Jump Platform provides digital support to SMMES in the Western Cape

Jump, the mobile app developed by the Western Cape Department of Economic Development and Tourism, to help small businesses in the province is now live.

To launch the app, Minister of Economic Opportunities, Beverley Schäfer, jumped out of a plane at 9000 feet. Footage of the jump can be viewed here:https://drive.google.com/open?id=18kYiUz1EKBFkOjuwvdn4a5xbmtfz_ZK1 

With Jump, knowing where to get business support -- and see what business and networking events are happening in the Western Cape -- just got whole lot easier for small business entrepreneurs.

With the user-friendly feel of a mobile phone app, but using less data, Jump is a new way for entrepreneurs, business associations, mentors and municipalities to connect, collaborate and communicate.

Funded by the Western Cape Government, Jump features a “what’s near me” Google map showing the location and details of mentors, SMME support organisations, business events and local municipal business support offices.

Other features include a daily selection of 20 Western Cape tenders, a business health-check quiz, and a Biz-Assist section with direct links to often-used business support organisations.

Jump is now “live” at www.bizjump.co.za – SMMEs, business organisations and business mentors are able to register on the platform and have access to the content and map. Users can also “filter” their map view to see only specific types of content.

Minister Schäfer said: “We’ve kick-started Jump as a digital way to give SMMEs and the people who support them, a broader view of what exists on the ground and on-line.”

“Now small business owners, business organisations and anyone involved in supporting them can get onto Jump and be more visible. Mentors can use it to get new clients, business associations can use it to promote events and get new members, and SMMEs can use it to see what events are happening as well as find useful tools and tips.

“This is just the start of Jump. Our longer-term plan is to build up the content and features of Jump, with strategic partners, to help entrepreneurs become more digitally enabled and to have better access to tools and support.

“Jump is free to use, and we welcome ideas and suggestions from everyone involved in the SMME space how we can improve and develop the platform.”

Elona Hlatshwayo, a small business coach said “Networking and keeping up to date with what’s happening locally and in the broader world of business is really important for small businesses. Jump provides a great way to do this.”

Partners involved in the development and roll-out of Jump include the Small Enterprise Development Agency, Google, the University of the Western Cape’s Co-Lab for digital inclusion, the City of Cape Town (as well as other municipalities in the Western Cape), SA Business Hub, Pepper Potts (a software provider for SMMEs) and the Cape Higher Education Consortium.

To register on Jump, go to www.bizjump.co.za and follow the sign-up instructions. For further information or assistance, you can also emailsupport@bizjump.co.za.

Members of the media who require unedited footage of the skydive are requested to kindly make contact with Bianca Capazorio.