COLLECTIVE LAB
To encourage entrepreneurial practice and promote a sustainable ecosystem in search of innovation and employability, Honoris launched the COLLECTIVE LAB in Tunisia. COLLECTIVE LAB is a hub dedicated to entrepreneurs of ideas for innovative projects wishing to create their own businesses and is open to all students and to the different stages of advancement: from ideas to fundraising.
Student support at COLLECTIVE LAB includes the following training modules: Business Model Canvas, Business Plan, Pitching, Finance, Marketing, Entrepreneurship legislation, HR Management, Leadership Soft Skills, and Mentoring.
Key successes of the COLLECTIVE LAB to date
- After two sessions, it has managed to train 1,788 students across the Honoris Tunisia group in two modules: Business Model Canvas and Pitching: Communication Skills
- It is successfully supporting around 40 startups
- 5 projects are labelled (Label Startup Act); a label which facilitates the financing and the subsidy of the Tunisian state of the projects
- 6 national entrepreneurship awards have been received with the trained start-ups
- 26 entrepreneurship events were held with partners
- 6 supported startups have a commercial activity in Tunisia
Showcasing entrepreneurial success
The following three examples demonstrate the role and support of the COLLECTIVE LAB in promoting entrepreneurial excellence.
VDOC
“The staff of COLLECTIVE LAB were so friendly; they happily welcomed us and helped us whenever we needed the support. The growth of our project has increased thanks to the mentoring and the encouragement of the coaches, which helped us as entrepreneurs to improve and acquire new skills in management, pitching, marketing and leadership”.
– Aymen Saadani, BI engineer, CEO Khawla Gam, BI engineer, CTO, Hamza Alouani Professional nurse, CMO
An online platform for consultation with doctors remotely. VDOC is a recently founded startup that aims to digitize and centralize the medical sector. The project is divided in two major parts: (1) A mobile application that uses Artificial Intelligence to manage and organize the patient’s health, and (2)a web application dedicated to doctors to facilitate and assist them in their practices. Impact points of the VDOC project:
- Health checks: customizing your health reports
- Medical blog: for exchanging knowledge and obtaining tips on your health and wellbeing
- Symptom checker: VDOC Health Care helps you diagnose yourself when you feel unwell
- Localisation of Doctors: accessible healthcare specialists are recommended with their contact details
- Medication management: receiving personalized, health-related notifications or reminders
- Medical record: keeping track of your medical records
DaryDar
“The staff of COLLECTIVE LAB were so friendly; they happily welcomed us and helped us whenever we needed the support. The growth of our project has increased thanks to the mentoring and the encouragement of the coaches, which helped us as entrepreneurs to improve and acquire new skills in management, pitching, marketing and leadership”.
– Aymen Saadani, BI engineer, CEO Khawla Gam, BI engineer, CTO, Hamza Alouani Professional nurse, CMO
A complete platform for connecting service seekers and providers. The customer will be accompanied from the start by advisers, ending with a highly qualified technician available at short notice. Impact points of the DaryDar project:
- Increases the employability of technicians in maintenance and building-related work: plumbing, heating, repair of household appliances, removals, painting, etc.
- It offers organization of the maintenance sector, which is currently poorly organized
- The platform communicates availability, traceability, and follow-up with customers
- Ensures good quality service: Technicians are selected and tested by DaryDar, in order to offer customers the best possible service experience
- DaryDar offers a guarantee on interventions and a follow-up service that meets customer expectations
- Available 7 days a week: The network of competent technicians is located in the greater Tunis. They are available even during late hours
- Price transparency: No more price surprises with DaryDar, as it offers a price list according to repair / installation needs
Herb’in
“COLLECTIVE LAB allowed me to develop a simple idea into an impactful and profitable project. “I participated in the 1st cohort call for applications with a simple idea, but thanks to the COLLECTIVELAB team and the WIKIstartup coaches, we managed to develop a pitch deck and a bankable business plan.We worked on design thinking, marketing strategy, go-to marketing strategy, the financial part and my project was the laureate of 1st cohort. Thanks to our participation in the 1st cohort, Herb’in has managed to develop a proof of concept (POC) and a well-developed prototype”.
– Malek Harbaoui
Miss Malek Harbaoui, a graduate of the Polytech School of UNIVERSITÉ CENTRALE, has blazed a trail of academic and entrepreneurial success thanks to her perseverance and motivation. She started with a preparatory cycle in biology followed by an engineering degree. After internships in Egypt and then in Spain, she focused on entrepreneurship. Accompanied by COLLECTIVE LAB, she launched her HERB’IN project which is a digital platform focused on Biomedicine and natural phytotherapy. Herbin is currently in commercial activity with a continuously increasing turnover in Tunisia.
