THE LAUNCH OF THE LIONS’ DEN DURING THE 2006 MAIN SMME FAIR

The Corporate owners and Executive Director of the Leeds based businesses were directly involved in the adjudication of the finalists, to select the best and most satisfactory business ideas. This was after a local team of credible business development practitioners did the screening and shortlisting of all the applications.

The eThekwini Municipality in partnership with the Leeds City Council (UK) in 2006 launched a brand new competition with a total of R250 000 in prize money up for grabs for SMMEs in various categories. In its birth, the Access to Finance and broad business development competition aptly named, the Lions’ Den was sponsored by companies based in Leeds and targeted emerging and established entrepreneurs in the eThekwini region. The aim of the competition was to offer capital funding for the brightest and most viable business idea. It was also to afford SMMEs an opportunity of offering equity investment from the Leeds based companies.