Emerge IgnITe Programme

About Course

Starting and growing a business in the ICT space comes with unique challenges and opportunities. This self-driven learning course is designed for aspiring and early-stage entrepreneurs in South Africa who want to build sustainable, innovative startups. Through 8+ engaging modules, participants will explore real-world case studies, practical tools, and expert insights, all tailored to the local landscape. With interactive videos and hands-on exercises, this course empowers entrepreneurs to think strategically, solve real problems, and build businesses with impact—all at their own pace.

Course Content

Introduction
Welcome to the Self-Driven Learning Course for Startup Entrepreneurs in ICT! If you have a vision for your tech-driven business but need the right knowledge and tools to bring it to life, you've come to the right place. This course is built to guide, inspire, and equip you with the skills needed to navigate South Africa’s ICT industry with confidence. Over the course modules, you’ll dive into: ✔ Essential startup principles—from idea validation to scaling your venture ✔ Real-world case studies from South African and global entrepreneurs ✔ Hands-on strategies for securing funding, building a strong team, and driving innovation ✔ Interactive videos & practical exercises to solidify your learning You’ll explore topics on your own schedule, unlocking insightful lessons that will help you transform challenges into opportunities. By the end, you’ll be well on your way to building a thriving ICT startup—equipped with actionable knowledge, practical tools, and the mindset of a bold entrepreneur. Let’s dive in—your journey starts now! 🚀

Entrepreneurial Mindset
The Entrepreneurial Mindset Unit Standard is designed for Entrepreneurs in the start-up phase of their business and aimed at giving the learners a fundamental understanding of the importance of innovation in business success. The learner will gain knowledge of methods to enhance their entrepreneurial profile. By the end of this module, learners would be able to: - Identify the characteristics of an Entrepreneur - Unpack the reasons for becoming an entrepreneur. - Describe the Entrepreneurship life-cycle - Identify the significance of entrepreneurship in the economy and society - Explain the business idea generation process (opportunities) - Screen business ideas against a set criteria - List strengths, weaknesses and opportunities

Entrepreneurship

00:00
Module 1, Question 1
The Entrepreneurial Process
Module 1, Question 2
The role of entrepreneurship in the economy
Module 1, Question 3
Business structures and compliance
Module 1, Question 4
Business start up process

00:00
Module 1, Question 5
Business opportunity & feasibility
Module 1, Question 6
Entrepreneurial Mindset

00:00
Module1, Question 7
Entrepreneurial skills and abilities

00:00
Module 1, Question 8
The Entrepreneur, manager & the technician
Module 1, Question 9
Ethics & Values
Module 1, Question 10
Generating income & cash flow
Strengths & weaknesses
SWOT Analysis

Feasibility Study
By the end of this module, participants will be able to: Identify with the reasons for, and value of a feasibility study in their business, review their original business idea, recognize and understand the steps of a feasibility study, construct a feasibility study, with all it’s aspects, relevant to their business idea, make a “GO/NO GO” decision concerning their business idea.

Module 2, Question 1
Why is a Feasibility Study important?
Validating your business idea

00:00
How to conduct a Feasibility Study

00:00
Step 1 – Preliminary analysis
Step 2 – How to make money from your business idea?
Step 3 – Market Survey & Research
Step 4 – Organization and operations
Step 5 – Expected incomes and calculated expenses
Step 6 – Step 6 – Review & analyze data: Go/No-go decision
Best practice for feasibility studies

00:00
Your BASIC FEASIBILITY STUDY

Online Presence
This module is designed as an introduction to ONLINE PRESENCE, for small businesses, and does not require a big budget as the tutorials use FREE tools, saving on marketing cost.

Pricing Strategy
The Working out your pricing strategy Module is designed for Entrepreneurs requiring skills to increase the development and implementation of a pricing strategy that is aligned to the business strategy of their company, also to improve and enhance their ability to access market opportunities.

Module Objectives
Basic Factors in pricing
Basic factors in pricing – Internal factors
Basic factors in pricing – External factors
Basic factors in pricing – Break Even
Basic factors in pricing – Profit and Loss
Basic Pricing Strategy
Adjusting a Price
Changing a Price
Test your knowledge

Admin & Record Keeping
The Business Administration and Record Keeping is designed for Entrepreneurs in the intermediate phase of their businesses. With the focus on building sustainable systems and processes towards stable business growth.

Strenghtening your Financial Skills
The Strengthening your financial Skills Module is designed for Entrepreneurs with growing businesses, to capacitate them to better manage their daily financial transactions and expand their business.

Introduction and Objectives
Understanding the finances of your business?
Basic Financial Tools

00:00
Managing your Cash Flow

00:00
The future of your Business – visualize success

00:00
Constraints to Growing your Business
Opportunities to Grow your Business

00:00
How to get a bank loan
Introduction to knowledge management

00:00
Vision Plan

Crafting your Pitching Deck
This dynamic, hands-on course equips startup and intermediate entrepreneurs with the skills to design compelling pitch decks that attract investors, partners, and clients. Rooted in the South African business landscape, the module blends global best practices with local relevance—empowering participants to communicate their business value with clarity, confidence, and strategic impact

Introduction and Module Objectives
1. Types of Pitch Deck’s – Introduction
1.1 Startup / Investor Pitching Deck

00:00
1.2 Product Pitch Deck
1.3 Sales Pitch Deck
1.4 Partnership / Collaboration Deck

00:00
1.5 Technical Pitching Deck
2. Content of a Pitch Deck

00:00
Conclusion & Template
Create YOUR Pitching Deck

Publishing your Pitching Deck
This Module is designed to prepare you to create a presentation of your business and make a video recording to showcase at the close out event, and a platform where we attract potential investors to your business.

