Startup Coach of the Year | Coaching Entrepreneurs Worldwide
Simple, Practical, Results-Driven Coaching For Entrepreneurs, Founders, And Incubation Programmes.
Winner Startup Coach of the Year 2025 - African Startup Ecosystem Builder Awards
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Winner - Startup Coach of the Year 2025
I Don’t Teach People to Fish.
I Make Fishermen.
Don’t let coaching overcomplicate things. Willem’s approach is simpler and more human.
He starts with you. Because when the person behind the business grows, the business follows. That is something Willem has seen happen time and again over the past 25 years.
His methods are practical and honest. There is no jargon, no complicated theories, and no pretending things are easy when they are not. Willem meets you where you are, helps you see what you already have, and works with you to turn that into action and income.
That is why his clients get results quickly. It is not magic. It is what happens when someone truly listens, asks the right questions, and cares enough to tell you the truth.
Whether you are testing your first business idea, growing an established company, or running an incubation programme, the starting point is always the same: The human behind the business.
1. Coaching for Aspiring and Early-Stage Entrepreneurs
You have an idea. Maybe you already have some business going. But you don’t have a working business yet. Let’s change that.
Starting a business is exciting, but it can also feel overwhelming. You might have a great idea, but no idea where to begin. Maybe you have been trying for a while, but nothing seems to stick. Or perhaps you are still working a job and building something on the side, wondering if it will ever take off.
Willem has helped hundreds of entrepreneurs through this exact stage. His coaching helps you reduce risk, costs, and the time it takes to get your business moving.
No complicated business plans. No waiting for funding. Just clear, practical steps you can take right now with what you already have.
What My Clients Say
“I always thought running a business was impossible while working. With Willem’s guidance, I gained clarity on my business goals, built confidence and started a side hustle within a week that is now giving me a steady monthly income.”
— Ditlhora Mashaba
“When I first started, I often felt stuck in the details or unsure of how to move forward. Willem completely shifted that. He showed me how to reframe challenges as opportunities, think bigger without losing focus, and stay consistent with steps that actually matter.”
— Esmi, Education Entrepreneur
Results Snapshots
“I started my cleaning business two weeks ago, and I have 10 paying customers.” — Jermina Namasixole
“In just two weeks, I have 16 paying customers.” — Lindiwe Mosae
“I only had a few clients. Now I have many new clients and my income is growing every week.” — Cebsile Shangase
2. Coaching for Established Entrepreneurs
Your business is running. But something is not working the way it should. Let’s fix that.
You have customers. You have been doing this for a while. But somewhere along the way, things started to feel harder. Maybe growth has stalled. Maybe you are working longer hours but seeing fewer results. Maybe you have run out of ideas, and the business that once excited you now just drains you.
Or maybe things are going well, and you want to go bigger, but you are not sure how to get to the next level without breaking what already works.
Willem has been an entrepreneur for over 25 years. He has experience across manufacturing, online, and creative industries. He has lived through the stuck moments, the hard pivots, and the breakthroughs. His coaching helps you get unstuck, find new growth, and build a business that works for you rather than one that consumes you.
What My Clients Say
“Willem can cut through layers and find truths in a way that I have not seen before. The effect on my business has been fantastic. We changed my management style to enhance and grow the business.
We are operating much more efficiently, serving clients better and providing innovative solutions. Thanks to this approach, the Covid-19 lockdown did not affect the business and offered additional opportunities.”
— Wessie van Westhuizen, Business Owner, Willems & Van Der Westhuizen
“Willem’s coaching has had a profound impact on both my business and personal growth. He helped me overcome self-limiting beliefs that were holding me back.
He encouraged me to tap into my strengths and build confidence in my abilities, particularly in communicating with customers and stakeholders.”
— Lebo, Agri-Entrepreneur
“You will find that Willem is wise and has the patience of an old man, and he comes with a bag full of surprising experiences.
He will make you move out of your own way, and you will see how you can make quantum leap decisions in your business. His philosophy is that you come first and your business comes second.”
— Tlamelo Mathe
3. Coaching for Incubation and Entrepreneurship Development Programmes
Your programme needs a coach who delivers results. Not theory. Not motivation. Results.
Running an incubation or entrepreneurship development programme is hard enough. Finding a coach who actually moves the needle for your participants is even harder. Too many coaches deliver inspiration without action, or theory without outcomes.
The results speak for themselves. Participants build confidence, start taking action within days, generate income, and develop the long-term resilience your programme needs to demonstrate to funders and stakeholders.
Willem delivers coaching in group sessions, one-on-one, or a combination of both, depending on what your programme needs. All coaching is available online via Zoom or in person if possible, making it easy to integrate into programmes anywhere in the world. If you need Willem on-site, travel and accommodation are at the client’s expense.