To further develop her project, she is following a Global MBA in impact entrepreneurship co-organized by the UNIVERSITÉ CENTRALE, the Milan Business School and the E4Impact foundation. Impact points of Herb’in:
- Herb’in has won several national and African awards
- Herb’in has signed more than 160 promises of collaboration
- Herb’in has accompanied more than 40 clients and has expanded its community
- Herb’in participated in the national cosmetics fair
iLeadLAB
REGENT Business School’s iLeadLAB is the Employability unit of the institution, aimed at empowering its students with core skills and competencies to creatively bridge the gap between education and the demands of the 21st century workplace. It is a direct response to the accelerated pace of global technological transformation.
Digital advancements, breakthroughs, and pioneering developments are happening quickly, plunging the global workplace into a space where it’s no longer enough to effectively play by the rules. As such, graduates must boldly innovate and step-change to remain relevant in dynamic, digitally-driven environments, which is what the iLeadLAB sets out to help them achieve.
A total of 882 students are participating in 34 programs currently offered through iLeadLabs. This creative space offers courses to students to develop ideas and learn to produce anything.
Using open source technology and rapid prototyping tools, and through creative thinking, flexible problem solving, collaboration and innovation, students gain critical work readiness skills to enable them to be successful in work and life.
The iLeadLAB also guides learners to realize their individual aspirations and ignite their entrepreneurial spirit. The courses enhance the employment opportunities of students, creating a robust platform for upcoming entrepreneurs.
BENEFITS OF iLeadLAB
- Employability and Work Readiness Skills: Aims to equip the for the world of work with skills and opportunities to place them in an advantageous position over their peers. These skills include workplace etiquette for the 21st century work environment.
- Education – 21st Century Skills: The iLeadLAB aims to equip students with employability skills using interactive technology. These skills are further enhanced with Higher Order Thinking Skills such as collaboration, research, communication and technological skills, as well as design, critical and creative thinking, self-evaluation and self-management.
- Entrepreneurship: Entrepreneurship initiatives are geared towards providing students with skills to become pioneers, innovators, leaders and inventors. These courses aim to put students at the forefront of business in the Fourth Industrial Revolution, allowing students to pursue their entrepreneurial ventures.
Student success
Vuyani Mbongiseni Dlamini
“There are limitless opportunities – The ability to create anything our minds conceive can be brought to life through laser cutting and 3D Printing. The first day was quite interesting as we got to meet new people from different walks of life, who want to better themselves and solve problems we experience as Africans in the African Continent. The program needs to be communicated to the masses, I am just in awe of a program of this caliber and nature. The presenters are excellent, passionate and function well in a multicultural audience”.
– Vuyani Mbongiseni Dlamini
Amanda Mhlongo
“ »Amanda Mhlongo came through as a student to study at REGENT Business School as part of an NPO backed training program. As part of her studies, she was introduced to Laser Cutting at the iLeadLAB. Within a short space of time Amanda familiarized herself with the use of the laser cutter and realized the potential this technology may offer to her to generate an income and perhaps even start a small business. She used her time at the iLeadLAB constructively and produced her first batch of personalized keyrings for her new clients.She went on to sell these keyrings for an excellent profit (>300%). ”.
Amanda then went on to design and produce a further batch of keyrings which she sold just as successfully. Under the guidance of Sizwe Madikizela, a technician based at the iLeadLAB, Amanda has since started furthering her knowledge about laser cutting and exploring newer software for design purposes in the hope of providing a greater variety of products for sale.
– Amanda Mhlongo
redHUB
Creating an entrepreneurial mindset through REGENT Enterprise Development hub
redHUB: A place for global and innovative minds to thrive
redHUB is an entrepreneurial and innovation program aimed at supporting start-ups and small business development.
The hub seeks to provide business owners and entrepreneurs in the making with services, including business incubation, mentorship, help with accessing finance and business training.
Five beauticians are celebrating after winning R10 000 each in the RBS’ redHUB “shark tank” competition that was held at the end of September 2021. Simran Mathura, Mercy Rutendo Membe, Danielle Wakelin, Neo Patience Maboe, and Naomi Natalie Thubisi, were the winners of the business pitch contest and they all expressed how they will use their winnings to start their own small businesses. These young ladies were part of a cohort of nine final-year students from the Face-to-Face Beauty and Makeup Academy who participated in a six-month pilot program run by RBS’ redHUB unit.
redHUB has thus far trained two groups, namely: the beauticians from Face-2-Face Academy and a group of youth from a non-profit Believers Care Society (BCS), who were referred by the Provincial Department of Social Development. The intent is to demonstrate proof of concept and secure ongoing referrals going forward to conduct training of similar such groups. The aim of the practical “Starting Your Own Business” course was to give the students a thorough understanding of what is required to start and manage their own businesses and culminated in the pitch session to a panel of four judges.
