Events are viewed as important platforms to engage, network and grow innovation actors footprints across entrepreneurship ecosystems. High-quality events not only generate awareness of opportunities for entrepreneurs and innovators but act as a much-needed catalyst for partnerships and potential investors. SAIS Connected Hubs has developed a resource for addressing the skills gap in event planning for innovation actors and entrepreneurship supporters titled “A Practical Guide to Successful Event Production: Creating Vibrant Entrepreneurship Ecosystems”. The publication is a step by step guide to creating, planning and hosting successful events in the innovation and entrepreneurship space. The manual is based on event management experience of staging the Annual Southern Africa Innovation Forum (ASAIF), which brought more than 120 attendants and 23 speakers representing eight countries.

It incorporates best practices of professional event production as shared by Slush and SA Innovation Summit. Organised by SAIS 2 and Connected Hubs ASAIFthe event brought together a melting pot of like-minded stakeholders such as startups, established entrepreneurs, funders, representatives of public and private sectors from across SADC. The manual has packaged valuable tips for those operating in the field of innovation and entrepreneurship support. Offering practical tools to apply when planning events such as pitching competitions, startup festivals and innovation days, the manual is easy to read. Sections of the manual focusing on selecting event themes, speakers selection, venues, running logistics and doing marketing offer real-time solutions to the end user, including scenarios and tools to guide the  planning process. 

The manual is available for download on the SAIS Connected Hubs page on the SAIS website