What My Clients Say
“Mr Gous has played a pivotal part in the success of the programme by giving participants practical, actionable entrepreneurial knowledge. We have seen wonderful developments in our stakeholders and we are now achieving the programme objectives of developing and nurturing sustainable arts businesses.”
— Jessica Denyschen, CEO, Arts and Culture Trust
“I would highly recommend Willem. What stood out most was how he created an engaging, interactive space where students felt both challenged and supported.”
— Phumela Phungula, Innovation Office, Nelson Mandela University
“Willem provided students with practical, applicable, appropriate and implementable steps to starting their businesses. His methodology is engaging, his enthusiasm is refreshing, and his knowledge on the subject matter is invigorating!”
— Hasan Evans, Hub Manager, Regent Enterprise Development Hub
“He challenges conventional thinking, showing that successful businesses can be launched with minimal capital while equipping participants with actionable tools to turn ideas into income-generating ventures.”
— Dr Jabulani Nkosi, Assistant Director: Business Incubator, University of the Free State
What Participants Say
“The programme taught me how to engage with customers directly. I also learned that I did not need funding to start a business.” — Maria Marobolla
“Before the programme I never thought having a business could be this easy and that I was even capable of starting a business. Since day one of attending, I have identified means and ways of making money.” — Kayakazi Luduli
“I learned that the most important thing is to take action and do the work. That we have all what we need to start a business and the resources are all within us.” — Leonard Dibo
“Willem was able to make us understand that all we actually really need is a simple business idea and the effort to do it right now.” — Archipe Bomboro
4. Training Course: Public Speaking for Founders
Because a brilliant idea deserves a brilliant pitch.
You can have the best product, the smartest business model, and the strongest team. But if you cannot stand up and explain it clearly, you will lose the deal, the investor, or the client.
Most founders have never been taught how to speak in public. They wing it. They ramble. They hide behind slides full of text. And when the moment matters most, their nerves take over and the message gets lost.
Willem Gous is both an award-winning entrepreneur and a global professional speaker. That combination is rare. He does not just teach public speaking as a skill. He understands the pressure founders face when they stand up in front of investors, clients, or cameras, because he has been there himself hundreds of times.
Public Speaking for Founders is a practical training experience that helps you speak with confidence, tell stories that connect, handle tough questions, and present your ideas simply and persuasively. It is a lifelong leadership skill that goes far beyond pitching.
Delivery Options
3-Hour Group Masterclass: A high-impact introduction for groups of founders.
Full-Day Intensive: Hands-on skill development with individual feedback.
3-Session Coaching Package: Deeper transformation, available in hybrid or online format.
This training can be booked by individual founders or by incubation programmes as part of their group work.
For Incubation Programmes
When your founders speak well, your programme shines. Investors gain confidence. Media coverage improves. And your graduates go on to represent your incubator at conferences, investor meetings, and media appearances for years to come. When they speak poorly, it reflects on everything you have built.
Why Willem?
In a world full of coaches, credentials matter. Willem does not ask you to take his word for it. His track record speaks for itself.
Awards and Recognition
- Winner: Startup Coach of the Year 2025, Africa Startup Ecosystem Builders Summit and Awards
- Winner: Startup Mentor of the Year 2023, ASEB Awards
- Startup Mentor of the Year Finalist 2022
- Global Professional Speaker and member of the Professional Speakers Association of Southern Africa (PSASA)
- Top 50 Global Thought Leader on Lean Startup, Thinkers360 (2022, 2023, 2025, 2026)
- Top 50 Global Thought Leader on Careers, Thinkers360 (2025)
- 3x Author
- Master’s degree, University of Liverpool (UK)
- 25+ years of entrepreneurial experience across manufacturing, online, and creative industries
About Willem
Willem Gous is a professional speaker, facilitator, coach, consultant, and author based in Johannesburg, South Africa. He works with new entrepreneurs, existing founders, and organisations worldwide.
His approach is built on a simple belief: when you invest in the person, the business follows. He has spent over 25 years building businesses, failing at some, succeeding at others, and learning from all of them. That real-world experience is what he brings to every coaching conversation.
Willem is also a single father and a certified firewalking instructor. He starts his day at 3am, not because someone told him to, but because he genuinely loves the work he does.
He has spoken at and worked with organisations including Old Mutual, Vodacom, UNESCO, University of Liverpool, Discovery, Sanlam, HSBC, Samsung, Sandoz (Novartis), LeaderEx, IBM, HR Indaba Africa, Nestle, AdTech Group, Leaderonics, Arts and Culture Trust, SA Innovation Summit, and NWU.
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