South Africa - Startup under 3 years old

Describe your project or startup in a few words

The Purpose of the project is getting kids to play tennis, first and foremost, tennis provides an excellent cardiovascular workout, which can improve overall health and fitness levels. Additionally, tennis helps to develop mental focus.

01.01 Describe your startup in more detail

Soweto Tennis Association (STA) is a driving force in creating an inspiring tennis cultures and opportunities. We pride ourselves in providing a caring and supportive environment. We believe in developing people as well as players from the grassroots to a professional game. Our mission is to deliver a fully integrated player performance pathway that will help capable and committed young players to achieve relevant staging posts on the SA junior national to international circuit.

01.02 What is the main problem you are trying to solve?

Soweto Tennis Association is on a journey of facilitating transformation in the previously disadvantaged communities through bridging health and fitness (sporting success) with education (schools, tutoring and acceptance to colleges) for the youth whilst also promoting employment opportunities in the tennis industry like being a certified tennis coach, a line official and an administrator. Ours is a fight against the socio-economic issues plaguing Soweto and surrounding areas and bringing hope through sport and education. Our country has potential to rise from the economic slump and transform the lives of the ordinary citizens through inclusivity and cooperation.

01.03 Tell us the major benefits and/or advantages of using the product/service that your startup provides (at least 3).

Soweto Tennis Association is on a journey of facilitating transformation in the previously disadvantaged communities through bridging health and fitness (sporting success) with education (schools, tutoring and acceptance to colleges) for the youth whilst also promoting employment opportunities in the tennis industry like being a certified tennis coach, a line official and an administrator. Ours is a fight against the socio-economic issues plaguing Soweto and surrounding areas and bringing hope through sport and education. Our country has potential to rise from the economic slump and transform the lives of the ordinary citizens through inclusivity and cooperation. These milestones also help with mental health in our communities when people are able to provide security for their loved ones.

01.04 Please describe who exactly your startup’s product/service is aimed at serving. Who are the targeted beneficiaries?

Our tennis programs are aimed at the schools and the community at large. Everyone can be touched in a positive way to add value and safeguard the interests of our youth, and senior citizens through initiatives, events and workshops that add value to the entire community. Our grassroots programs aim to be inclusive, progressive and empowering to Sowetans of all races, experiences, religions etc.

01.05 When was your company established?

2023-11-06

01.06 Are you already selling your product/service?

Yes

01.07 How many other owners are there within your startup?

3

01.08 Among the other owners, how many are female?

0

01.09 Please describe the profile of the other owners within your startup (skills, experience, etc.)

* We have a BSc Informatics student as one of our directors. He is a former professional tennis player and qualified tennis coach who has extensive experience in the sport industry let alone the tennis structures. Has experience in the banking industry as a former Standard Bank South Africa employee with an RE 5 certificate. * Our second director is one of the highest qualified coaches in the country and has experience in operating development programs for Tennis South Africa as a Head coach of an entire Metro having done so in Soweto and Tshwane. He has experience traveling and working with Junior National teams at international events.

01.10 If you have a website, a social media page (Facebook, Instagram, Linkedin…), or app, please provide the link(s) here:

https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100005475061308

01.11 Which industry best describes your project?

Other: Sports And Recreation

02.01.01 My startup contributes to the No poverty goal

5

02.01.02 No poverty - Justification for my startup

One of STA's objectives is to alleviate poverty in the townships and rural areas by equipping the youth and senior citizens with an opportunity to officiate and be coaches, which in itself is a form of empowerment and employability through the knowledge acquired through the courses, seminars and workshops provided.

02.02.01 My startup contributes to the Zero hunger goal

7 - Strongly Agree

02.02.02 Zero hunger - Justification for my startup

Our organisation deals with a lot of kids who come from impoverished families who rely on feeding schemes from local churches and organisations to sleep and study with food in their stomachs. We have encountered kids who don't have parents and rely on their grandparent(s) sassa grants to survive. With the support provided we can lend an even bigger help in removing the kids from harmful temptations and behaviours through providing food while advocating for sports and education.

02.03.01 My startup contributes to the Good health and well-being goal

7 - Strongly Agree

02.03.02 Good health and well-being - Justification for my startup

Good health and well-being - Soweto Tennis Association by being in the sports and fitness industry contributes massively in the health and well-being of our communities and beneficiaries. The health benefits begin with cardiovascular, mental, muscular and coordination achievements as seen on various respected researchers' notes/books. The game of tennis can be played from as early as 3 years to the ripe old age of 85+ years. Therefore with great enthusiasm we can proudly say tennis is one of the sporting codes that is for a lifetime and does not exclude participants according to body structure, height and disabilities as seen with the achievements attained through wheelchair tennis.

