Q: Can you tell us about your business? 

A: I am the director of an engineering artisan school business called Galel Training and Development Pty Ltd. Our focus is on welding. 

Q: What inspired your business and how old is it now? 

A: I work in the engineering space and as an engineer, no matter where I go to, the lack of technical artisans has always been a challenge to me. I also work in an area that has a high unemployment rate so the idea was to equip communities to meet industry needs while empowering themselves for the future. The business was established in 2015. 

Q: What makes your business stand out from all other businesses within your niche industry? 

A: Well, I’m situated in the feed market which gives me close access to students and possible employees and I also have a team of facilitators and mentors that have over 40 years of experience in the industry. I am an Engineer myself and understand industrial technical requirements including quality and compliance. I work with an engineering firm that has networks and contacts with big industry players and its growth requirements. I also have passion for education as well and teaching. 

Q: When did you become a Tony Elumelu entrepreneur and how has it helped your business?  

A: I was part of the 2021 cohort and it helped me structure my business to play greater strategic role in my environment. It also helped me adopt quality and collaboration as core principles of my business. I learnt a lesson to look at challenges, conversations, projects from various sides before approaching for a solution. So many nationalities, time zones with various belief systems and different languages meant people viewed the world different, approached problems different and communicated differently. No approach should be linear or singular. 

Q: After training and mentorship from the TEF Entrepreneurship programme, how has your operational model changed? 

A: Not much. I am still keeping it mostly outsourced. As I scale, it will change to include more internal expertise. 

Q: How many steps ahead would you say the TEF seed funding helped you get to on scale of 1-10? 

A: 5! I was to address at least 50% of a project I am embarking on and I am looking to build a remote container training centre. I have been able to pay for some of the required items. 

Q: How do you market your business and which methods have been most successful since completing the TEF training and mentorship programme? 

A: Mostly through social media, local buildings such as libraries, shop notice boards, reaching out to networks through phone and email. I also join sectoral bodies and go to networking events. 

Q: What are some of the challenges you face as an entrepreneur in your operational environment? 

A: One challenge I face is  getting a continuous flow of paying clients and keeping up to date with regulatory requirements 

Q: What are some of the solutions you might suggest to help solve these challenges? 

A: I have started targeting schools in communities since a large portion of my target market is school leavers and I have also joined various government work groups that helps one keep abreast of regulatory changes. 

Q: As you know, the core of the TEF entrepreneurship programme is to promote Africapitalism, how has your business been able to make an impact in that light? 

A: I make the conscious effort to ensure that more than 80% of my business interactions e.g., suppliers etc. are of the African continent. I also collaborate as much as accessible with African thought leaders. 

Q: If you had a chance to start your entrepreneurship journey all over again, what would you do differently? 

A: In hindsight no. But if I had to choose, I would say, choose my partnerships well, ask more questions, be firm on what I want, negotiate properly and be more patient. 

~ Author: Derek Nwankwo 

The post #TEFALUMNICORNER: Rosharon, Making Artisanship an Offshoot for Economic Empowerment appeared first on The Tony Elumelu Foundation.

Q: Can you tell us about your business? 

A: My business is called Country Finance Limited and we deal in commodities like sourcing feed ingredients such as maize and soybeans, we also produce and trade in commercial poultry feed (yet to begin). 

Q: What inspired your business and how old is it now? 

A: From a very young age, I have always loved Businessmen and Entrepreneurs and deeply aspired to be like them and own my business. So, basically, my inspiration started from there. I have been in business since 2020. 

Q: How did you start your Entrepreneural journey? 

A: After I graduated from school, I had to think of a way to make better use of my savings, so I registered Country Finance Limited which was typically a peer-to-peer lending business but within my group of friends and colleagues and it was bound by a contract so they paid back what they borrowed. After a while, I needed a business that didn’t depend on my friends or colleagues so I found the Ghana commodities exchange and figured out I could trade in the commodity exchange market if I put in the work. I became an aggregator in the market and would go to the farthest part of the country (the North) to get goods to sell to the South. 

Q: What makes your business stand out from all other businesses within your niche industry? 

