Entrepreneur, investor and group co-CEO of The Creative Counsel (TCC), Ran Neu-Ner has personally pledged R50 million to assist young entrepreneurs develop and grow their businesses. The recently awarded 2016 Top Performing Business Leader (by the National Business Awards), says talented entrepreneurs are being thwarted by the red tape of financial institutions, to the detriment of the country’s economic development. “Funding is the first of two major issues for start-ups. The second is the dire lack of mentorship. The country is losing a lot of bright young people with great ideas to white and blue collar jobs because there is inadequate support. Yet it is this potential that could be creating more jobs and solving unemployment,” says Neu-Ner. “This latent potential must be realised, which is where I hope to have an impact.” Neu-Ner has partnered with Suits and Sneakers, an informal inspirational learning and networking platform, to manage applications, assist with training, and provide mentorship for the shortlisted candidates. Suits & Sneakers will house the Ran Neu-Ner Fund under its Impello Incubator programme. The first R10 million investment was to be disbursed early in 2017 and the balance by the end of 2017. “I have no doubt that we will come across amazing, innovative ideas and interesting entrepreneurs who have never been given a chance to dream the impossible. I am looking forward to working with Impello, who are masters at supporting start-ups by offering ongoing informal education, networking events, mentorship and business resources,” says Neu-Ner. Applications are open to young entrepreneurs who want to grow their enterprises. Applications must include the type of business, background on the entrepreneurs, financial history of the company and the financial focus of the business. They can send their applications to info@suitsandsneakers.co.za. A team will review applications and shortlist viable ideas and businesses. A shortlist of eight entrepreneurs will then be mentored and trained in preparation for a formal pitch to a highly experienced panel. The panel will then decide collectively which candidates will receive funding.
Profile: Ran Neu-Ner
Ran Neu-Ner is a born entrepreneur and strategist. Since childhood he sought ways to do business. From handmade calendars in kindergarten to selling beauty cosmetics in his matric year - always determined to succeed. He founded TCC with business partner Gil Oved in 2001 and was at the forefront of the revolution in the communication industry, pioneering the merge between shopper marketing, brand activation, social media and field marketing. Neu-Ner holds a BCom and a Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) qualification. He is a member of the global Young Presidents Organisation (YPO) and the Young Entrepreneurs Organisation (YEO). Mentorship is also something he believes in as part of giving back. Several awards grace his mantelpiece, the latest being 2016 Top Performing Business Leader at the National Business Awards and EY Southern Africa World Entrepreneur Award for 2016 in the “exceptional” category. He is described as a perfectionist whose brain never switches off, constantly looking for new businesses to invest in and to create new products and services. Even his holidays are full of action, whether he’s flying helicopters, wakeboarding, trekking to see the gorillas in Rwanda or working out how to exploit an anomaly in the exchange rates to fund his holiday while on the beach in Thailand.
