Matlhogonolo Mongwa-Mouwane, founding father of Kalafhi Medical Middle in Botswana
From a Cape City clothes model backed by rugby captain Siya Kolisi to an organization commercialising goat meat in Zambia, we spotlight seven entrepreneurs constructing companies in Southern Africa.
1. Company to espresso: Surfer builds espresso chain in Namibia
Dennis de Moist is the founding father of Namibian espresso chain Slowtown. Upon deciding to go away his company profession, he listed the issues he was captivated with: browsing, Grand Prix, wine, meals, and occasional, and checked out every trade to see if he may spot a viable enterprise alternative. On the time, specialty espresso roasting was simply taking off in neighbouring South Africa however had not but discovered a foothold in Namibia. In October 2011, Slowtown opened its first store in a central and widespread spot in Swakopmund. At the moment, the corporate has a sequence of six stores. Learn the total interview
2. Botswana: Physician-turned-entrepreneur capitalises on healthcare alternatives
When Matlhogonolo Mongwa-Mouwane based Kalafhi Medical Middle in Botswana in 2018, she saved prices to a minimal. She was the one worker and kept away from spending on décor or any extras till income permitted. “It doesn’t truly price some huge cash [to open a private practice],” says Mongwa-Mouwane. “We’re all the time so afraid to begin as a result of we envision the larger image or the place we need to find yourself being [that] we don’t permit ourselves … to begin with the naked minimal.” She used her personal financial savings to purchase the essential gear wanted like desks, beds, blood strain and very important indicators machines.
This technique paid off. At the moment, Kalafhi has 4 clinics, three pharmacies, a physiotherapy centre, and an aesthetic clinic. Learn the total interview
3. Chilli sauce from Eswatini finds world success
From its base in Eswatini (previously generally known as Swaziland), Black Mamba, a chilli sauce firm, is tapping into the rising world demand for spicy tastes and the growing attract of African meals. To this point, it has exported to over a dozen nations, with the UK, Norway, and Germany standing out as key markets. Claudia Castellanos, co-founder and CEO of Black Mamba, notes that from its inception, the corporate aimed its merchandise on the export market.
The founders shifted to a premium market positioning for his or her merchandise after dealing with monetary challenges early on as a consequence of incorrect pricing. Initially, Black Mamba merchandise had been priced to drive quantity development, however by 2014, the corporate’s monetary state of affairs was dire. Nevertheless, they managed to restructure the enterprise and launched a brand new method by mid-2015. “By altering our pricing technique by rebranding, we managed to make Black Mamba worthwhile once more. We additionally realised that it’s not all the time about quantity, typically it’s about charging the proper value for the proper market. So I’d somewhat promote much less at a value that it must be offered, than promote at a value that’s not good for me,” Claudia famous. Learn the total interview
4. A South African clothes enterprise constructed with slightly assist from a rugby captain
Freedom of Motion is a South African clothes and niknaks model co-founded by the Boezaart brothers. With South African rugby captain Siya Kolisi as a minority shareholder, the corporate has expanded to 21 shops and has a rising worldwide presence.
Whereas the corporate has discovered its stride lately, co-founder and CEO Léan Boezaart says the preliminary 5 years had been significantly tough. In these early days, the brothers led a modest life-style, with their first self-issued pay cheque amounting to round R8,000 (about $425), which, as Boezaart factors out, was hardly sufficient to stay on. Throughout this time, Boezaart, who married in 2012, supplemented his earnings with consulting work to make ends meet.
“It was robust since you begin evaluating your self to different chartered accountants who are actually shopping for homes and vehicles and whatnot, and you might be sweating it out … However we totally believed that we may take this factor to the subsequent degree … You don’t essentially want a magical concept. I imply, we didn’t reinvent the wheel, leather-based luggage have been round for years. However we took a leap of religion and backed ourselves.” Learn the total interview
5. Zambian entrepreneur faucets into goat meat market
Zambian entrepreneur Paul Nyambe based Zamgoat with the purpose of commercialising goat meat, a product that was surprisingly scarce in supermarkets regardless of widespread goat farming within the nation. Zamgoat shortly discovered success, experiencing rising demand for pre-packaged goat meat. To fulfill this demand, the corporate established a community of smallholder farmers from whom it sources goats. With monetary backing from varied entities, together with the African Improvement Financial institution and the World Financial institution, Zamgoat arrange a goat slaughterhouse and processing facility. The corporate has additionally launched a quick-service restaurant chain, Zamgoat Xpress. Learn the total interview
6. Zimbabwe: Fixing farmers’ transport points with electrical tricycles
Mobility for Africa’s low-cost electrical tricycles cater to the transportation wants of small-scale farmers in rural Zimbabwe. “We created Mobility for Africa to assist enhance the standard of life, create financial alternatives and enhance access-to-market for these rural communities,” says managing director and founder, Shantha Bloemen.
The corporate is at the moment centered on deploying fleets of electrical tricycles, known as Hambas, with off-grid battery charging and swapping. “We goal areas the place there’s already entry to the facility grid and construct photo voltaic stations to complement the prevailing electrical energy provide,” Bloemen explains.
Mobility for Africa has three totally different income fashions: farmers or small enterprise homeowners can group collectively to lease the tricycles on a month-to-month foundation, go for a lease-to-purchase mannequin, or use the tricycles to offer transportation and logistics providers on a fee foundation. Learn the total interview
7. This entrepreneur went the place no person goes to begin dried fruit enterprise in Mozambique
“We go the place no person goes,” reads a line on Mozambique-based fruit-drying firm AfriFruta’s web site. It adequately captures the journey of founder Jaco le Roux over the previous decade or so. In a distant space with little infrastructure and a dearth of educated staff, he created a dried fruit enterprise from scratch. AfriFruta is a producer of natural dried mango and coconut oil, amongst a number of different associated merchandise. Its manufacturing facility is situated about 90 minutes south of the coastal city of Inhambane. Learn the total interview
