South Africa - Startup under 3 years old

Describe your project or startup in a few words

Empiras Global Academy is South Africa's award-winning premium education consultancy offering access to viable alternatives to conventional education, from home-schooling programs, study abroad opportunities, and technical skills development.

01.01 Describe your startup in more detail

Through the support of technology and an experienced workforce, Empiras Global Academy boasts a successful track record of assisting numerous learners to gain qualifications and critical skills to thrive globally. We offer premium homeschooling and study abroad consultancy dedicated to providing South African students and families with comprehensive educational solutions. The primary goal is to empower students to excel academically, explore international opportunities, and reach their full potential in a global environment. The company offers services tailored to the unique needs of South African and African students, including homeschooling support, access to US sports scholarships and study abroad opportunities in 15 counties in Asia Europe and the Americas, and work abroad opportunities.

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

The company is solving the key challenge of poor basic education and the increasing costs of private schooling for families looking for better alternatives. The company is presenting real opportunities for those young people seeking to pursue tertiary studies abroad but are uncertain where to start or have the perception that the costs are prohibitive. Finally, for those young people who are looking for some jobs – even if its short-term – we offer an opportunity to work abroad and gain cultural exposure.

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

The company utilise technical platforms and our unique expertise to personally empower students to excel academically, explore new international learning opportunities, and realise their educational dreams, while saving them time and hassle. We offer a personalised step-by-step experience, catering to the unique needs of each of our young clients to better place them in programs that suit them and ensure 100% satisfaction, which increases motivation to succeed. We also offer an all-in-one consulting package beginning from high school all through university graduation and beyond. From our experience, we have noted that parents and guardians do not wish to search far for the information and resources they need to assist their children. They are more likely to invest in a platform that is a one-stop shop for all skill building, preparations, and information for the young ones to succeed.

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

Our customer market is middle-class families with children between 14 – 25, who value education and global competitiveness and understand the impact that a good education can have on future success. Our brand persona – our client’s name is Zinhle. She is a 15 year old girl studying at Durban Girl’s College. She lives in Umlazi, and her father works for the eThekwini Municipality as a manager in operations. She is the youngest of her family of 3 siblings. She is keen to study engineering in Germany because she also takes German as a subject. She loves soccer and plays for the school A team. She also enjoys public speaking and is part of the B team in Debating.

01.05 When was your company established?

2023-02-12

01.06 Are you already selling your product/service?

Yes

01.07 How many other owners are there within your startup?

2

01.08 Among the other owners, how many are female?

2

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

Lungile Ntuli – Founder and CTO Lungile Ntuli is a graduate student in computer science at Georgia Institute of Technology (USA), where she is expanding her knowledge and expertise in enterprise technology and product management. Lungile Ntuli is a software developer at Methys Group. She works with a diverse and talented team to deliver innovative web solutions for various clients across different industries. Lungile uses her skills in Python, data analytics, and web development to create user-friendly and data-driven applications that meet the clients' needs and expectations. Gugu Ntuli – Founder and CEO Gugu has over 28 yrs of corporate experience with nearly 16 of those at Senior C-suite leadership. Gugu has MBA from Coventry Business School (UK), a BSc App. Sci & a B. Bus (International Business) degree from QUT (Australia),) a Diploma in French from Sorbonne University (Paris) and a digital marketing certificate from UCT (South Africa).

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

https://www.empirasglobalacademy.com/

01.11 Which industry best describes your project?

Other: Education

02.01.01 My startup contributes to the No poverty goal

7 - Strongly Agree

02.01.02 No poverty - Justification for my startup

South Africa's education system remains one of the most unequal school systems in the world, from primary education to tertiary institutions and the transition to the workforce. Access to quality education is hindered by disparities, and rising costs of tertiary education. Moreover, the limited supply of admissions for students at the country’s 26 public universities, to the annual demand of 890k matriculants, results in many matriculants unable to study further resulting in high youth unemployment rates.

02.02.01 My startup contributes to the Zero hunger goal

2

02.02.02 Zero hunger - Justification for my startup

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

3

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

02.04.01 My startup contributes to the Quality education goal

7 - Strongly Agree

02.04.02 Quality education - Justification for my startup

The company makes a it a priority to assist our clients with finding the best curriculum and programs that cater to the needs of each child individually according to their interests and academic level.

02.05.01 My startup contributes to the Gender equality goal

2

02.05.02 Gender equality - Justification for my startup

02.06.01 My startup contributes to the Clean water and sanitation goal

1 - Strongly Disagree

02.06.02 Clean water and sanitation - Justification for my startup

02.07.01 My startup contributes to the Affordable and clean energy goal

1 - Strongly Disagree

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

The company is presenting real opportunities for young people seeking to pursue tertiary studies but are uncertain how their studies can translate to work experience. Through correctly placing them in accurate programs, young people are able to build relevant skillsets that will allow them to transition into the workforce sooner, even offering an opportunity to work locally or abroad and gain cultural exposure, encouraging economic growth.

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

6

02.10.02 Reduced inequalities - Justification for my startup

Our vision is to be the leading catalyst of educational empowerment of underrepresented youth in South Africa and on the continent, by opening doors to boundless possibilities and global opportunities. Through this initiative, we are looking to reduce the educational and class inequalities and encourage growth across the diaspora.

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

1 - Strongly Disagree

02.12.02 Responsible consumption and production - Justification for my startup

02.13.01 My startup contributes to the Climate action goal

1 - Strongly Disagree

02.13.02 Climate action - Justification for my startup

02.14.01 My startup contributes to the Life below water goal

1 - Strongly Disagree

02.14.02 Life below water - Justification for my startup

02.15.01 My startup contributes to the Life on land goal

1 - Strongly Disagree

02.15.02 Life on land - Justification for my startup

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

1 - Strongly Disagree

02.16.02 Peace Justice and Strong Institutions- Justification for my startup

02.17.01 My startup contributes to the Partnerships for the goal

1 - Strongly Disagree

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.

2

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

6

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

5

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

7 - Strongly Agree

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

7 - Strongly Agree

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

7 - Strongly Agree

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

5

06.08 Justification for my startup

Our product offers an all-in-one platform that our competitors are only addressing a small percentage of. We believe by having experience in far more areas than the existing platforms available, we attract a diverse and loyal customer base

06.09 Competitive Analysis

Competitors in study abroad – Global Education; Sable International Education; Begin Group Competitors in Homeschooling – Think Digital; Cambrilearn, Impaq; Wingu Academy What makes us stand out: 1. Our USP is that we have live all our offerings ourselves and offer a consultancy vs an agency service. 2. We are actively entering into relations where there are scholarship offerings for students. 3. We are targeting non-traditional markets that have far more value for money – e.g. Asia. 4. We are a one stop shop for educational needs from beginning of high school to the end of their masters or even PhD journey.

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

Yes, I am actively engaged in communities that encourage and empower female entrepreneurs