What exactly does Entrepreneurship mean?

One of the most frequent questions we get on Yipe is what exactly does entrepreneurship mean?

And is being an entrepreneur inborn or can it be learned?

Here is a digest we have compiled that should answer those questions and more.

Access the Entrepreneurship 101 directory »»

Yipe updates

Here are a few opportunities available on the Youth Interactive Portal for Enterprise (YIPE):

Freedom to Create Prize

The 2011 Freedom to Create Prize celebrates the power of art to promote social justice, build foundations for open societies, and inspire the human spirit. For more information, visit http://bit.ly/lXz4Qc

Kofi Annan Fellowships

The Kofi Annan Fellowship provides the opportunity for talented and motivated students from developing countries to study management at ESMT in Berlin. For more information visit http://bit.ly/kJFHFT

AGFUND International Prize for Innovative Development Projects

AGFUND invites international and regional and national organisations, universities and research centres to nominate pioneering and innovative development projects in the field of Empowering Youth through Entrepreneurship and Job Opportunities. more »»

2011 “I Am an Entrepreneur” Photo Competition

The SEVEN Fund’s ‘I Am an Entrepreneur’ photography competition recognizes the outstanding use of photography to tell compelling stories of role model entrepreneurs from around the world. For more information, visit http://bit.ly/k3Tdlq

IPI News Innovation Contest

Internet search giant Google has awarded US$2.7-million to media watchdog, the International Press Institute (IPI) as part of a new project to support digital news in Africa, the Middle East and Europe. For more information, visit http://bit.ly/ilr945  »»

The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation call for grant proposals for Round 7 of Grand Challenges Explorations

The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation is now accepting grant proposals for Round 7 of Grand Challenges Explorations, an initiative to encourage innovative and unconventional global health solutions. more »»

2011 Africa SMME Awards

Your small, medium or micro enterprise (SMME) may be recognised as the Africa SMME of the Year. For more information, visit http://bit.ly/jYv8Ul  »»

AGFUND International Prize for Innovative Development Projects

AGFUND invites international and regional and national organisations, universities and research centres to nominate pioneering and innovative development projects in the field of Empowering Youth through Entrepreneurship and Job Opportunities. Read more »»

New Hair & Beauty Salon Business Guide now available

If you have decided that you want to start a hair and beauty business, we have developed a business guide to serve as a roadmap for what you need.

With articles from various hair and beauty experts, and 40 interactive resources, you should be able to get your business up and running with this guide.

Access the Hair & Beauty Salon business guide here

Business plans 101: A simple guide to writing your own Executive Summary

An executive summary can be viewed as a stand alone document, that briefly points out the important criteria for a business that will make it a success.

Not every business investor has the time to read your long business plan, but your executive summary should give them an overview of what your enterprise is about and why you know it will be a success.

Read 'Business plans 101: A simple guide to writing your own Executive Summary' »»

Well intentioned entrepreneurship development policies must involve actual entrepreneurs!

A new article Startup America: Dead on Arrival  is useful for entrepreneurship development policy makers to take note of.

The author’s take that the recently unveiled Startup America is “dead on arrival” makes for insightful reading regardless of where one is on the development scale.

What we agree with is that without the active participation of operating entrepreneurs at the policy level, all these good intentioned policies are DOA:

‘Go take a look at any of the government organizations talking about entrepreneurship and see how many of its leaders or staff actually started a company or a venture firm. Or had to make a payroll with no money in the bank. We’re trying to kick-start a national initiative on startups, entrepreneurs and innovation with academics, economists and large company executives. Great for policy papers, but probably not optimal for making change.’

The reason why entrepreneurs and not just solely technocrats and academics have to be involved is because they are living the life cycles of growing their enterprises from idea to impact. This article states that these entrepreneurs who ‘actually have started, built and grown companies and/or venture firms’ deserve to be involved at the top level (in this case the White House), and that ‘next time the talent shows up for a Startup America initiative, they ought to be getting offices not sound bites.’

We couldn’t have said it better!

Social Enterprise profile update: Youth 4 a Better Future

Youth 4 a Better Future is an environmental and social campaign that promotes market driven agriculture, enterprise development, environmental conservation and research.

When we profiled the group last year, they were engaged in various enterprises including solid waste management, bee keeping project, goat rearing and organic tomato farming. We recently caught up with the group’s founder Ole Mepukori to find what the group will be embarking on in 2011. Read our Youth 4 a Better Future profile here »»