South Africa - Business creation project

Describe your project or startup in a few words

VOCO is an online platform bringing career guidance, educational, funding, skills development and employment opportunities to South African youth over the most crucial decade of their lives (age 13-23)

01.01 Describe your project in more detail

VOCO addresses high youth unemployment rates in South Africa by providing an online platform that offers personalized career guidance, education, funding, skill development & employment opportunities. We partner with South African youth from age 13-23 to guide & provide equal access to all opportunities. The VOCO platform is set up in the following way: Step 1: Students aged 13-15 play personalised gamified & AI powered career guidance games to help gauge their interests Step 2: At age 16, students undergo psychometric testing (which is sponsored to them based on their demographics) Step 3: At age 17-18 students can find study programs at any type of institution that directly align with their interests, as well as funding possibilities available that suit their demographics. Step 4: At age 19-23 learnerships, mentorship programs, internships and skills development programs are available to users. Step 5: Users are able to come back to the platform to access job opportunities

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

Youth unemployment and school drop out rates. Through firstly addressing the overall lack of career guidance at a basic education level, which ultimately contributes to: 1) youth dropping out of school (41% of students who start grade 1 do not matriculate) 2) students dropping out in their first year of studies (50-60% drop out in their first year) 3) the 49.86% youth unemployment rate VOCO positions students in a place of passion and purpose for their future at a foundational level first. Providing equal access to all educational opportunities, funding opportunities, market realities and providing personalised recommendations based on their their psychometric testing (as per step 2 above) then removes misunderstandings of available opportunities, and allows students to build a career path they are passionate about. Once more, they remained partnered with VOCO for further mentorship, internships, skills development and employment opportunities!

01.03 Tell us the major benefits and/or advantages of using the product/service that your project intends to provide (at least 3).

1. VOCO is a one stop shop for all youth, firstly in South Africa, then globally, to embark on a journey of self discovery over 10 years of their life. There is no need to scour the internet or limited local resources to attempt to understand your future career journey, only to settle on something you're not fully passionate about. Every resource required, along every step of the way, is built into the platform. 2. VOCO's corporate, non-profit and educational partnerships creates a huge network of industry leaders and professionals under one virtual roof for all youth to tap into. This could be in the form of webinars, mentorship programs or through direct job applications. 3. Our corporate partnerships allow businesses to tap into a network of youth matching the interest profile for initiatives and employment opportunities within their companies. For small businesses, VOCO is committed to partnering with corporate to create skills development programs within these businesses.

01.04 Please describe who exactly your project is aimed at serving. Who are the targeted beneficiaries?

South African youth, mainly targeting the decade of age 13-23. However VOCO also provides education, skills development and employment opportunities to those up to age 35. VOCO is also aimed at serving small businesses. Through national and global corporate partnership, VOCO will work to create skills development programs within small businesses, increasing employment opportunities and fostering growth within small businesses in South Africa.

01.05 When did you start working on your project?

2024-04-29

01.06 How many other partners are associated with your business venture?

1

01.07 Among the other partners, how many are female?

0

01.08 Please describe the profile of each of the other partners (skills, experience, etc.)

Branham Kock: Director of Educational Development - Marketing Manager: GEN-TO-GEN Academy from 2023 - Mentor and Facilitator: Workplace Readiness Skills Programme from 2019 - Former Project Manager: H&MV Engineering from 2018 to 2020 - Former Managing Director: Bran U Construction from 2001 – 2023 - Former Commercial Assessor: ABSA Bank from 1991 - 2001 Branham’s leadership and entrepreneurial expertise over the past 35 years has gained much traction amongst his peers in business, social, economic and educational development.

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

http://voco.co.za

01.10 Which industry best describes your project?

j) Public services

02.01.01 My project contributes to the No poverty goal

5

02.01.02 No poverty - Justification

Through guiding, creating access to education and employment opportunities and actually creating skills development opportunities in small businesses, VOCO allows young people to equip themselves and increase their employability. This opportunity creation combats youth unemployment, which contributes to the overall goal of no poverty.

02.02.01 My project contributes to the Zero hunger goal

3

02.02.02 Zero hunger - Justification

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

2

02.03.02 Good health and well-being - Justification

02.04.01 My project contributes to the Quality education goal

7 - Strongly Agree

02.04.02 Quality education - Justification

Through making the VOCO platform accessible via school systems and generally online, learners from disadvantaged backgrounds will be sponsored for psychometric testing and overall platform access. The equal access to all resources and opportunities on the platform, as well as access to all available funding programs creates a community and platform that fosters inclusivity and access to equitable quality education. VOCO creates and provides access to a wide range of tertiary education opportunities, skills development opportunities and short course learning opportunities. While targeted at south African youth, the resources available for life long learning specifically can be accessed by all ages. VOCO pairs on the ground missions with each step in the platform as well. So far this has included skills development programs, entrepreneurship classes and free math classes for learners in underserved areas. These on the ground missions aim to ensure access across the nation.

02.05.01 My project contributes to the Gender equality goal

5

02.05.02 Gender equality - Justification

VOCO will host a wealth of educational, development and mentorship opportunities to all youth across South Africa, while shining a light on programs, funding and mentorship opportunities specifically tailored to women. To build confidence and passion within young women across South Africa, that they too can have any education path and career of their choosing and are supported by a network of female professionals guiding them to success.

02.06.01 My project contributes to the Clean water and sanitation goal

1 - Strongly Disagree

02.06.02 Clean water and sanitation - Justification

02.07.01 My project contributes to the Affordable and clean energy goal

1 - Strongly Disagree

02.07.02 Affordable and clean energy - Justification

02.08.01 My project contributes to the Decent work and economic growth

6

02.08.02 Decent work and economic growth - Justification

Creating access to skills development, learnership and employment opportunities directly contributes to economic growth for South Africa by virtue of the role this plays in decreasing the youth unemployment rates. VOCO's focus on creating skills development programs within small businesses through corporate partnership also empowers and grows small businesses while creating decent work for young people in South Africa.

02.09.01 My project contributes to the Industry innovation and infrastructure

5

02.09.02 Industry innovation and infrastructure - Justification

In bridging the digital divide, VOCO will work with corporate bodies to bring computers with the VOCO system on it into schools in under served communities. With this equal access to educational resources and development opportunities, VOCO positions young people to be catalysts for innovation.

02.10.01 My project contributes to the Reduced inequalities goal

4

02.10.02 Reduced inequalities - Justification

02.11.01 My project contributes to the Sustainable cities and communities goal

1 - Strongly Disagree

02.11.02 Sustainable cities and communities - Justification

02.12.01 My project contributes to the Responsible consumption and production goal

1 - Strongly Disagree

02.12.02 Responsible consumption and production - Justification

02.13.01 My project contributes to the Climate action goal

1 - Strongly Disagree

02.13.02 Climate action - Justification

02.14.01 My project contributes to the Life below water goal

1 - Strongly Disagree

02.14.02 Life below water - Justification

02.15.01 My project contributes to the Life on land goal

1 - Strongly Disagree

02.15.02 Life on land - Justification

02.16.01 My project contributes to the Peace justice and strong institutions goal

3

02.16.02 Peace justice and strong institutions - Justification

02.17.01 My project contributes to the Partnerships for the goal

6

02.17.02 Partnerships for the goal - Justification

VOCO partners with global corporate bodies to bring access to the platform and all available resources it provides. VOCO also builds global partnerships to create skills development opportunities for youth. These partnerships promote sustainable youth development within South Africa

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

2

05.02 The product/service we envision creating represents an entirely new type of product/service.

6

05.03 The product/service we envision creating could be described as a new technology.

5

05.04 The product/service we envision creating is an improvement on an existing product or service.

2

05.05 The product/service we envision creating could be described as an extension of a range of products or services.

1 - Strongly Disagree

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

7 - Strongly Agree

05.07 The product/service we envision creating is a new version of an old product/service.

1 - Strongly Disagree

05.08 Justification

The idea of VOCO is unique in providing a solution to every issue a young person in South Africa could face while on their career journey starting at the age of 13. It brings together corporate bodies, small and medium sized businesses, professionals and educational institutes with the common purpose of assisting South African youth to on a set path for lifelong success. The demand VOCO is responding to extends beyond just access, but a need for a community and network that young people across South Africa can tap into at any stage, but also stay connected to throughout their journey.

05.09 Who are your main potential competitors and what makes you stand out from them?

Bridge app: Helps students match to universities and apply to funding Gradlinc: A job board specifically for new graduates Each of VOCOs competitors only solve one problem and solves that one problem in a limited way. While there is something to be said for niching down, there is also something to be said for the lack of all in one access to resources that all young people to overcome barriers at every step of the way. A platform such as VOCO does not exist, because it does not exist, young people are spending hours trying to find something to help guide them on their career journey, but coming up empty. While the initiatives that currently exist are commendable, the market is limited as users come in at a specific time of their life and exit directly after use. VOCO stands out in the decade plus long partnership it strives for with the youth South Africa.

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

Yes, our weekly entrepreneurship class in Delft, Cape Town covers a range of topics which allow all entrepreneurs, with a focus on women who are the breadwinners of their home, to operate a legal, sustainable and scalable local business.