Leading South African financial news publication Finweek and business development and acceleration firm Aurik have joined forces to promote entrepreneurship in South Africa.

Up for grabs are 10 entrepreneurship bursaries – each valued at R250000 – for promising Gauteng entrepreneurs who are serious about growing their businesses. The bursaries involve expert business development tools and skills and have a focus on doubling the businesses revenue over a two year period.

The progress of the finalists is to be tracked through Finweek and there will be regularly feedback through the print, online and entrepreneur events.

“I don’t believe that we as South Africans celebrate our entrepreneurs enough. If they are the answer to job creation and innovation, something we witness daily, then surely we should celebrate them?” says Aurik CEO Pavlo Phitidis.

Phitidis adds that entrepreneurship remains a major creator of jobs in South Africa but it comes down to the support systems in place for the entrepreneurs: “We have worked with well over 500 entrepreneurs in start-up businesses to those generating turnovers of R100m plus. Not once have we ever seen anyone do it on their own. All had help and all found the support they needed when they needed it and yet in South Africa, we remain too proud to seek help when we need it.”

“What I like about this competition is that it is scalable and dynamic,:  says Finweek editor Marc Ashton explaining that while the initial phase of the competition is focused on Gauteng based entrepreneurs there are opportunities to expand to other regions.

The competition has a unique crowd-sourcing and fund raising element attached to it in the second six month period and will make use of social media to allow readers and competition to champion the businesses they are backing.

For further details on the competition please visit – http://www.aurik.co.za/accelerators-campaign-nomination/ – or follow the competition by picking up your weekly edition of Finweek or visiting www.fintalk.co.za.