Digital E-Waste and Circular Economy
This hands-on module transforms the E-waste and Circular concepts from our lectures into a practical roadmap specific to your business. You'll assess your current situation, identify opportunities, and create an actionable implementation plan.

Introduction
Course Objectives
Instructions
Module 1 – Foundations of E-waste and the Circular Economy

00:00
Assignment 1: Current State E-waste Audit (8 minutes)
Reflection Questions
Assignment 2: Circular Economy Readiness Assessment (7 minutes)
Module 2 – Circular Value in the E Waste Economy: Environmental Impact & Business Opportunity

00:00
Assignment 3: Opportunity Identification Matrix (5 minutes)
Top 3 opportunities for your business
Module 3 – Circular Opportunities in the ICT Sector: From Insight to Business Action

00:00
Assignment 4: Opportunity Deep Dive (10 minutes)
Module 4 – Building Your Compliance Roadmap

00:00
Assignment 5 – Risk Assessment and Mitigation (5 Minutes)

About Course

Course Content

Entrepreneurship

Module 1, Question 1

The Entrepreneurial Process

Module 1, Question 2

The role of entrepreneurship in the economy

Module 1, Question 3

Business structures and compliance

Module 1, Question 4

Business start up process

Module 1, Question 5

Business opportunity & feasibility

Module 1, Question 6

Entrepreneurial Mindset

Module1, Question 7

Entrepreneurial skills and abilities

Module 1, Question 8

The Entrepreneur, manager & the technician

Module 1, Question 9

Ethics & Values

Module 1, Question 10

Generating income & cash flow

Strengths & weaknesses

SWOT Analysis

Module 2, Question 1

Why is a Feasibility Study important?

Validating your business idea

How to conduct a Feasibility Study

Step 1 – Preliminary analysis

Step 2 – How to make money from your business idea?

Step 3 – Market Survey & Research

Step 4 – Organization and operations

Step 5 – Expected incomes and calculated expenses

Step 6 – Step 6 – Review & analyze data: Go/No-go decision

Best practice for feasibility studies

Your BASIC FEASIBILITY STUDY

Online Presence This module is designed as an introduction to ONLINE PRESENCE, for small businesses, and does not require a big budget as the tutorials use FREE tools, saving on marketing cost.

Introduction

Creating a simple Business logo – Part 1

Creating a simple Business logo – Part 2

Creating a Facebook page for your Business

Setting up a LinkedIn page

Starting a basic business website

Designing marketing material for your business

Module 3, Question 1

Module Objectives

Basic Factors in pricing

Basic factors in pricing – Internal factors

Basic factors in pricing – External factors

Basic factors in pricing – Break Even

Basic factors in pricing – Profit and Loss

Basic Pricing Strategy

Adjusting a Price

Changing a Price

Test your knowledge

Admin & Record Keeping The Business Administration and Record Keeping is designed for Entrepreneurs in the intermediate phase of their businesses. With the focus on building sustainable systems and processes towards stable business growth.

Introduction and objectives

Business Administration

The Importance of Record Keeping

What records to keep for how long

Ready Online Templates

Assignment

Strenghtening your Financial Skills The Strengthening your financial Skills Module is designed for Entrepreneurs with growing businesses, to capacitate them to better manage their daily financial transactions and expand their business.

Introduction and Objectives

Understanding the finances of your business?

Basic Financial Tools

Managing your Cash Flow

The future of your Business – visualize success

Constraints to Growing your Business

Opportunities to Grow your Business

How to get a bank loan

Introduction to knowledge management

Vision Plan

Introduction and Module Objectives

1. Types of Pitch Deck’s – Introduction

1.1 Startup / Investor Pitching Deck

1.2 Product Pitch Deck

1.3 Sales Pitch Deck

1.4 Partnership / Collaboration Deck

Online Presence
This module is designed as an introduction to ONLINE PRESENCE, for small businesses, and does not require a big budget as the tutorials use FREE tools, saving on marketing cost.

Admin & Record Keeping
The Business Administration and Record Keeping is designed for Entrepreneurs in the intermediate phase of their businesses. With the focus on building sustainable systems and processes towards stable business growth.

Strenghtening your Financial Skills
The Strengthening your financial Skills Module is designed for Entrepreneurs with growing businesses, to capacitate them to better manage their daily financial transactions and expand their business.

Publishing your Pitching Deck
This Module is designed to prepare you to create a presentation of your business and make a video recording to showcase at the close out event, and a platform where we attract potential investors to your business.

Digital E-Waste and Circular Economy
This hands-on module transforms the E-waste and Circular concepts from our lectures into a practical roadmap specific to your business. You'll assess your current situation, identify opportunities, and create an actionable implementation plan.