A: For me, I think it’s my level of interaction with the Farmers. I like to make it very convenient for them to access my poultry feed so they don’t have to be stressed about the transport costs so I take my Feeds to their Farms and that way, we share the transport costs. I also partner with Multinationals such as Koudijs and Flour Mills of Ghana. 

Q: When did you become a Tony Elumelu entrepreneur and how has it helped your business?  

A: I became a TEF entrepreneur in 2021. I had initially applied in 2020 but the covid outbreak delayed the process so we were added to the set of people that applied the following year. I eventually became one of the beneficiaries and because it was my first try, it meant so much to me and has given my business a very good boost. 

Q: After training and mentorship from the TEF Entrepreneurship programme, how has your operational model changed? 

A: The training really gave me all the confidence I needed to succeed because it opened my eyes to believe a lot more in my ideas and business and not just to have it sitting in my head but to put it down on paper and work on it. The training was so comprehensive and it helped me devise a range of marketing plans that are sure to help grow my business. I’m so grateful and privileged to have gone through that training. 

Q: How do you market your business and which methods have been most successful since completing the TEF training and mentorship programme? 

A: I use the online marketing social media channels like Instagram, WhatsApp, and Facebook. I’m also a part of a Farmers’ association and we hold regular meetings physically and on WhatsApp so that way I’m to meet my potential Customers and this, I learned from the training as well. 

Q: What are some of the challenges you face as an entrepreneur in your operational environment? 

A: My major challenge has to be the unfavourable macro-economic conditions in the country. Inflation is very high and it’s making the prices of everything skyrocket especially the fuel price here in Ghana which in turns doubles the cost of transportation and it is taking a toll on our business. Another one is the government policy on taxes that small businesses are obliged to pay such as the electronic levy on mobile money payments and all other taxes. As an aggregator, when I go to these villages, asides paying the charges for transfer, I also have to pay the electronic fees to the government and most times, I also have to pay the charges of the farmers selling products to me. It is too heavy for entrepreneurs given the current rate of inflation affecting costs of business. 

Q: What are some of the solutions you might suggest to help solve these challenges? 

A: The government should be more interested in helping young entrepreneurs and make the environment very enabling for small businesses to succeed and reduce the tax obligations burdened on small businesses. They should also give incentives to small businesses because entrepreneurship is a tedious journey on its own. Asides, the Tony Elumelu Foundation, you would hardly see any organisation or body that helps young entrepreneurs like Tony Elumelu does. 

Q: As you know, the core of the TEF entrepreneurship programme is to promote Africapitalism, how has your business been able to make an impact in that light? 

A: Africapitalism is a business philosophy we have all bought into, especially the Alumni. It is all about directing African capital through the private sector to create economic wealth and prosperity for the African continent. In my little corner, I have been able to promote Africapitalism by engaging in Local sourcing and aggregation where I buy from our local farmers and also give them businesses that bring them good return. We create employment opportunities as well because we hire workers regularly who work on our farms and warehouses and also add value to the international supply chain.   

Q: If you had a chance to start your entrepreneurship journey all over again, what would you do differently? 

A: This is a very interesting question. If I had to start this journey again then I would start very early even before I graduated so I would have taken all the necessary risks I needed to take and learn from them early enough because now that I’m married, there are certain risks and decisions I can’t take alone given the fact that I have to consider those who depend on me. Another thing I would do if I had to start again is getting a mentor. Having a mentor to help you through the journey can never be over-emphasized. 

~ Author: Derek Nwankwo 

The post #TEFALUMNICORNER: Eric, Creating a Balance in the Commodity Exchange Market appeared first on The Tony Elumelu Foundation.

Q: Can you tell us about your business? 

A: My Business Name is Seton Oluwabukola Oyekemi Ventures also known as SOO Ventures, a registered company with the CAC registration number BV3. I deal in packaged and bagged Ofada rice and my Trademark is AuntyKiks Ofada Rice. Ofada rice is a specie of rice which is also known as Farro 44 and botanically called Oryza Sativa. My business is in the rice production and processing value chain. Both the production and processing level demands trained and skilled workers. 

Q: What inspired your business and how old is it now? 

