The First National Bank in collaboration with Sunday Times have adjudged James Lees’ Advantage Learn as the winner of the second edition of Sunday Times FNB Shark Tank – a business plan competition organised to provide financial and advertising resources worth R150,000 ($10,000) for young entrepreneurs in KwaZulu-Natal.

Terry Rosenberg, one of the judges while presenting the award said: “We thought you had a very well thought out case and the fact that you are in the market and its proven already is a good idea.”

He also commended the group of finalists on their business plans which incorporated a strong theme of “social good and profitability.

Advantage Learn was started in 2012 to offer an alternative for students who wished to study Advanced Programme (AP) Maths after it was discontinued by the Department of Education. While AP Maths remained the focus, Advantage Learn is developing a broader educational focus via its online platform which also offers accessibility to distant learners.

Advantage Learn’s first online course realised a R1-million turnover in six months, with the company achieving a 100% year-on-year revenue growth since 2013. The three to five-year goal is to reach more than 100 000 learners.

The contest, which is the second of its kind was aimed at helping to nurture and empower young entrepreneurs with the best investment-worthy business ideas in the province. The competition was innovated by the collaboration between the Editor of Sunday Time’s SPICE and the FBN’s provincial head, Preggie Pillay. SPICE is a monthly margazine in the Sunday Times which celebrates accomplishments in KZN.