Start-ups, entrepreneurs, business owners, those thinking of starting a business, those who want to create a second revenue stream or a side hustle, or even those who are unemployed will benefit from this move towards upliftment.

In its first major move to focus on entrepreneurship and unemployment, #ImStaying with over 1.1 million followers on Facebook, has announced the launch of the #ImStaying Entrepreneur Movement initiative.

The mammoth unemployment rate in South Africa (29.1% or 6.7 million in the 4th quarter of 2019 - source Trading Economics) emphasises the serious need to cultivate an entrepreneurial spirit in our country – enter the #ImStaying Entrepreneur Movement which is challenging all to commit to taking the first step to becoming self-sufficient.

According to Leon Lategan, CEO of The Lion’s Den, and co-creator of the #ImStaying Entrepreneur Movement, entrepreneurship has not in the past or traditionally been encouraged in South Africa. A lack of infrastructure as well as a professional online presence; unavailability of basic business coaching; limited sales and marketing knowledge; and access to market are still huge barriers to entry into the business world, and with our massive unemployment rate, we are facing an unemployment epidemic.
Our purpose and, even more so, our responsibility is to create more entrepreneurs in this country”

The #ImStaying Entrepreneur Movement has been set up to activate and empower entrepreneurs to build sustainable and profitable businesses and reduce the unemployment rate by 5% over the next 5 years.

According to #ImStaying group founder and CEO, Jarette Petzer, “Job creation is paramount to the stimulation and growth of our economy. At this stage we are at a 16 year unemployment high which is simply not sustainable. It’s time we all got stuck in. My firm belief is that micro business is the answer to building a vibrant and fruitful economy, helping more South Africans to live a dignified life.”

He goes on to say “the partnership with The Lions Den strategically made sense for us given the simplicity and effectiveness of the model, plugging seamlessly into one of our five main drivers ‘A Job In Every Home’. We anticipate good things to come from this, our first good deed as the ImStaying NPC.”

The #ImStaying Entrepreneur Movement provides a platform for those thinking about starting a business using entrepreneurial alternatives. On the website and via their social media platforms, members will have access to specialised business coaching and training; a business directory listing, a professional landing page (mini-website); connection with a FB community where members can share ideas, ask advice and trade amongst each other and exposure of their existing business to the community, corporates and investors, a “find work” section where members can see which services other members are looking for, “chapters” where members can connect and communicate with other members in close geographical proximity to them and network as well as share advice and tips amongst each other.

Lategan says, “I was never exposed to the idea of entrepreneurship and yet my career path shifted into just that. I went to university, failed a Bachelor of Business Science/Marketing degree and today I am an International Speaker and Consultant on the subject of Marketing, without any qualifications, crazy isn’t it?.” He adds that he was also deeply concerned at seeing South Africa’s unemployment rate rocket from 1.6 mil to 6.7 million since 1995, and was moved to step up and stop waiting on government and business to take action by approaching #ImStaying founder & CEO Jarette Petzer, to create the #ImStaying Entrepreneur Movement and help spur micro business on, in South Africa.

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About #ImStaying Entrepreneur Movement
#ImStaying Entrepreneur Movement encourages all startups, business owners, unemployed, side hustle entrepreneurs and those thinking about starting a business to stop talking and become self-sufficient.

Brainchild of Jarette Petzer, Founder & CEO of the #ImStaying movement, and Leon Lategan, CEO of The Lions Den, an entrepreneurial company involved in numerous initiatives around coaching, educating and creating entrepreneurs, they identified the need to cultivate an entrepreneurial spirit in SA, to enable all working-age individuals to shape their own futures by exploring entrepreneurship.

On the website and via their social media platforms, members will have access to valuable information about how to run a business; how to secure funding for their business; connection to like-minded individuals and exposure of their businesses to the community, corporates and investors.

Website: www.thelionsden.co.za/launch/

Media Contact: Monique Elliott: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.