A: I had several training and experience in the Rice business. There was massive importation of foreign rice over the years but the Government saw a huge loss in the Gross Domestic Product and needed to resuscitate the agricultural sector under the auspices of the former Minister of Agriculture, Mr. Femi Adesina now the President of the African Development Bank (ADB). There was a need to revamp the Agricultural sector with emphasis on some staple crops like Rice; an embargo was placed on importation of foreign rice to encourage Rice Cottage Industry to gain the necessary strength and stamina to be able to adequately and effectively boost the Nation’s GDP and so I thought it was the best time to apply my experience in the rice business and explore the local rice industry. My business is almost 2years old now. 

Q: What makes your business stand out from all other businesses within your niche industry? 

A: It’s very affordable. Others sell theirs at one thousand, five hundred naira (N1500) only and I sell mine for as low as one thousand naira (1000) per kilogram. I recently when carrying out a market survey and I found out that a kilogram sells for as much as six thousand naira (N6000) depending on the area. 

Q: When did you become a Tony Elumelu entrepreneur and how has it helped your business?  

A: I became a TEF entrepreneur earlier this year. I applied for the Tony Elumelu Foundation for financial assistance to procure some of these machines; De-stoner machine, De-husking machine, Rice polisher and some other machines that help to ease human efforts and boost production and returns. I have been able to get some of these machines so the grant has really helped me in great measures. 

Q: After training and mentorship from the TEF Entrepreneurship programme, how has your operational model changed? 

A: It has helped me to be a good networker that I don’t have to work so hard to get result, I only have to work SMART and by SMART, I mean Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Realistic and Timely. I just need to know the customers who are ready to pay Immediately and zero my target on them instead of committing to all and then they disappoint and that’s being Specific. Talking about Measurable, it is the amount I can actualize on that venture no matter how small while incurring very little expenses so I can get back a good return. Believing I can do it and chanting my “Yes, I Can” Mantra makes it Attainable. I also became more Realistic and never got carried away with offers that could possibly run my business down and Timely; delivering promptly without giving excuses. 

Q: How many steps ahead would you say the TEF seed funding helped you get to? 

A: The seed funding took me 7 steps ahead. The rice business is a highly capital intensive one so I still need to keep going but honestly it has helped a lot and I feel privileged and honoured. 

Q: How do you market your business and which methods have been most successful since completing the TEF training and mentorship programme? 

A: I make use of social media platforms like Instagram, Twitter, WhatsApp, Google and Facebook. I also use Associations like NASSI; National Association of Small-Scale Industries, RIFAN; Rice Farmer Association of Nigeria, SMEDAN etc. I’m also getting NAFDAC registration and registering my Trademarks. I also belong to a community/network of Famers all-round the country so I make sales through referrals from them as well. I am currently working on my website. 

Q: What are some of the challenges you face as an entrepreneur in your operational environment? 

A: Well, there’s the fact that I am still new although I belong to a market. Right now, I have a target of growing a large amount because some of Us small-scale Farmers have been picked to be suppliers to larger Ofada Rice Farmers and they will be exporting Ofada in very large quantities to some parts of the world because they already have a demand and a Market. So we are really just focused on farming. 

Q: What are some of the solutions you might suggest to help solve these challenges? 

A: We just need to keep selling and building a large network of customers. By promoting African products, I believe The Ofada Rice is a special commodity unique to the African Continent. The Asians don’t have it so, when we sell products unique to only Nigerians, we are promoting the African economy with African goods thus raising our GDP. 

Q: As you know, the core of the TEF entrepreneurship programme is to promote Africapitalism, how has your business been able to make an impact in that light? 

A: By promoting African products, I believe The Ofada Rice is a special commodity unique to the African Continent. The Asians don’t have it so, when we sell products unique to only Nigerians, we are promoting the African economy with African goods thus raising our GDP.   

Q: If you had a chance to start your entrepreneurship journey all over again, what would you do differently? 

A: Well, I really don’t know what I would want to do differently because applying for the Tony Elumelu Foundation Grant has been a blessing to me and a huge step for my business. So, I don’t think I regret the things I did and don’t feel I would want to do it any differently from how I have already done it. The challenges and waiting process itself is a journey. 

Social media handles: Twitter, Instagram and Facebook: Aunty Kiks Ofada 

~ Author: Derek Nwankwo 

The post #TEFALUMNICORNER: “The Goal is to Make Nigerian Rice Global” appeared first on The Tony Elumelu Foundation.

