The growth of online leaning in SA is the focus in this edition of the Business Day Spotlight. Our host Mudiwa Gavaza is joined by John Shaw, CEO of Teneo, an online learning platform. Topics of discussion include: Teneo’s business model; growth of online learning in SA and around the world; whether online education is everyone; the impact of Covid-19 on the education sector; whether or not online leaning is here to stay; Teneo's funding journey and growth; and an outlook for the business going further.

Business Day Spotlight

The rise of edtech and its roll in job creation and equality in SA

A system for reducing the time and cost associated with cross border payments is the focus in this edition of the Business Day Spotlight. Our host Mudiwa Gavaza is joined by Ruhling Herbst, program sponsor for TCIB at BankservAfrica. Topics of discussion include: reasons why cross border payments remain a challenge despite advancements in payments technology; BankservAfrica’s Transactions Cleared on an Immediate Basis payments service explained; what it m to have a truly open payments system; the role of regional and national regulators in putting such a system together; and what it will take to make TCIB mainstream.

Solving cross border payment complications 

Funding challenges for small businesses are the focus on this edition Business Day Spotlight. Our host Mudiwa Gavaza is joined by Lelanie Bason, managing director for the academy and venture departments at MyGrowthFund Venture Partners. Topics of discussion include: the challenges currently faced by small businesses in finding funding; reasons for this still being the status quo despite such problems existing for decades; ways in which small business owners can find and access funding; and what types of financing is best for different businesses.

Time to find funding for SA's SMME's

SA’s pet industry is the focus in this edition of the Business Day Spotlight. Our host Mudiwa Gavaza is joined by Irené Raubenheimer, co-founder of Rogz. In business for the last 26 years, Rogz is a pets accessories and gear business that Raubenheimer started with Paul Fuller in the late 1990’s. Topics of discussion include: Rogz’s business model; evolution of SA’s pet industry over the last two decades; effects of Covid-19 on the sector; how SA compares to the global industry and prospects for the future.

The unexpected pet boom 

The slow rate of electric vehicle (EV) adoption in SA is the focus in this edition of the Business Day Spotlight. Our host Mudiwa Gavaza is joined by Shadab Rahil, CEO of Payment24, a Cape Town based technology firm specialising in payment solutions for the transport and fleet industries. Topics of discussion include: Payment24’s business model; factors currently holding back EV adoption in SA; the economics and business case for EVs in SA; the role of government in help to drive adoption; the role of fleet operators in driving local EV sales; and the growth in EVs around the world.

The adoption of EV in SA is closer than we think

Cross border payments are the focus in this edition of the Business Day Spotlight. Our host Mudiwa Gavaza is joined by Pardon Mujakachi, head of strategy and partnerships at Chipper Cash Africa, from Harare. Topics of discussion include: how and why the business started; Chipper Cash’s business model; metrics around the current state of the business; how the company has been funded; the market opportunity; and where Chipper Cash hopes to take its business in SA.

New Fintech platform believes its freemium model is a game changer

Side hustles and creating multiple streams of income are the focus in this edition of the Business Day Spotlight. Our host Mudiwa Gavaza is joined by Janine Horn, a financial adviser at Momentum. Topics of discussion include: the growth of side-hustles around the world; factors driving the need for multiple sources of income; current state of the economy for ordinary South Africans; tools for succeeding in multiple careers; and some of the differences between a small business and a side-hustle.

The rise of the side hustle in SA

Improving the current bond market using blockchain technology is the focus in this edition of the Business Day Spotlight. Host Mudiwa Gavaza is joined by Ian Putter, Standard Bank's group head for its Blockchain Centre of Excellence. Topics of discussion include: the work being done by the bank’s Blockchain Centre of Excellence; current structure of the bond market; ways in which Blockchain technology can be used to improve the bond market; how public distributed ledger technologies can overcome the challenges faced by bond marketplace participants; importance of creating a decentralised economy; considerations when choosing a public distributed ledger; and the global trend towards decentralised systems of finance.

