UCT student's business plan comes out tops

Published Oct 19, 2016

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UCT student Nosisa Ndabandaba has been announced the regional winner for the Western Cape in the Business Partners/SME Toolkit SA business plan competition.

The teenager won several awards at the ceremony, including the Young Aspiring Entrepreneur certificate and a mentorship amount of R6 000. Her business Supriim Vegan (Pty) Ltd, which provides healthy food, was among 99 business plans competed.

“I am very excited because one doesn't expect to win in a competition. In reality I worked hard for this competition,” said Ndabandaba.

The 19-year-old’s aim is to revolutionise the food people eat every day, especially away from home.

"I want people to eat food without worrying about putting their health at risk by providing quality snacks that are free of gluten.

"Who doesn't love the feeling of getting to cheat a little? At Supriim Vegan, you’ll be able to do just that without having to feel guilty five minutes later.” She said she wanted to start with an outlet in the city centre with the aim of delighting customers with “junk food” that have a clean and healthy twist.

She will source all her organic ingredients locally and providing a 100 percent vegan alternative where very few options currently exist.

Business Partners executive director Christo Botes said the competition was opened to aspiring entrepreneurs between the ages of 18 and 35. "It aims to have a positive impact on promising South African entrepreneurs by bridging the gap between simply having an idea and actually launching a start-up business.”

Botes said Ndabandaba’s business plan was selected based on her innovation in capitalising on the fast-growing healthy eating trend by providing wholesome vegan and gluten-free snacks to those seeking tasty, environmentally-friendly food.

“Nosisa impressed us with not only the presentation of her business plan, but the substance therein as well. Her dedication, drive and passion came through clearly.

"Nosisa identified an opportunity to gain access into a rather trendy market. The business idea is a viable one – there is a global movement to living a healthy lifestyle and Nosisa is capitalising on it with a vegan store.”

He said young entrepreneurs took part in one of 12 regional business workshops across the country on the intricacies of compiling a business plan and managing the many functions of running a 
business.

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