Q: Can you tell us about your business? 

A: My business is called Shuttle Drive. It is an online platform that connects commuters to bus and car operators to help with their long distant trips across West Africa with everything sorted out for them. For now, we only do group bookings and not individual trips until we have fully ticked all our major boxes. 

Q: What inspired your business and how old is it now? 

A: It’s actually a very funny story because a few years before now, I never thought I would be doing this. I got to realise there were a lot of buses and cars around but there was no system put in place to find a bus or car to solve your traveling needs whenever you urgently need them. I decided to try my best to ensure that a lot of drivers and vehicle operators register on my platform so that they can easily be accessible and then I attended a Business Tech summit that helped me fine-tune my ideas. My business is 4 years old so far. 

Q: What makes your business stand out from all other businesses within your niche industry? 

A: In my business, I am making use of Technology more and limiting the need for human interference to get a bus operator. We also make it a must to infuse some culture of gender balance and thereby, making it a healthy environment for women to make a living and not be threatened by the dominance of the industry by male counterparts. We decidedly also make it a thing to employ disabled people to help us in that aspect of the marketing so that they can have it easy when trying to commute as well. 

Q: When did you become a Tony Elumelu entrepreneur and how has it helped your business? 

A: I became a TEF entrepreneur last year, 2021 and honestly, my business changed. Before I became a TEF entrepreneur, I had not developed a web application for my business and everything was done through my social media accounts at that time. But when I got the seed funding and after the training and mentorship I received, my marketing became very intensive and operations began to run very smoothly. I was able to register my business and this also helped improved my business and increased clients’ trust in my business because I started to operate a corporate account. 

Q: How many steps ahead would you say the TEF seed funding helped you get to? 

A: On a scale of 1-10, the seed funding helped me get to point 8. I cannot say 10 because I’m still trying to achieve more and get better but I’m so grateful to TEF for helping me. 

Q: How do you market your business and which methods have been most successful since completing the TEF training and mentorship programme? 

A: I do a lot of digital and online marketing and other times; it is word of mouth. I tell my family and friends about my business and also tell it to other people I meet anywhere I go to. Digital marketing has been the most rewarding I must say. 

Q: What are some of the challenges you face as an entrepreneur in your operational environment? 

A:  The human resources have been my biggest challenge because it’s difficult to find the right people to work with so I end up with no option but to sack some people and start looking for more workers who are willing to work to replace the man power insufficiency. Also, because of the stage of my business, I cannot pay huge salaries to workers and this affects their motivation to work. I also have challenges with marketing. In as much as I try to do my best, it still feels like I’m not doing enough. 

Q: What are some of the solutions you might suggest to help solve these challenges? 

A: As regards the man power problem, I’m looking to get more capital to increase my talent pool because man power is not cheap at all. So, with that, I can attract the right kind of people I need to work with me. I also create opportunities for internships so I have people who desire to work with me for a period of time. And for the marketing, I need people with the technical know-how to handle our business professionally on the digital space but this also costs money so I really need more capital because I don’t want to have to employ people I cannot pay. 

Q: As you know, the core of the TEF entrepreneurship programme is to promote Africapitalism, how has your business been able to make an impact in that light? 

A: My business has been able to promote Africapitalism by focusing more on employing talents within the African Continent. The structure of my business is targeted towards helping commuters across West Africa and using bus operators in Africa, thereby, helping them make more money. Also, assuming a foreigner visits Africa for the first time, my business makes doing business in Africa easier because the platform ensures safety across terrains that are new to the foreigner. 

Q: If you had a chance to start your entrepreneurship journey all over again, what would you do differently? 

A: I would change the people I worked with initially, I would not use friends or family. Also, I would be more confident and assertive about what I do and not bother about what other people think about my business. 

Q: Lastly, what would you advise starters who want to begin their entrepreneurial journey? 

A: I would love to tell starters to believe in their business ideas and make extensive research to back up their ideas. The journey will never be easy. There are days when they would smile and there are days when they would cry but as long as they have a conviction and they keep on trying, they will make it. Thank you. 

Social media handles: Twitter, Instagram and Facebook | @ Shuttle Drive 

~ Author: Derek Nwankwo 

The post #TEFALUMNICORNER: Victoria, a Commuter Making Life Easy for Other Commuters appeared first on The Tony Elumelu Foundation.

