Our story

We want to
collaborate, 
innovate,
capacitate,
and integrate.

Our journey began in 1996 when a team of experienced small business support practitioners gathered to address the question:

We concluded that there is a need for a skilled & empowered network of practitioners, and interventions to leverage digital solutions, and we founded the Entrepreneurial Planning Institute (EPI) as a non-profit organisation.

The capacity needs of coaches, mentors, & trainers were our initial focus and we offered them access to knowledge, skills, & tools to empower the entrepreneurs they support. Over time, we expanded our work in also supporting entrepreneurs to grow their businesses through digital progression. 

Our success is measured not just by empowering businesses to grow, but also by our expanding network of highly skilled practitioners & other ecosystem stakeholders who we collaborate with. 

In working with practitioners and entrepreneurs we learnt that a holistic planning approach is crucial for sustainable small business growth & job creation.

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The multiplier effect

We believe in the multiplier effect of investing in practitioners, leveraging digital tools, & learning from monitoring & evaluation. 

This approach exponentially amplifies the impact of business development services, benefiting communities across the continent through improved trade, job creation, & local growth.

Every supported practitioner becomes a multiplier of impact, & every supported entrepreneur carries the ripples of entrepreneurial growth further into local communities.

Our values are driving our work

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Collaborate

We always aim to foster cooperation within the entrepreneurial ecosystem for collective impact.

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Innovate

We leverage technology to drive entrepreneurship forward through our proprietary Digital Progression  tools.

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Capacitate

Investing in the skills & knowledge of business support practitioners through our learning exchange methodology.

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Integrate

Ensuring social inclusion by offering support to entrepreneurs from townships, woman, & young people.

What is it that we do differently?