BSE Tshipidi program ululated
Domestic companies have heaped praises on Botswana Stock Exchange Tshipidi Mentorship Program, saying it equips mentees with the necessary technical skills to be well rounded companies, ready to go public when the time comes.
This week, BSE hosted the first 2023 session of TMP for selected companies. According to BSE, the objective of the program is to provide practical training to potential issuers through a comprehensive and interactive program that covers the key themes necessary to position a company to list on the BSE. The program is administered by the experts within the listing ecosystem and seeks to bring the potential issuers closer to the listings advisers, investors and leaders of already listed companies.
The inception of this program is largely attributed to the fact that SMEs in Botswana do not operate as corporates across various elements and structures.
One of the selected companies for this year’s TMP is Leverage Point, a software development company with contracts in Botswana and the Southern African region. “We are truly honoured and grateful to the Botswana Stock Exchange team to have been accepted into the 2023 cohort. This opportunity will assist us in steering Leverage Point towards its intended growth, sustainable company and efforts reflecting our ongoing commitment to continue our pursuit of excellence and expand in the financial markets,” said Motshidisi Kenneth Setimela, founder and Managing Director of the company.
'This programme will equip us with a deeper understanding of stock trading strategies, risk management, and regulatory compliance, enabling us to better serve our clients and navigate the evolving landscape of capital markets,' Stimela further told Botswana Guardian that being admitted to the programme is a significant achievement for Leverage Point. “By participating in the Tshipidi Mentorship Programme (TMP), Leverage Point aims to enhance its understanding of financial markets, investment opportunities, and capitalizes on the potential benefits for both its clients and stakeholders. We are grateful to the Botswana Stock Exchange (BSE) team for having selected us as part of the TMP 2023 cohort,” said a content Setimela.
Thabo Majola, the Executive Chairman of Pule Funeral Group, is equally excited for being part of the programme, especially that the company he leads plans to list on the BSE by 2026. He underscored the profound significance of this opportunity, emphasizing that the program enables Pule Funeral Group to embark on a journey of corporatization and acclimatization. “By gaining access to equity finance, the company can execute its strategic vision of operational expansion, thereby offering enhanced funeral services to the people of Botswana. Furthermore, the TMP instills robust governance structures and empowers the team with the ability to articulate a comprehensive business strategy, thus ensuring sustainable growth and enduring success,” said Majola. Pule Funeral Group operates three subsidiaries which are coffin manufacturing, insurance and funeral services.
'The TMP, a comprehensive and interactive program, equips potential issuers with the practical expertise and insights essential for positioning their companies for a successful listing on the BSE. By facilitating direct interactions with experts from the listing ecosystem, investors, and leaders of already listed companies, the TMP empowers participants like Pule Funeral Group to navigate the IPO process strategically.'
Commenting at a previous session of TMP, BSE CEO, Thapelo Tsheole said: “As a strategy to support SME access to finance and attract listings, the BSE has resolved to set up a mentorship program to corporatize and acclimatize in order to ultimately list on the BSE. Since inception, this Program has grown in popularity as many business owners seek to capacitate themselves with key learnings necessary to position their companies to raise capital through the public market. In due time, we hope to reap the rewards of this exercise by paving the way for more issuances in our local capital markets, and thus, contribute towards the development of Botswana’s private sector.”