02.04.01 My startup contributes to the Quality education goal

7 - Strongly Agree

02.04.02 Quality education - Justification for my startup

Quality Education *Education is a fundamental game changer in the fight against illiteracy, decision making, college acceptances and subsequently graduates who assist in business and entrepreneurship. As it has been well documented people make informed decisions when knowledgeable. The association prides itself in enforcing policies that place importance on our players acquiring respectable marks (percentages) that assist in the sourcing of sports bursaries and scholarships at the top schools in the country as our beneficiaries are from previously disadvantaged communities and the educational standards are extremely different. That can only be done through guidelines that place importance on educational success. This is our way of facilitating quality education to our beneficiaries.

02.05.01 My startup contributes to the Gender equality goal

7 - Strongly Agree

02.05.02 Gender equality - Justification for my startup

Gender equality is high priority in our structures as women play an integral role in amplifying the voice of women and girls in sport. Dealing with the highest number of young girls from 12 and under it is paramount to have qualified and knowledgeable women teach the next generation of young leaders how to maneuver and attain greatness in the sports industry especially tennis fraternity.

02.06.01 My startup contributes to the Clean water and sanitation goal

2

02.06.02 Clean water and sanitation - Justification for my startup

02.07.01 My startup contributes to the Affordable and clean energy goal

2

02.07.02 Affordable and clean energy - Justification for my startup

02.08.01 My startup contributes to the Decent work and economic growth

5

02.08.02 Decent work and economic growth - Justification for my startup

Through the workshops and courses of certification facilitated through Tennis South Africa our beneficiaries are in a position to acquire decent work and economic growth through the employment opportunities in the tennis industry.

02.09.01 My startup contributes to the Industry innovation and infrastructure

2

02.09.02 Industry innovation and infrastructure - Justification for my startup

02.10.01 My startup contributes to the Reduced inequalities goal

5

02.10.02 Reduced inequalities - Justification for my startup

STA contributes to Reduced inequalities as per the objectives stated in the outlining of our current, present and future undertakings. As a structure based in Soweto which is a previously disadvantaged township we believe our duty is to facilitate a reduction in the current inequalities of our society through job creation and academic excellence.

02.11.01 My startup contributes to the Sustainable cities and communities goal

2

02.11.02 Sustainable cities and communities - Justification for my startup

02.12.01 My startup contributes to the Responsible consumption and production goal

2

02.12.02 Responsible consumption and production - Justification for my startup

02.13.01 My startup contributes to the Climate action goal

2

02.13.02 Climate action - Justification for my startup

02.14.01 My startup contributes to the Life below water goal

2

02.14.02 Life below water - Justification for my startup

02.15.01 My startup contributes to the Life on land goal

2

02.15.02 Life on land - Justification for my startup

02.16.01 My startup contributes to the Peace Justice and Strong Institutions goal

4

02.16.02 Peace Justice and Strong Institutions- Justification for my startup

02.17.01 My startup contributes to the Partnerships for the goal

4

02.17.02 Partnerships for the goal - Justification for my startup

06.01 There are a large number of customers who already use a product/service very similar to the product/service we envision creating.

3

06.02 The product/service represents an entirely new type of product/service.

1 - Strongly Disagree

06.03 The product/service could be described as a new technology.

2

06.04 The product/service is an improvement on an existing product or service.

6

06.05 The product/service could be described as an extension of a range of products or services.

1 - Strongly Disagree

06.06 The product/service responds to a demand or need that has not been satisfied by other products/services.

3

06.07 The product/service is a new version of an old product/service.

4

06.08 Justification for my startup

STA has started incorporating the latest methodology in terms of coaching and uplifting our community as part of the International Tennis Federation’s and Tennis South Africa's policies. We believe in offering our beneficiaries the latest and highest standards of coaching. An introduction to workshops and seminars that empower our communities in business, sports science and mental health is paramount in closing the inequality gap, poverty and quality education.

06.09 Competitive Analysis

Our SWOT analysis has football and netball as our biggest competitors in the market share thus an innovative and solid strategic plan will facilitate our success in chipping away at the market share. Our offerings will bring a new dynamic and opportunities to our citizens young and old.

11.05 Are you initiating actions within your community to promote the role of female entrepreneurs?