As ORT Jet celebrates 20 years of supporting entrepreneurs, we look back on a transformed business world, and forward to an even more dynamic future. From a humble start with just 16 businesses, we now support 260 annually, a reflection of both our growth and the evolving needs of South Africa’s small business sector.
2005 A Slower, Simpler Business Era
In 2005, running a small business was vastly different. The internet was gaining ground but still a tool, not a lifeline. Most business was done face-to-face. Marketing meant flyers, radio, and word-of-mouth. “Going online” was optional, not essential.
There were few digital tools. Cloud computing didn’t exist. Business software was expensive and complicated. Entrepreneurs often had to navigate their journey alone, with limited access to mentorship, funding, and innovation.
Global trade was growing, but most small businesses stayed local. Sustainability and social responsibility weren’t seen as core strategies, they were “nice-to-haves.” The workforce was office-bound, 9 to 5, with little flexibility or remote options.
2025 A Fast, Flexible, and Fiercely Competitive Landscape
Today, everything is different and faster. Digital is the default. Social media is a marketing machine. E-commerce platforms allow businesses to reach global customers from a laptop. AI, automation, and analytics are part of everyday operations. Cloud technology has levelled the playing field, giving small businesses access to the same tools as global corporations.
Funding options have expanded too. From crowdfunding to microloans to impact investment, entrepreneurs can now build financial ecosystems that work for them. The rise of ESG awareness has made sustainability a competitive advantage, not just a compliance checkbox.
The workforce has changed dramatically. Remote work, hybrid models, freelancing they’re not trends, they’re the new standard. Teams are more diverse, dynamic, and globally distributed than ever before.
ORT Jet 20 Years of Guiding Entrepreneurs Through Change
Through all of this, ORT Jet has remained a constant adapting alongside the businesses we support. From mentorship and training to access to markets and funding advice, we’ve helped entrepreneurs survive disruption and seize opportunity.
We’ve seen first-hand the impact of support. Businesses that joined us years ago as start-ups are now job creators, mentors, and community leaders. Our alumni both entrepreneurs and mentors are a powerful ecosystem of resilience, experience, and generosity.
What’s Next for Small Business?
Looking ahead, small businesses must prepare for a future shaped by:
- Continued digital acceleration, including AI integration in everything from customer service to inventory.
- Sustainability as strategy, not just ethics with consumers demanding transparency and responsibility.
- Skills-based hiring replacing degree requirements, and flexible work becoming a long-term fixture.
- Global-local hybrids, where small businesses trade globally but connect deeply to their local roots.
- Resilience-building in a world of climate uncertainty, economic shifts, and technological leaps.
ORT Jet will continue to walk this journey with entrepreneurs guiding, adapting, innovating.
Celebrating a Legacy, Building the Future
As we mark this 20-year milestone, we’re not just reflecting we’re reinvesting. Our mission remains: to give small businesses the tools, mentorship, and network they need to grow, create jobs, and shape South Africa’s economic future.
The business world has changed. So have we. And we’re just getting started.