Centre for Entrepreneurship

To be a leader in entrepreneurship research to build evidence-based and application-driven model for catalysing an inclusive Gauteng Entrepreneurship Ecosystem (GECO) in partnerships with Entrepreneurial Support Organizations (ESOs) committed to supporting innovative technology driven high-growth start-up entrepreneurs and new venture creation through addressing the gaps in Gauteng, South African and Sub Saharan African entrepreneurial ecosystems.

With a productive entrepreneurial mindset, our mission is to help build a University entrepreneurial approach that fosters collaboration, proactiveness and acceleration of innovation contributing to building a Gauteng Entrepreneurial Ecosystem that drives early-stage and start-up entrepreneurial economy to make Gauteng the most entrepreneurial region in South Africa and the on the continent. We do this by cultivating a transformational entrepreneurial support infrastructure, research, entrepreneurial capability development, skills and learning that promote a new kind of entrepreneurs and sustainable entrepreneurial ecosystem that inspire tertiary students and graduates from diverse backgrounds and disciplines from the WBS, the broad Wits University community, Gauteng, South Africa and the rest of the sub Saharan Africa region to pursue solutions for South Africa, African and global problems  through entrepreneurial innovative business solutions. 

• Productive, Fair, and Responsible Purpose – to be a new venture creation and entrepreneurial research and capability development centre, Incubator and accelerator anchored on key tenets of responsible and principled entrepreneurship.
• Client Focus – to maintain a razor-sharp focus on the development of start-up entrepreneurs and their ventures as an essential critical success factor.
• Integrity - to elevate entrepreneurship as a noble vocation that is for its practitioners, a key part of their path to sustainable livelihoods and society.
• Innovate & Sustain Leadership - to spearhead the improvement of the entrepreneurial ecosystem as well as to empower and inspire entrepreneurial leaders.
• Professionalism - to foster a  professional approach to entrepreneurship research,  development through best practices in capability and new venture creation(NVC).
• Excellence – to build a culture of excellence in Entrepreneurial Support Organisations (ESOs) and new venture creation Business Development Services (BDS). 
• Community Service - to effectively help ESOs at  grassroots level  to make an impact.
• Fun - to make the entrepreneurship experience be one of enjoyment and fulfilment and to help youths and women find and grow their inner entrepreneur.