For many entrepreneurs, Covid-19 brought their businesses to a shuddering halt. For others, like Gomolemo ‘Lemo’ Motshwane, it was a golden opportunity to reshape their businesses to meet the needs of the post-pandemic economy.
Motshwane owns motorbike solutions company, Urban Mobility. Their services include motorbike training, servicing, and fleet management. With the pandemic driving a boom in online shopping and a growing demand for home deliveries, he saw the gap to provide training and licensing for people interested in becoming drivers for delivery services like Mr. Delivery or Uber Eats.
Motshwane’s business has made huge strides since he was named runner up of the 2021 ENGEN Pitch & Polish competition, after being chosen as the wild card winner for the season. The increase in motorbike drivers has seen all divisions of his business working hand in hand to experience rapid growth.
“My business was born out of a necessity for the new environment I was operating in. Restaurants and businesses are doing more deliveries, and it gave me the chance to grow the business,” he said.
He first heard about the competition in 2015, but after entering in 2021, he was not selected as one of the 16 starting contestants. So, he was thrilled when the opportunity to enter as a wildcard came up.
To help prepare him for the final round, Motshwane received five hours of mentorship with a Raizcorp guide. “It was great. I tried to learn as much as possible,” he says. “The best learning was always watching the other pitches. It gave me a bird’s eye view of the other contestants and their businesses. By watching them, I learned a lot about what it takes to make a great pitch.”
Describing his experience as ‘eye-opening, life changing, educational and fun’, Motshwane has realised the need to know his business inside and out. “You need to be able to paint a clear picture of what your company does. But when it comes to entrepreneurship support and mentorship, Raizcorp is second to none. They have helped a countless number of entrepreneurs. I look forward to working with them to take my company to the next level,” he says.
Once again entrepreneurs from all over South Africa stand a chance to pitch their way to success. Any entrepreneurs who own a registered business or are a sole proprietor are invited to enter the Engen Pitch and Polish competition online at www.pitchandpolish.com. Entries are currently open and close on 10 April 2023. Don’t miss this opportunity to take your business to the next level and gain valuable exposure.