Block-chain is democratizing value - Standard Bank

The drop in short-term credit extension is the focus in this edition of the Business Day Spotlight. Our host Mudiwa Gavaza is joined by Johan Gellatly, MD of Altron Fintech, together with Keith Lockwood, an independent economic consultant and faculty member at business school GIBS. Topics of discussion include: how the Afsci index was created; Altron’s reasons for creating an index; key findings from the first index results; ways in which the data can be applied in business and economics; the importance of micro lending in SA; and a comparison of Altron’s other index released back in August.

New study shows short-term credit extensions are down 20%

Mandatory vaccination and its economic implications are the focus on this edition of the Business Day Spotlight. Our host Mudiwa Gavaza is joined by Prof Keymanthri Moodley, director at The Centre for Medical Ethics & Law at Stellenbosch University. Topics of discussion include: the prevalence of vaccine mandates for diseases other than Covid-19; issues driving current vaccination hesitancy around the world; vaccinations as a tool for economic recovery; strategies for implementing vaccination drives; and the rate at which different private and public sector organizations are working to develop such policies.

The stick or the carrot - what vaccination strategy should SA be using?

Sustainability in the world of investments and capital allocation is the focus in this edition of the Business Day Spotlight. Our host Mudiwa Gavaza is joined by Katherine Davidson, portfolio manager for the Schroders ISF Sustainable Growth fund, from London. Topics of discussion include: the size and scope of the Schroders Sustainable Growth fund; how investors can review alpha opportunities; identifying sustainable companies and the need for a proprietary approach for investors; sustainability considerations for investors; and an outlook of factors likely to drive sustainability in future.

Sustainable investing is moving from a niche to a norm

Wills and estate planning are the focus in this edition of the Business Day Spotlight podcast. Our host Mudiwa Gavaza is joined by Zale Hechter, CEO of Cliqtech, a firm that operates estate planning platform, SmartWill. Topics of discussion include: the rationale behind National Wills Week; SmartWill’s business model; the state of wills in SA; reasons why South Africans generally don’t have wills in place; the cost of administering an estate; and how technology is being used in the industry.

70% of South African's do not have a will, but stand to lose a lot as a result

Pick n Pay and its growing investment in retail online channels for its clothing division are in focus for this edition of the Business Day Spotlight. Our host Mudiwa Gavaza is joined by Hazel Pillay, general manager of Pick n Pay Clothing. Topics of discussion include: the size of Pick n Pay Clothing’s operation; their company’s new partnership with Zando; Pick n Pay Clothing’s online efforts; the place of physical retail in an environment of growing online sales; trends seen in the retail sector during the Covid-19 pandemic; and an outlook for the sector going forward.

Pick n Pay Clothing debuts on ecommerce fashion outlet, Zando

We review this week’s Bitcoin market crash - its causes, implications and outlook - in this edition of the Business Day Spotlight. Our host Mudiwa Gavaza is joined by Marius Reitz, GM for Africa at crytocurrency exchange Luno. Topics of discussion include: the recent Bitcoin market crash and what it means for investors; El Salvador’s rollout of Bitcoin as legal tender; the growth of cryptocurrencies during the pandemic; an update of how SA regulators view cryptocurrencies; and an outlook for the sector. v

The bitcoin flash crash and what it means for cryptocurrencies

Unemployment and GDP growth prospects are the focus in this edition of the Business Day Spotlight. Our host Mudiwa Gavaza is joined by interview with Thanda Sithole, a senior economist at FNB. Topics of discussion include: GDP growth through 2021; what has been driving the economy; sectors that are yet to recover; the recent change in GDP calculations by Stats SA - what does it mean; and the current state of employment in SA.

SA's unemployment and GDP growth prospects

Behind the biggest business stories of the week - taking you inside key events, the movements at the top and their effects at the bottom. A Tiso Blackstar Group Production. Keywords: BDSpotlight, industry, markets, South Africa, news and views, money, success, entrepreneur, corporation, podcast

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