Join us Today on TEF Alumni Corner, as we speak with a TEF entrepreneur from Kenya, Betty Rejay Kariuki, who’s a refined baker and business Enthusiast. 

Q: Can you tell us about your business? 

A: The name of my business is Benita Cakes. It is located in a small town called Kakamega in the western region here in Kenya. We are known for making all types of cakes and in various flavours for events like Birthdays, Weddings and Anniversaries. 

Q: What inspired your business and how old is it now? 

A: I was once a client and I needed a cake for an event that was so special to me. I placed an order and when I got the cake, it was far from what I expected. Infact, it was just terrible and so I decided to learn how to bake so I could make better quality cakes. Benita cakes is now 3 years old. 

Q: What makes your business stand out from all other businesses within your niche industry? 

A: Our cakes are freshly baked on demand and are mostly baked based on customers’ preference in terms of Type, Size, Flavour and Designs. 

Q: When did you become a Tony Elumelu entrepreneur and how has it helped your business? 

A: I applied for the grant in 2020 and revalidated the application in 2021, that was when I became a TEF Entrepreneur. It has helped me in such a great way. To be honest, it gave my business a new beginning. I used to bake my cakes from my home and had a spot in town where my clients could come pick up their cakes but thanks to Tony Elumelu and the Tony Elumelu Foundation, I now have a cake shop where I bake these cakes and have my clients come take a seat to enjoy their cakes. I was also able to upgrade my equipment to a big oven and a commercial mixer. Ordinarily, I would not be able to afford this so I am really grateful to TEF for giving me a chance. 

Q: How many steps ahead would you say the TEF seed funding helped you get to? 

A: I would say six (6) steps ahead and that’s above average because the TEF seed fund has helped me a lot. 

Q: What are some of the challenges you face as an entrepreneur in your operational environment? 

A:  We have noticed a continuous increase in costs of raw materials and it has become a daily trend as today’s price is not tomorrow’s price. The current inflation rate has also made the cost of living so high and in return, these challenges make us increase the prices of our cakes because we cannot compromise on the quality of our cakes. But if we keep increasing the prices of our cakes, we believe we might scare off our customers. One major challenge we also face is Over-taxation. Small businesses here in Kenya are taxed heavily.  

Q: What are some of the solutions you might suggest to help solve these challenges? 

A: We are working on ways to reduce our cost of production and surplus business expenses. We introduced bulk buying so we can get discounts from the wholesalers and we also introduced new snacks called ”cakepops” and “cakesicles” which are made from leftover cake cuttings. We also need better leadership as it is election year. So, we need leaders who will make better fiscal decisions to review the current policies on small businesses in Kenya. 

Q: As you know, the core of the TEF entrepreneurship programme is to promote Africapitalism, how has your business been able to make an impact in that light? 

A: Africapitalism being the philosophy of creating economic and social prosperity on the continent by investing in the private sector and SMEs has been a part of my business as I have created employment opportunities for over 10 youths here in Kenya through which they have been able to afford better lives for themselves. Also, the businesses that supply to me have been able to double their sales in less than 6 months and this makes for a positive light in the growth of the private sector. So far, this the impact I have made through the lens of Africapitalism.  

Q: If you had a chance to start your entrepreneurship journey all over again, what would you do differently? 

A: With the knowledge that I got from the TEF mentorship and entrepreneurship programme on how to run a successful business, I would definitely do better and avoid mistakes that I made in the beginning of my journey as an entrepreneur. 

Social media handles: @BenitaCakes (Facebook and Instagram) 

~ Author: Derek Nwankwo 

The post #TEFALUMNICORNER: Betty, The Pastry Chef Who is Keen About Cake Variants appeared first on The Tony Elumelu Foundation.

Today on TEF Alumni Corner, we speak to one of our entrepreneurs in Nigeria, Keghtor Tyokase, who has seen the importance of computer literacy among growing school kids and has made it a personal goal to teach as many  kids as possible, about basic computer skills. 

Q: Can you tell us about your business? 

A: The name of my business is “Jack Mkeghtor ICT Business World”. We train students to learn computer basic skills, giving them both home and school training classes to enable them come to speed with the education requirements of the 21st century. 

