Cultivating Entrepreneurial Minds: ECP Seminar Illuminates Pathways to Innovation

The Faculty of Science, Engineering and Agriculture at the University of Venda (UNIVEN) recently hosted an impactful Entrepreneurship Seminar for its Extended Curriculum Programme (ECP) Science Foundation students. Held at the elegant Porche-Villa Hotel, the event offered participants an immersive experience into entrepreneurial thinking and strategic business development. The seminar underscored the university’s commitment to fostering innovation and economic empowerment among emerging scholars.

The event commenced with a heartfelt prayer by Mr Osca Matsilele, inviting a spirit of reflection and purpose into the space. This spiritual grounding set a respectful tone for the day’s discussions and helped unite attendees around a shared sense of community.

Prof Stanford Shateyi welcomed students and distinguished guests to the seminar. He then took a moment to introduce the key speakers, highlighting their expertise in overcoming barriers and entrepreneurship, setting the stage for an informative and engaging experience.

Ms Rene Pearce, one of three lead organisers of the entrepreneurship seminar, played a key role in overseeing the event’s arrangements and overall programme. Collaborating closely with her fellow organisers, she contributed to the smooth running of the day’s activities. Ms Pearce also had the honour of introducing the first keynote speaker.
The first keynote address was delivered by Dr Tendayi Gondo, who passionately explored the importance of cultivating an entrepreneurial mindset.
Dr Tendayi Gondo stressed that a successful entrepreneurial mindset hinges on one crucial element: YUSO – Your business idea must be Unique, Special, and Original. He encouraged the attendees to introspectively assess their own ventures, asking themselves if their ideas meet these fundamental criteria.
He then turned to the concept of being a “hustler,” someone who sees the world through a lens of opportunity, always on the lookout to leverage resources creatively. Dr Gondo noted that a lack of resources doesn’t hinder entrepreneurship; instead, it can spark creativity. Citing exam-ples of successful entrepreneurs who started from scratch, he encouraged the audience to cul-tivate a mindset that turns challenges into opportunities.
“Not having resources sometimes can knock creativity. Some people believe that to become an entrepreneur, one must have resources. Many people become successful entrepreneurs out of nothing.”
Prof Diko Makia tackled the topic of opportunity identification and the business model. Prof Makai’s speech at the seminar emphasised the importance of creating value and resilience in students’ lives. He encouraged students to intentionally add value. According to him, this mind-set shift can help students stand out and become competitive in their chosen fields.
He furthermore stressed that students should focus on developing graduate attributes and en-trepreneurial competencies rather than just pursuing certificates. “Your target is not the cer-tificate,” he said. “Your distinctions, being first in class, only allow you to sit before an interview panel. The rest is now up to you.”
Ms Funani Tshivhase captivated the room with insights on accessing startup capital, demystifying funding options for early-stage entrepreneurs.
The seminar encouraged lively dialogue during a robust Questions and Answers session facilitat-ed by Ms Tebogo Mocheki. Students and the Faculty staff members engaged in a thought-pro-voking exchange, drawing connections between theory and lived experience.
The seminar concluded with heartfelt closing remarks by Ms Takalani Nethavhanani, who en-couraged participants to take forward the lessons learned.

Issued by:
Department of Marketing, Branding and Communication University of Venda
Tel: 082 868 2218 / 082 868 1811