Business South Africa
Description of Work:
Allon Raiz was schooled in Durban and completed his B.Comm and B.Comm honours degree in Marketing at the University of Natal Pietermaritzburg. Allon is studying toward his Doctorate in Innovation and Entrepreneurship.

Allon started his career working at his parent’s factory. During his time there he was moved around, spending time in the different departments to learn all the facets of running a big business. He finally landed up running the factory floor with over 200 factory workers under his responsibility at the age of 22.

In 1991 Allon decided that he wanted to develop experience in the retail sector and approached a friend for a job in his ailing retail clothing chain. It was here that Allon truly found his niche, as he redesigned the stores, restocked the shelves and started running innovative promotions. The stores began to boom. The local press did an article on one of the whacky promotions. As fait would have it, this article was read by a local multi billionaire businessman.

In late 1991 Allon was approached by this businessman to start any business of his choosing. The “New York Sausage Factory” was established in early 1992 as the first retail hotdog chain in South Africa. A year later the business was sold and Allon was injected into an ailing vehicle security company as Marketing Director.

Within one year the company had grown 10 times its size. Allon spent the next 7 years at this company before leaving to set up Raizcorp. During his time at the vehicle security company, Allon managed to turn around two other small companies which would become the two pioneering companies within Raizcorp (A private incubator company). Today Allon is involved in over 30 different businesses.

Raizcorp is one of the only privately held profitable business incubators on the African continent.

Allon spends his spare time mentoring and lecturing young South Africans on his true love , entrepreneurship.

Some Achievements:

• Allon is studying his PHD in Entrepreneurship and Innovation
• In March 2004, Allon was appointed to the pioneering Exco of SABTIA (South African Incubator Association).
• In 2004 Allon was nominated for the Jonnie Walker Entrepreneur of the year.
• In 2005 Allon was asked to speak in London, at the SA High Commission, on Entrepreneurship for the Homecoming Revolution and was voted best speaker.
• Allon is a key note speaker around South Africa for the SME survey.
• Allon mentors for the ABSA incubation fund, and runs Entrepreneurial workshops for Momentum.
• Allon runs a weekly national radio show on the subject of entrepreneurship called “Raizen Entrepreneurs”
• In August 2005, he was invited by the SA Government department of Trade and Industry to talk on the subject of entrepreneurship at a woman’s day conference in Capetown.
• Allon is a strong proponent of Female Entrepreneurship and also speaks for the woman’s organisation HIRS.
• In October 2005 Allon was invited to speak in 6 cities in India, Dubai, Nepal and Pakistan on the subject of entrepreneurship and has been invited by over 40 cities around the world to do the same.
• Oprah Magazine have a regular feature every month with Allon as the Entrepreneurial Coach.
• Allon is a founding member of the international YEO (Young Entrepreneurs Organisation) in South Africa.
• In 2005 Allon authored the “Entrepreneur’s Inspiration pack” (11,000 units sold)
• In 2006 Allon authored “The Young Entrepreneur’s Inspiration Pack” and “Female Entrepreneur’s Inspiration pack” (8000 units sold)
• In 2006 Allon co-authored “Sharing the Passion –Conversations with Coaches”
• In 2006 Allon was invited by the World Bank to speak on Incubation and Entrepreneurship in Ghana at the World Conference.
• Allon is an Adjudicator for the TWIB (Technology for Woman in Business) awards(DTI) and in 2006 was the main sponsor.
• Allon is a Judge for the prestigious Ernst and Young Emerging Entrepreneur Awards 2006.
• Allon is a regular contributor for the Magazine Whizz Kids, writing on the links between Attention Deficit Disorder and Entrepreneurship.
• In 2007 Allon will be hosting a Prime Time reality show called “Rize Mzansi” (source allonraiz.co.za)