The Koos Bekker Entrepreneurship prize event, open to Eendrag residents, was judged by three seasoned entrepreneurs, Alwyn Rossouw (left), Christelle Colman (middle) and Charl Coetzee (right). The effort that went into the entrants’ pitches and business plans were on a much higher standard than previous years, said Coetzee. PHOTO: Mia van der Merwe
The student-founded business, Stellenbooks was awarded the first-place Koos Bekker Entrepreneurship Prize, valued at R100 000, at a pitching event open to Eendrag residents on 25 July. This was according to Christopher Breetzke, organiser of the event, and an Eendrag house committee member.
Bekker is a South African businessman and former resident of Eendrag Men’s Residence at Stellenbosch University, said Breetzke. He is the benefactor of the top three prizes, explained Breetzke.
This is the first time that the prize giving has occurred since 2020, said Breetzke.
Stellenbooks buys and sells second-hand textbooks via their app, said Julian Milner, second-year data science student at Stellenbosch University and CEO of Stellenbooks.
The R100 000 prize money will allow the student-founded business, Stellenbooks to expand their exposure and marketing, said Julien Milner, second year data science student and CEO of the first-place prize winning business, Stellenbooks at a pitching event open to Eendrag residents. PHOTO: Mia van der Merwe
While the winner received R100 000, Eendrag residents also competed for a second-place prize of R50 000, and a third-place prize valued at R25 000, explained Breetzke.
The top three entrants were invited to attend the gala dinner at Babylonstoren, where the winner was announced on 25 July, said Breetzke.
The initial event, held on 24 July, was judged by three seasoned entrepreneurs, stated Breetzke. The panel consisted of Charl Coetzee, a director at Babylonstoren, Christelle Colman, CEO and founder of Ami Underwriting Managers, and Alwyn Rossouw, founder and CEO of Marathon Group.
The student business, Driefontein Honey placed third and won R25 000 at a pitching event open to Eendrag students, said Pieter Joubert, a CEO of Driefontein Honey. PHOTO: Mia van der Merwe
Accessible and affordable education
The Stellenbooks founders believe that education should be accessible to all, said Milner. As such, the idea for the business came from an observation close to their hearts, he explained.
“We want to leave a positive mark on our country and feel we did everything in our power to contribute to change,” said Milner.
The second-place prize money of R50 000 was awarded to the team of the DJOL app at a pitching event open to Eendrag residents. The app shows its users all the restaurant and bar specials in the Stellenbosch area. This was according to Arnold Hattingh, CEO of DJOL.
Investment in education and development
The idea behind the prize is “to promote entrepreneurship among current residents of Eendrag by contributing a nominal amount of capital to an already-existing young enterprise”, said Breetzke.
These opportunities are funded by alumni and through these opportunities they assist by contributing to the betterment of their students, said Dr Pierre Viviers, Eendrag residence head.
These events are “real alumni activation”, according to Viviers.
“As judges, we looked at the quality of their pitches, and I was very impressed,” said Coetzee.
Eendrag men’s residence hosted workshops with business leaders over the second term to cultivate “entrepreneurial spirit”, said Christopher Breetzke, a house committee member of Eendrag and organiser of the pitching event open to Eendrag students.