Q: What inspired your business and how old is it now? 

A: The business is 3 years old now. I got inspired to go into the business of teaching students the knowledge required to use a computer when I realized that at least 10 students in every class of 20 students and above in various schools, have not seen or operated a computer before, so seeing that most examinations now involve the use of computers, I decided to get myself ready for that task. 

Q: When did you become a Tony Elumelu Entrepreneur and how has it helped your business? 

A: I became a TEF entrepreneur on the 10^th of December 2021. And it has helped me a lot. The funds given to me helped me  buy more computers, handle running cost and pay staffs who assist me in running the business 

Q: After training and mentorship from the TEF Entrepreneurship Programme, how has your operational model changed? 

A: The training and mentorship gave practically much knowledge as an entrepreneur but I would like to highlight a  few. It gave me the zeal to never give up, also helped me to find opportunities around me even when its feels like there is none and also taught me how to win a competitive market. 

Q: How many steps ahead would you say the TEF seed funding helped you get to? 

A:  Let’s say I was 1 step forward initially, with the TEF seed capital, I have gone an extra 6 steps ahead. If not for the fact that things have gone so high in prices, I would have covered unimaginably far areas with the TEF seed capital. 

Q: What are some of the challenges you face as an Entrepreneur in your operational environment? 

A:  As for challenges, it’s our competitors. Our business also has a very large market but the challenges with the poor network providers and the current high running costs of the business and general cost of living affects our clients thereby making willingness of clients and the process of enrolment very slow. Also, expansion to other strategic areas is becoming difficult due to the high cost of living in the country. 

Q: What are some of the solutions you might suggest to help solve these challenges? 

A: As for the area of clients’ payments, we are suggesting payment by instalments, and as for expanding to strategic areas we just need funds to do that if we can get it. But if we can’t get it now, we will have to use our savings when it matures with time. 

Q: As you know, the core of the TEF Entrepreneurship Programme is to promote Africapitalism, how has your business been able to make an impact in that light? 

A: we have been able to employ some good number of instructors who help in running the business and we are also training candidates not just to pass examinations but to be self-employed as well. I believe this continues to highlight the importance of the private sector in developing our country.  

Author: Derek Nwankwo 

The post #TEFALUMNICORNER: Keghtor, a Tech Savvy Entrepreneur and Digital Facilitator appeared first on The Tony Elumelu Foundation.

Today on TEF Alumni Corner, we introduce to you one of our Kenyan Entrepreneurs named Charity Nyakundi who’s making great strides in the world of art, fashion and designs. And like the popular saying, ”Charity does truly begins at home”.

Q: Can you tell us about your business?

A: The name of my business is Porabe Designs (meaning, Clean) and we deal in artisan clothing, we design clothes, we make the clothes ourselves and the fabric too.

Q: What inspired your business and how old is it now?

A: When I was young, most people could not afford clean clothes, so I had a dream to make affordable clothes for everyone and new ones exactly and that is because in my country, most people are middle class and most are farmers, a lot of them cannot afford new and clean clothes and will mostly always buy second-hand or used clothes. So, I decided to make my clothes very affordable and readily available. My business is currently 2 years old.

Q: When did you become a Tony Elumelu Entrepreneur and how has it helped your business?

A: I became a TEF entrepreneur around December 2021 and it has really helped me upscale my business.  I’ve been able to purchase more sewing machines and open one more production store and because of that, I’ve been able to hire eight (8) more employees.

Q: After training and mentorship from the TEF entrepreneurship programme, how has your operational model changed?

A: Well, after the programme, it opened my eyes to be able to recognise and take on many opportunities that come my way and as regards improving my business, despite all the many challenges that being an entrepreneur brings and even when you feel like giving up sometimes.

Q: How many steps ahead would you say the TEF seed funding helped you get to?

A: Well, i would say if there were 10 steps i had to make, it took me all the way to seven (7) steps ahead.

Q: How do you market your business and which methods have been the most successful since completing the TEF Training and Mentorship programme?

A: I market my business on social media like Instagram and Facebook and sometimes i wear them when i have to go out and I show them to my friends too. The online marketing strategy has been the most profitable so far and I’m also looking to open an online store on platforms like Jumia.

