Where The Most Successful African Entrepreneurs Started

By Robert Rogers


Entrepreneurship is the trending phenomenon in Africa and the world at large for the youthful generation. The idea is to be job creators and self employed other than being employed. Most people give the excuse of shortage of capital. However, from the stories of the most successful African entrepreneurs you will realize that capital is never an issue. These icons built multi-million empires from nothing only that they were driven by zeal to accomplish their dreams.

When civil war hit Liberia, Fomba Trawally was forced to seek refuge in Gambia from 1989 until he returned to Liberia in 1991. From his life savings of 200 dollars, he started selling rubber slippers in Monrovia. It has taken him fifteen years within which he has diversified into import of cosmetics from allover the world. He also established a paper and toiletry manufacturing company that it turning-over more than a million dollar every year.

The Ethiopian neighborhood of Zenabwork and its poverty did not discourage Bethlehem Alemu from growing her footwear business allover African and beyond. The poor Ethiopian girl borrowed 10,000 dollars from relatives and friends and began recycling materials and making shoes. SoleRebels is now a recognized African brand with a turnover of over a million dollars every year and selling globally.

IrokoTV is fast becoming a common name in Africa and competing with global movie streaming brands. This is the work of Jason Njoku the co-founder and CEO of the Nollywood movies specializing outfit. The online streaming venture has attracted global attention and investments including the latest 90,000 pounds aimed at turning it into the biggest African brand. The only capital Jason needed was an idea shared with the right people.

Adii Pienaar is the perfect example of bootstrapping. This is where a business starts with practically no coin. The South African serial entrepreneur started WooThemes at age 23 while still in university. He consulted for other companies and used the proceeds to boost WooThemes. The company was recently sold for 30 million dollars to an American tech giant based on the internet.

Most 19 year old are partying, taking photos with hash tags or pursuing mundane courses in university. Patrick used his sunset teen year to set up a Chinese mobile phone selling business. He left for China with 1,800 dollars as capital, that was borrowed from his mother and topped by a friend. Today, the Tanzanian entrepreneur owns the largest solar company in Eastern Africa minting in excess of fifteen million dollars in 2015.

What comes to mind when you see an empty water bottle or disposed plastic container? Lorna Rutto from Kenya saw a remedy for the fast depleting forests in the name of providing wooden poles. With SEED funding, he has built a million dollar company that is in full scale manufacturing, employing thousands and conserving the environment.

It is impossible to exhaust the spectacular entrepreneurship stories in Africa. Anna Phosa the pig farmer from South Africa, Aliko Dangote and his 500,000 naira loan from his grandfather, the bootstrapping Ghanaian entrepreneur by the name Fred Deegbe and others. They only demonstrate that the excuse of capital is lame. It only requires hard work and passion.




About the Author:



No comments: