About Us
A Disruptive entrepreneurship development Solution that can help solve the unemployment crisis faster than ever
Mission | Making Entrepreneurship Accessible to All
Our mission is to unlock and activate human potential through entrepreneurship, using the business as a platform for self-exploration and personal development.
By providing accessible, relatable, and practical information and training, we work to transform the entrepreneurial landscape, making it inclusive and achievable for all. Through our comprehensive resources, including books, public talks, workshops, and programmes, we are dedicated to nurturing entrepreneurial skills and mindsets in diverse communities, fostering innovation and opportunity everywhere.
Vision | Unlocking a World of Creators
Our vision is a society empowered by its people, where the potential to generate change and progress is universal, driven by the spirit of entrepreneurship embedded in every individual.
Uniqueness | Made in Africa, for Africa
We bring a unique perspective to entrepreneurship that has the potential to unlock the entrepreneurial potential of Africa and other developing economies. Our work was created in Africa, for Africa, taking the unique environment, challenges and nuances into account. It is cost-effective, quick and delivers at scale.
We are making it affordable for developing economies while creating new entrepreneurs in mass so that we truly address Africa’s and other developing economies’ massive unemployment and economic challenges.
Goal | Exponential Economic Growth
Our immediate goal is to plant the seeds of entrepreneurship across diverse communities, aiming to cultivate 10,000 businesses that blossom into even more job opportunities.
Just as seeds beneath the desert sands await nourishing rain to flourish into a vibrant flowerbed as far as the eye can see, our efforts in activating human potential will similarly transform the economic landscape of people, communities and countries.
Through our work, we’re not just creating businesses; we’re nurturing a flourishing ecosystem where each new enterprise contributes to a thriving, empowered economy for all.
Awards We Won
About Our Founder & Managing Director | Willem Gous
✅ Winner 2023 | Startup Mentor of the Year
✅ Winner 2023 | Entrepreneurship Education Programme – The Human Entrepreneur
✅ Finalist 2022 | Startup Mentor of the Year
✅ Finalist 2022 | Incubator of the Year – The Human Entrepreneur
2022 & 23 Africa Startup Ecosystem Builders Awards
✅ Thinkers 360 – Top 50 Global Thought Leaders and Influencers on Lean Startup 2022 & 2023
Hello! I’m Willem, a dedicated leader in Entrepreneurship Development who has navigated some of the most challenging environments over my 23-year journey in entrepreneurship. I’m honoured to be the recipient of the 2023 Startup Mentor of the Year award and the Entrepreneurship Education Programme award for The Human Entrepreneur. I have been recognised by Thinkers 360 as a Top 50 Global Thought Leader and Influencer on Lean Startup for two consecutive years.
My approach to leadership, innovation, and entrepreneurship is deeply human-centered.
I’ve demonstrated my expertise in entrepreneurship development by disrupting traditional methods. My unique approach, designed and proven in Africa, empowers unemployed individuals in South African townships. I guide them to start businesses without external funding in just 5 weeks, ensuring these ventures are profitable enough to sustain themselves financially. This method significantly reduces the time and cost to create a job compared to traditional programmes, effectively cracking the nut of mass entrepreneurship development. My process can deliver new entrepreneurs at scale, creating hundreds, even thousands, of new businesses monthly. I am proud to offer a revolutionary solution for job creation, poverty reduction, and economic growth.
I call Johannesburg home and take pride in being a single father to my 13-year-old son. I’m an avid reader and enthusiastic about personal development. For a bit of fun, I’m also a qualified firewalking instructor.
My academic background includes a Master’s degree in Information Systems Management from the University of Liverpool, U.K., where my dissertation delved into applying various innovation methodologies within established businesses. As a regular speaker and facilitator at conferences, I also contribute to the advisory board of the University of Liverpool Management School’s professional interest network.
If you’re looking for someone to guide, inspire, and collaborate with your team or audience, I bring a blend of expertise, experience, and enthusiasm that’s hard to match. Let’s connect and create something impactful together!
Directors | Hitesh Pema & Wessie Van Der Westhuizen
“Our programmes work because they were made in Africa for Africa and proven in Africa”
– Willem Gous | Founder of The Human Entrepreneur