Ashley Uys - Real World Diagnostics

In a country that needs to produce more scientists in order to compete in the global academic arena Ashley Uys is an inspiration to all those who meet him. So it comes as something of a surprise that this scientist turned successful businessman is only 25-years-old.

Ashley graduated with a BSC in Biotechnologies with Honours from the University of the Western Cape in 2003 and since then has added business qualifications from both Wits Business School and UCT to his degree.

Following employment as a research assistant at UCT and then as a research-and-development scientist at Vision Biotech, Uys decided to set up Real World Diagnostics in 2006.

The company markets high quality yet cost effective medical test kits for pregnancy, syphilis, malaria, HIV/ Aids and has recently introduced a multiple drug testing kit. The company already serves as a consultant to some police departments and has had huge interest from the army.

He used his initial R125 000 KickStart grant to buy plastic moulds for his pregnancy testing kits as well as some office equipment. His turnover is about R250 000 a month but is growing fast.

So what did Kickstart mean to him? “It gave me enormous exposure and led to many new contracts. The mentorship showed me the structures and systems that you need to have in place because growing and expanding too fast can also be a bad thing.”

Cape Town, Western Cape / 021 442 3784 / 083 261 5492 / info@real-world.co.za / www.real-world.co.za

Jabulile Galawe - Ikhwezi Lokusa Stationery & Promotions

Jabulile Galawe has big dreams. Two years ago she left the corporate world with a high-paying job and all the associated perks to strike out on her own and Ikhwezi Lokusa Stationery & Promotions was born.

The 31-year-old dynamo had a clear vision – to supply stationery to schools throughout the country. While marketing her own company, some clients were so impressed with Jabulile’s promotional products, that orders came in and the company branched into this area as well.

Jabulile was much sought-after in the corporate world. With a Masters degree in mathematical statistics-risk analysis she could have worked anywhere. She used her initial KickStart grant of R60 000 on a bakkie which doubles up as both a delivery van as well as a marketing tool as it is emblazoned with her logo.

Ikhwezi Lokusa Stationery & Promotions was recently awarded a R300 000 tender by Eskom for promotional items and this side of the business has dominated turnover. Jabu says she’d like to even out the ratio as promotional material can be seasonal and she is again focusing on schools in the province to supply stationery to. She currently employs four people.

Her advice: “Do proper research! Know in exact detail what you want to do, how you are going to do it, where you are going to start and have a written business plan.”

Cape Town, Western Cape / 021 386 9186 / info@ikhwezilokusa.co.za / www.ikhwezilokusa.co.za

Sedrico Husselman  - People’s Media

It takes a brave person to start a publishing house but 31-year-old Sedrico Husselman is living his dream. Two-years-ago the Stellenbosch University graduate with an honours degree from the University of Western Cape launched People’s Media, a fully black owned publishing house, whose owners have their roots on the Cape Flats. The company offers the full spectrum of print media services from conceptualisation and design right down to distribution and currently produces Care Direct and Info@last with plans to launch two new titles.

Sedrico used the initial KickStart grant of R80 000 to buy computer equipment. However, the KickStart accolade meant more to him than just the money.

“Apart from the R80 000, which I think is wonderful, I think it strengthened my belief that I am an entrepreneur and not just a community worker. I had to grow up and be a boss.”

So has it all been worth it? “I think the first two years of building a business is stressful and frightening. They say if you make it past your second year you will survive and you will have a profitable enterprise! I think the strength that People’s Media has is that the three business partners all have distinct, different personalities and we all have different strengths as well. One is an accountant who focuses on money issues, the other is the art director while I deal with clients and make sure that they are happy.”

Cape Town, Western Cape / 021 535 4056 / 072 143 6587 / sedrico@cdmag.co.za