Allon Raiz’s Lose the Business Plan Launched in Johannesburg (Gallery)

by Nina on Oct 4th, 2010

Allon Raiz launched his new book on entrepreneurship in South Africa, Lose the Business Plan, at his Raizcorp offices last week. A large, lively crowd gathered to toast the author and the principles he espouses. Don’t miss the Facebook gallery of guests!

So what, exactly, are the principles that have made Raiz such a sought-after figure in SA’s business world? It boils down to a belief in people and their empowerment. It’s the entrepreneurs themselves who determine whether they’ll succeed or fail, guests heard at the launch – not their blasted business plans!

Business Day recently picked up on Raiz’s theme:

In a very different context, entrepreneur Allon Raiz made this point in his book, Lose the Business Plan. The book looks at what it takes to be an entrepreneur and concludes that people are everything. Success depends on the entrepreneur and not on his business plan.

Raiz, who runs a business incubator, says that banks, ironically, show no interest in the people and are only prepared to finance entrepreneurs on the basis of a business plan. If business plans were the vital ingredient, businesses would all succeed, but Raiz says 96 percent of small businesses fail.

“Where’s the logic here?” he asks.

Complete article in Business Day

Raiz has won numerous awards for innovation and entrepreneurship and has been invited to speak on the subject of business incubation around the world. Don’t miss his book!

Facebook gallery