<p>Multinational IT firm IBM announced on Monday that its Global Entrepreneur Programme is now being extended to next-generation entrepreneurs in South Africa for the first time.</p><p>"The Global Entrepreneur Programme is focused on helping early-stage entrepreneurs to capture emerging business opportunities, especially in fast-growing industries such as energy, utilities, healthcare and telecommunications," independent software vendor and developer relations lead for IBM South Africa, Clayton Booysen, said in a statement.</p><p>South Africa is one of only 10 additional countries - including Brazil, China, Mexico, Spain and Germany - around the world to join the firm's programme.</p><p>Start-ups that are privately held, have been in business for five years or less and are actively engaged in developing a software-based product or service, are being called on to sign up for the global initiative.</p><p><a href="http://www.southafrica.info/business/trends/newbusiness/ibm-110912.htm">Keep reading...</a></p>