ITWeb TV Biz: Building SA's tech future, one business at a time

Seventy percent of South African startups collapse within five years, according to the Small Enterprise Development Agency. Amazon Web Services (AWS) South Africa is aiming to change that trajectory through its Equity Equivalent Investment Programme (EEIP). James Hickman, the country manager at AWS South Africa, explains that many small businesses struggle to navigate the complex process of starting and scaling a business.

Hickman himself dealt with the challenges of setting up a small business for a relative, highlighting the complexity of paperwork, tax compliance, and company registrations. AWS launched the EEIP in 2020, backed by a R365 million commitment, to address this issue. Since its inception, 47 Black-owned businesses have benefited from the programme.

Hickman emphasizes that the EEIP is about more than just technical support; it also provides access to AWS certifications and training in business skills like FinOps, HR, marketing, strategic planning, and performance tracking. These skills help small businesses align with customers, market their services, and build their capabilities.

The EEIP adopts a holistic approach, focusing on the bigger picture of what customers need rather than merely meeting B-BBEE compliance requirements. Hickman frames the EEIP as a collaborative effort between AWS, its partners, and the businesses they serve, aiming to create positive outcomes and impact for customers. The programme not only helps small technology businesses gain access to larger customers and global markets but also contributes to the development of South Africa's cloud economy and talent pipeline.

For Hickman, who has risen through the ranks of South Africa's technology sector, the EEIP represents an opportunity for AWS to invest in the country's future and create meaningful change.