Let’s get to know Devon J Clark, the CEO of Philtech Business Academy and Philtech Institute for Entrepreneurship NPC, a seasoned entrepreneur who has embraced the world of business since a young age. Hailing from Germiston, Johannesburg, Clark's first taste of entrepreneurship came in Grade 1 when he sold Anime water bottles and containers both at school and busy intersections on Delville Road. This early experience set the stage for his future ventures.
Clark's journey took a significant turn when his father started a business based on a contract, relying on a bank loan and a small loan from the bank manager to cover initial expenses. Inspired by his father's entrepreneurial spirit, Clark ventured into his own company after leaving school, eventually securing a distribution and sales contract with a national company. Through perseverance and a commitment to learning, he built another company from scratch, all while supporting fellow entrepreneurs along the way.
About Philtech Business Academy: Philtech Business Academy, a business that Clark describes as a lifestyle enterprise. Its mission is to provide a platform for individuals, particularly those who have faced disadvantages, to access transformative education and support. The birth of Philtech, an abbreviation for "Philanthropy through technology," stemmed from the desire to help aspiring entrepreneurs create generational wealth and become pioneers within their families.
The core focus of Philtech Business Academy lies in delivering quality education, aligning with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 4: Quality Education. However, being an institution dedicated to entrepreneurship, it also addresses Goal 8: Decent Work. Clark believes that one of the most effective ways to create decent work opportunities in Africa is by entrepreneurs themselves identifying gaps, conducting market research, and offering innovative solutions. Philtech aims to provide the necessary resources to fulfil this vision, although the journey is not without its challenges.
Challenges: Like any startup, Philtech faced obstacles such as securing capital, conducting research and development, defining a route to market, obtaining funding, and developing the platform itself while narrowing down the overall vision to reach the minimum viable product stage. Nevertheless, Clark embraces these hurdles as opportunities for growth and learning, understanding that each business venture is a unique experience.
A pivotal realization that motivated Clark and shaped Philtech's mission is the growing disconnect between traditional education and its relevance to real-world application. Consequently, Philtech is committed to delivering quality education with tangible outcomes, particularly in empowering individuals to become breadwinners and succeed in their entrepreneurial endeavours. By providing lifelong learning opportunities and comprehensive business services, Philtech stands ready to support entrepreneurs throughout their business journey, from conceptualization to building generational wealth.
The Business Offerings: To achieve its goals, Philtech offers not only Entrepreneurship Education (PhiltechEd) but also business solutions through PhiltechBiz. These offerings are conveniently accessible through a single online platform. Recently, Philtech relaunched its first course, which focuses on entrepreneurship mindset development and new venture creation. Additionally, a power-packed free short course titled "Unleashing Creativity: The Power of Counter-Intuitive Thinking" is available. The Fundamentals of Sustainable Entrepreneurship, the flagship course, emphasizes the role of business creativity and equips aspiring entrepreneurs with practical skills and knowledge. Blending traditional and online learning, Philtech provides students with textbooks and an interactive digital platform that incorporates real-world application, audio, and video content to enhance learning experiences.
Philtech's commitment to comprehensive support extends beyond education. The institute plans to launch an online course on Sustainable Business Planning, empowering entrepreneurs to set and achieve goals necessary for building a sustainable business. Through the Philtech website, www.philtech.academy, students can create profiles, engage in a "What's your entrepreneur personality" quiz, access textbooks shipped to their doorstep, unlock their business creativity, and even receive personalized feedback from business consultants on their self-created business plans.
Maintaining focus and motivation as an entrepreneur can be challenging, but Clark emphasizes the importance of discipline and continuous learning. He advises keeping a diary, documenting thoughts, ideas, and progress, as well as staying consistent in personal and industry-related growth. Clark credits his commitment to constant learning as one of the best practices he has adopted, whether through reading, watching informative content, or engaging in discussions. By shifting the focus from himself to the needs of Philtech as a business, Clark remains active and driven, working tirelessly to ensure the institute's success in fulfilling its mission to support others.
For aspiring entrepreneurs, Clark extends an invitation to engage with Philtech. Whether one is contemplating starting a business, has spotted an opportunity, or is seeking motivation for an existing venture, Philtech welcomes all. By following their online channels, participating in discussions, creating profiles, and joining the forum, individuals can tap into a community of like-minded entrepreneurs and engage in meaningful conversations. Clark envisions Philtech as a village that raises businesses, fostering collaboration and collective growth.
Moreover, Clark extends an open invitation to corporate entities with entrepreneurs as their customer base, emphasizing the value of partnerships. Collaborating in line with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 17: Partnership for the Goals, Philtech seeks to join forces with corporations to drive positive change and create a supportive ecosystem for entrepreneurship.
One can tell that Devon J Clark's entrepreneurial journey and his role as the CEO of Philtech Business Academy and Philtech Institute for Entrepreneurship NPC, exemplify a commitment to empowering individuals, especially those who face disadvantages, through quality education and comprehensive support. By combining traditional and online learning methodologies, Philtech strives to bridge the gap between education and real-world application, fostering a generation of entrepreneurs equipped to build sustainable businesses and create generational wealth. Through its innovative platform and collaborative approach, Philtech offers an inspiring vision of a supportive community that nurtures and uplifts entrepreneurs on their path to success.