Hoosen Essof, Operations Manager – REGENT Business School
“We take people with technical training, in this case as beauticians, and give them the business know-how to start their own business and employ people.”
– Hoosen Essof
What two of our winners had to say
Naomi Thubisi
“Thank you so much for the opportunity. I am highly grateful to REGENT Business School for offering this short course. I have always wanted to learn about business. May this opportunity reach others out there and not end with us. I will never stop thanking you”
– Naomi Thubisi
Simran Mathura
I would like to thank those involved in making this business course a possibility. When Face to Face approached us about the business course, at first, I was apprehensive because I was not sure about spending another six months doing a course on a subject, I already have a degree in – especially one that is solely based on drafting a business plan. It wasn’t until I heard about the competition, that my interest was piqued.
On the 15th of February 2021, we were introduced to Ms. Samu who took great initiative in getting to know us and what exactly it is we do in our industry. From the first lesson, I was captivated as my facilitator reminded me why I loved business and entrepreneurship. I was impressed by Regent’s attention to detail and their overall campus, but most of all, the personalization of the course by Mr. Hoosen and Ms. Samu. Whilst I thoroughly enjoyed the theory lessons, I was excited to find out we would have guest speakers from within our very own industry to give us a stronger sense of direction and be able to shed light on being a business woman in the spa industry within South Africa. The presentation day was very exciting, and I appreciated the opportunity to discuss my passionate business project with fellow entrepreneurs. Whilst confident in my presentation, I was ecstatic to hear my name being called out as a winner that day. Regent pushed me to learn more about myself as an entrepreneur and operating within my industry. I am grateful for the doors Regent has opened, the networking opportunities, and the opportunity to pitch my passion”
– Simran Mathura
Afrilabs Network
The AfriLabs network consists of 292 technology and innovation centers across 49 countries in Africa. It was founded in 2011 and its mission is to build a community around the rapidly emerging technology hubs in Africa. AfriLabs is based in Abuja, Nigeria, and provides financing, mentoring, networking opportunities, and other capacity-building resources for high-potential entrepreneurs who will promote Africa’s economic growth and social development. Currently, 30 innovative projects are underway in the areas of HealthTech, e-Commerce, AgriTech, and EdTech.
A Tunisian innovation hub founded in 2019 – the Honoris COLLECTIVE LAB – is part of the AfriLabs network. In addition, RedHUB – REGENT Enterprise development Hub is part of Afrilabs.
Development of WIL and entrepreneurship in vocational training
The aim of this project is to support the development of entrepreneurship in vocational training, and is coordinated by the Ministry of Employment and Vocational Training with the support of the European Training Foundation (ETF).
IMSET and AAC are now known as entrepreneurial centers and are members of »National Network of Entrepreneurial Centers » in Tunisia. As such, they are committed to ensuring the advancement of technical and vocational training for their students, who then will be able to positively impact society as a whole.
Furthermore, members of this national network will be able to join the ETF’s European Network of Excellence, which is an innovative network of vocational training centers from EU member states and partner countries working on specific themes related to excellence in vocational education and training. This opens up even more opportunities for IMSET and AAC students to connect and work internationally.
Network of Practice Enterprises in Tunisia (ReeT):
ReeT is the Network of Training Enterprises of Tunisia and it is a non-profit organization created through the collaboration between the Swiss foundation, Swisscontact, and the Swiss center of business practice, Helvartis. It is financed by the Swiss Cooperation and headed by the Ministry of Vocational Training and Employment of Tunisia. It is affiliated to the Tunisian network which ensures the accreditation and certification, the training company is also attached to a world network, which gathers more than 7000 companies of the same type allowing it to make transactions in a protected market in various languages, to perfect the socio-professional competencies and to exert the current activities in companies initiated during theoretical courses during the training course.
H2E is the 7th Tunisian training company created by the ReeT and it is the first and only training company in the private sector with a purpose of training students in order to improve their employability and ensure their professional integration.
In addition, entrepreneurship in higher education is recognized as a major driver to underpin innovation. Therefore, Honoris appreciates the critical need to embed entrepreneurship within education and learning opportunities to create environments within which entrepreneurial mindsets and behaviors are developed.
It is a known fact that there is a direct correlation between a country’s economic trajectory and the level of its entrepreneurial activity. The World Bank’s Small and Micro Enterprises (SME) report of 2019 highlighted that SMEs contribute up to 40% of the gross domestic product in Africa.