In response to the crucial economic rebuilding process that will follow the coronavirus pandemic, business growth specialists Fetola, has launched a new initiative called AcceliMax. This purpose-built solution is South Africa’s first online accelerator for incubation professionals and business development practitioners.
“AcceliMax is something we have been developing for some time, but the COVID-19 pandemic has galvanised us into launching this initiative with great urgency. It is designed for today’s world and will take incubators from good to great, improving their results, agility and ability to pivot and reposition themselves in the post-COVID-19 world,” explains Fetola CEO Catherine Wijnberg.
Offering a six-module Bootcamp of interactive online sessions, offline content, videos and access to a group mentor, AcceliMax is designed for people and organisations involved in business development services, incubation management and economic development, particularly those wishing to discover solutions that address the rapidly-changing African and global economic outlook.
Fetola has been involved in business development since 2007, primarily focused on designing and implementing long-term ESD (Enterprise & Supplier Development) programmes for a range of local and international clients. AcceliMax is their first offering aimed at the industry as a whole. “COVID-19 has had devastating effects on the global economy, and never before have all of us been called on to act so rapidly to unlock the latent potential of the SME sector to create jobs and rebuild economies. Opportunities lie ahead in igniting economies in our ‘new normal’ – despite and because of the COVID-19 pandemic. How the business incubation industry responds to this new set of challenges is of great importance to economic recovery, and I believe that Fetola can help incubators scale and find new pathways for success,” adds Wijnberg.
The Bootcamp modules will cover the fundamentals of business incubation, including how to get started in the industry, how to build a financially sustainable incubator, digitising for accelerated success, maximising incubatee performance, Africa-specific solutions and approaches and other key learnings and insights. There is also the opportunity to work collaboratively online with peers to develop strategies that ensure future success.
The AcceliMax Bootcamps will roll out over a three-week period, commencing on 29 June. Space is limited and bookings will be taken on a first come, first served basis.