The 2024 Bellville Business Expo (BBEXPO) successfully concluded its second annual event on 17 and 18 October 2024 at the Tyger Valley Centre. This eagerly awaited gathering has established itself as a premier business event in Cape Town’s Northern Suburbs.
This year’s expo was a resounding success, bringing together over 300 local businesses, industry leaders, and entrepreneurs to showcase their products and services across a range of sectors, including technology, medical, finance, hospitality, property and retail.
Organised by the Greater Tygerberg Partnership (GTP), the expo highlighted economic development efforts in one of Cape Town’s most important investment regions.
Attendees had the opportunity to connect with business development experts, buyers, funders, and other key stakeholders while gaining insights into operational growth and exploring new business opportunities. Leading sponsors, including Tyger Valley Centre, Ster-Kinekor, Doppio Zero, ABSA, Sanlam Pearl Bluestar, D’Aria Winery, PnP, BizMag, Print Hut, Chart Your Path, Global Africa Network (GAN), Story’d and Get Published contributed to making this event a significant platform for local Small, Medium, and Micro Enterprises (SMMEs).
Warren Hewitt, Chief Executive Officer of the Greater Tygerberg Partnership (GTP), highlighted the event’s success: “This year’s Bellville Business Expo exceeded our expectations, showcasing the remarkable resilience and innovation within our local business community. The turnout not only underscored the significant impact that SMMEs have on our region’s economy but also demonstrated their collective readiness for growth. It’s inspiring to witness how events like this foster collaboration and create opportunities that benefit everyone involved. By connecting these businesses with invaluable resources and access to new markets, we are empowering them to thrive and contribute even more to the economic landscape of Bellville and beyond.”
The event was expertly hosted by veteran radio personality Kevin Abbot, with a lineup of distinguished speakers that included Alderman James Vos, Mayoral Committee Member for Economic Growth; Warren Hewitt, CEO of the Greater Tygerberg Partnership; and Tanya Heimann from Tyger Valley Centre.
Unlocking New Potential
New to this year’s programme was the debut of the Bellville Connect Level Up Business Series, which gave businesses an opportunity to compete to win business growth resources. Selected businesses benefited from mentorship partnerships, branding packages, and other prizes aimed at accelerating their growth:
2024 Business Bellville Expo (BBXPO) Winners:
1st Winner: Athenkosi Gexa, founder of Truth Gexa Designs. @truth_gexa_designs – Business service: Bespoke clothing and accessories.
2nd Winner: Haroldene Tshienda, founder of Shofar Books. shofarbooks.co.za – Business service: Book publishing and distributing.
3rd: Winner: Fatima Davids, founder of Corpchem Chemicals. corpchemonline.co.
The expo also featured inspiring speakers, including trainer, coach, and speaker André du Toit, The Big Positive Guy; Craig Williams, Principal at Sanlam Pearl Bluestar, speaker Annie Olufuwa founder of Story’d and strategist Yusuf Mahomedy from Chart Your Path. Rounding out the impressive roster were Mona-Lisa Maposa and Chantell Mahomed from ABSA, who shared their insights and expertise on alternative lending solutions, enterprise development and SME Relationship banking.
Alderman James Vos, Mayoral Committee Member for Economic Growth, expressed his enthusiasm: “Another successful Bellville Business Expo has now concluded, furnishing even more local businesses with opportunities to forge meaningful connections with buyers, investors, and incubators. One of the highlights of my role is engaging with passionate local business owners and it is incredibly rewarding to see how they leverage the opportunities presented to them, transforming their potential into real achievements. The 2024 Bellville Business Expo Is a vibrant environment for networking and collaboration, which will ultimately enhance employment opportunities and foster economic growth throughout our community for years to come.”
The City of Cape Town and the GTP remain committed to fostering the growth and success of Bellville’s vibrant business community.
Bleeker
Phuti Mahanyele – Former CEO of Shanduka Group, current Sigma Capital Executive Chair: At 17, she left South Africa to pursue her studies, and obtained a bachelor\’s degree in Economics and earned an MBA from De Montfort University. She would also later go on to complete Harvard University\’s Kennedy School of Government executive education programme. Determined to be a success, Mahanyele joined an international investment banking company specialising in infrastructural development in New York City called Fieldstone Private Capital Group. She later became Vice-President of the firm, then transferred to the company\’s office in South Africa. After returning to South Africa, she became the head of Project Finance South Africa at the Development Back of Southern Africa. She was headhunted, and advanced to the position of managing director of Shanduka Energy, later becoming the CEO of Shanduka Group. She would go on to hold this position for 10 years, securing major deals including those with Coca-Cola and McDonalds. In 2007, she was selected as a Global Young Leader by the World Economic Forum. In 2009, she won the Rutgers Visions of Excellence award and The Most Influential Woman in Government and Business award from Rutgers University. In 2011, she was named one of the 20 youngest power women in Africa by Forbes. In 2013, she won the Distinguished Achievement award by the Douglass Society.