepreneurship as a first option in self-development.
Whether we are incubating people to run their own small business or incubating the next Laduma Ngxokolo, it is a great feeling to see someone getting somewhere in life.
In your view, what can aspiring entrepreneurs do to build to last?
Aspiring entrepreneurs need to master the pursuit of being the disciple of discipline, to be able to take rigorous training, work hard, and take instruction from mentors and successful entrepreneurs.
If you were to address the nation’s youth, what would you say to encourage them?
I never dreamed I would be where I am today, but through hard work and dedication, education, and aiming higher every day, I found my path.
Through hardcore discipline like late night studying, doing more than what is required and relentless tasks, you can change your life for the better.
How can well-led; well-run incubators make a difference in SA?
A well-run incubator is an incubator that addresses the wants and needs of its incubatees, whether it’s funding to develop their businesses by providing a full-scale range of services, starting with business management training and office space or venture capital financing.
What is a motto or quote that you personally value?
You can unshackle others with entrepreneurship and distraction breeds new creation.
● Steve Reid runs his own business in support of entrepreneurs, leaders and incubators.
You can contact him at steve@entreprenacity.com
