AllWorld Network and Endeavor SA have released their list of 34 of South Africa’s fastest growing companies that are seen as the leading indicators of the country’s future economy.

“The South Africa 34 | 100 Fast Facts” list is based on the first 34 qualified applicants for the South Africa 100, which offers the first snapshot of how South Africa is creating new economic value and what the immediate constraints are faced by growth entrepreneurs.

At the release of the list last week, Malik Fal, MD Of Endeavor SA said: “Today we showcase thirty-four companies who epitomise what it means to be a high impact entrepreneur – these are dynamic, innovative, nimble enterprises that are spurring growth, creating jobs and driving the country’s economy.”

The mission of AllWorld Network and Endeavor SA, who have teamed up to create the South Africa 34 | 100, is to find and credential the fastest growing companies, put them on the global radar screen, and have market opportunities come to them. AllWorld calls this Visibility Economics.

In the coming months they will identify hundreds of other companies who are showing entrepreneurial growth and potential and unveil the 100 South African fast-growth companies to the world.

“The challenge for emerging countries is that their growth companies stall at a small size because they are not known. What AllWorld does by bringing visibility to these enterprises is help power them forward. Eventually, these fast growing dynamic businesses become the foundation of a national economy,” said Deirdre M. Coyle, Jr., Co-founder of AllWorld Network.

The South Africa 34 is divided into 15 Ranked Companies and 19 Companies to Watch.

Each company competes for a spot on the list based on strenuous international criteria.

The 15 Ranked Companies meet AllWorld’s international criteria of size, age and
performance, and are ranked based on their sales growth between 2006 and 2009 (verified with audited statements or audit letters). There are 19 Companies to Watch – companies that show all the characteristics of a fast growth company but are too small or too young. These are companies we believe will become future contenders.

The findings for the South Africa 34 suggest that South Africa is a strong location for growth entrepreneurs, particularly in High-Tech and Telecommunications, and in PR, Media, and Marketing. The most stunning finding is their performance in 2009.

Defying the sluggishness of the global economy, almost every South Africa 34 company grew by 50% to 100% in 2009 (based on a comparison of 2008 audited numbers and 2009 self-reported numbers).

The South Africa 34 as a group has created more than 1,500 jobs since company
inception, and most of these jobs have been created in the last few years. Every one of the 34 companies expects to grow in 2010, with many expecting growth above 25%.

If the South Africa 34 continue growing at 30% a year, or more as they did in 2009, they will create 1,000 jobs in less than two years. However, the main constraint to growth most report is - finding qualified managers and employees.

This is a growth constraint experienced universally by growth companies, and there is an opportunity for job training programs, government and HR recruiting firms to serve the specific needs of these companies.

Against this backdrop of success, there are issues. The companies tend to be small relative to other AllWorld rankings of growth entrepreneurs, and offer less on the job training and profit sharing for managers and employees compared to their counterparts from other countries. Most striking is that as a group the founders are nearly all white.

The good news is that there is a dynamic group of black entrepreneurs on the Companies to Watch list that have the potential to grow locally, regionally and internationally.

Malik added, “Over the next few months, we will be building the foundation for a
national program that is truly representative of the dynamism of South Africa’s
entrepreneurial economy. Important nominating partners have already joined the process, among them: Cape Venture Partners and CGF Limited, but we need to have many more from all aspects of the business, development and BEE communities.”

The benefits to be gained from being ranked on the South Africa 100 and Africa 500 are significant. They include local and international media exposure; connection to a global network of entrepreneurs, business partners and potential investors; and powerful brand credentialling. By showcasing companies of world-class calibre, the South Africa 100 can also influence the world’s perceptions of the South African business environment, and change the way it thinks about doing business with Africa.

The interim group of South Africa 34 companies will also become part of the
AllWorldXchange - an exclusive G2GTM (Growth-to-Growth) community for the fastest growing companies in the world. AllWorldXchange will bring the emerging world’s successful entrepreneurs together in one place. This will be a new common market with unlimited growth potential.

Companies can apply to the South Africa 100 online (www.southafrica100.com).

The South Africa 34 | 100
Inter-Active Technologies
DISA Vascular (Pty) Ltd
Cura Software Solutions
Open Box Software (Pty) Ltd
Maxxor Software Services
SYNAQ (PTY) LTD
VentureWeb
Cambrient Internet Applications
Capsicum Culinary Studio
Integr8 IT (Pty) Ltd
BandT Steel
NoMU Brands (Pty.) Ltd
InnoVent Rental and Asset Management Solutions (Pty) Ltd
MorrisjonesandCo (Pty) Ltd
Avocado Vision
CellSmart Technologies
CGF Research Institute (Pty) Ltd
Cobb International (Pty) Ltd
ESET
Fashion Evolution Pty Ltd
Hooligans Kids Clothing
Hot Platinum (Pty) Ltd
I-Slices Manufacturing
IDI Technology Solutions
Kasty Gamezone
Majestic Interactive
NRM Consulting
Skyrove (Pty) Ltd
Spoken Ink Publishing CC
Stoned Cherrie Pictures CC
Studio 05 House of Fashion
Texcare Laundry and Dry
Vawdas promotions cc
Wetec (Pty) Ltd