THUDekurhuleni Entrepreneurs use Crowdfunding to Help Build Startups

On Thursday,  5 March 2020, the Dumisani Masilela Theatre in Germiston had an electrifying presence from the entrepreneurs of Ekurhuleni who came together to exchange ideas and find solutions to their burning problems. Finding money and support to scale is every entrepreneurs’ problem.

The Hook Up Dinner (THUD) has as its mantra ‘More trade, and less aid’ and works in realizing this in a partnership with the City of Ekurhuleni’s Youth Directorate.

The session was broken down into two segments; first was the Pitching Session, a platform for budding Start Ups that need assistance financial or non-financial support, and/or access to their relevant market. This was followed by the networking mixer, a speed dating of a business kind where entrepreneurs pitch to one another their business model, others collaborate on the spot.

The total contribution from the floor amounted to the value of R7 560.00, of which R3 010.00 was cash and the rest were services that included helping the entrepreneur build their own website. The lucky pitch winner was Phumzile Faith Mthembu from Ekurhuleni who manufactures a skincare product called Pure B baby care. She is from a manufacturing company that specialises in producing coconut oil based baby ointments.

The night ended with a testimony from TWA DJs, who shared their journey since being exposed to THUD. After pitching at THUD, TWA DJs were awarded with equipment worth R50 000.00 from the NYDA, the tools of trade have empowered the DJs to execute with a bit more ease.

With each dinner, about 200 entrepreneurs are reached in Ekurhuleni and surrounding areas interested in showcasing their product and improve their business model. THUD has inhouse coaches and mentors who take entrepreneurs through a self-improving journey from refining their pitch to giving them exposure on a larger scale.

For more information contact:

Mbali Mavundla

Tel: +27 76 661 1795

Email: mbali@thehookupdinner.com