Q: What are some of the challenges you face as an entrepreneur in your operational environment?

A: I’m going to say the taxes. Here in Kenya, we are heavily taxed and sometimes the cost of materials is variably high so we have some bad days where we have very little or no sales.

Q: What are some of the solutions you might suggest to help solve these challenges?

A: I think the government should give small businesses like ours some sort of incentives to help us stay in business and also make loans readily available for entrepreneurs.

Q: As you know, the core of the TEF Entrepreneurship programme is to promote Africapitalism, how has your business been able to make an impact in that light?

A: Like I said earlier, most of my clients are artisans and are living in African villages where good and new clothing are not easily accessible so I make sure that they have good clothes that can be worn to occasions that are very important to them and the people around me appreciate it and are really happy that what they have from my business is original, authentic and long lasting.

~ Author: Derek Nwankwo

The post #TEFALUMNICORNER: Charity, the Designer Who Creates Meaning Through Fashion appeared first on The Tony Elumelu Foundation.

Q: When did you receive the grant?

A: I received the grant on the 9th of December, 2021.

Q: Can you tell us about your business?

A: I run a poultry, Ramotlele Poultry. It is a start up egg farming business based in a village (rural area) in the Limpopo province of South Africa. We’ve had to start from scratch (idea stage) and TEF was the first grant or financial assistance we’ve received.  So we started with site clearance and bush clearing, fencing, water connection, ablution facilities construction and currently finishing off the main poultry house construction (only roofing remaining). We opted for a concrete structure.

The next step will be the installation of battery cages and we should be geared up to receive our first batch of egg layers for production. Our construction has been delayed by the rainy weather. But we’re hopeful that we should be able to be in production soon. We are also in the process of trying to access more funds as the grant is falling short, since we’re starting from scratch with construction, which proved to be a capital intensive exercise. The TEF grant has been very instrumental in our start up operations, we are very grateful.

Q: What inspired your business idea?

A: For me, it was more about creating a supply chain in my village. There’s very few opportunities for young people and particularly women. So the poultry farm will encourage youth and women to set up businesses within the poultry supply chain, like provide packaging, feed etc. I love farming and grew up in a home where we practiced subsistence farming. We don’t have an egg farming business in my village, just a few small scale live chicken sellers, so I saw a market opportunity and took it.

Q: How has receiving the seed capital, training, mentorship and networking support from the Tony Elumelu Foundation improved your business?

A: Whenever we get government projects in my village (like water projects and electricity projects), it’s always frustrating to see that men get contracted more than women.

At first it was just an idea, a very well thought and researched idea of course. But with the TEF training, I was able to commit to seeing it through. I was able to package this idea into a business plan with clear actionable items. The training was the most important part of my entrepreneurial journey. The seed capital was the next critical lever to kickstart my business. Now instead of a well polished idea, I had capital to put it into action.

Q: After training and mentorship from the TEF Entrepreneurship Programme, how has your operational model changed?

A: Well, initially, I was a bit skeptical about full time commitment, but following the training and mentorship, I have clear direction, my goals are measurable and I’m celebrating the few milestones that I’m crossing off my business plan. I am now able to commit full-time to my venture because I know exactly what needs to be done and I can’t wait to be operational so that I can have more full time operation staff and can empower more people.

Q: What would you define as your business’ most valuable proposition?

A: In my village and immediate surrounding villages, it’s the only egg farming business. There was a community egg farming project (government funded) some years back but it has failed. I think we’re more positioned for success because of the skills that my team brings to the project. Core skills across the team include project management, sales, business development, community and operations. This will ensure longevity.

Q: What have you enjoyed most about starting your own business?

A: I’ve enjoyed the absolute freedom of making operational decisions and the pace of learning throughout the entrepreneurial journey. I’ve also learned to prioritize and direct resources and energy where needed.

Q: What do you find most challenging about being an entrepreneur?

A: That would surely be the uncertainties that exist in the business world. Income is the biggest challenge, especially in the early stages when income streams aren’t consistent. Access to more capital is also a challenge since the grant enabled us to start, but we will need more capital injection to be fully operational. The other challenge is that of market uncertainties, meeting the demand in the new market and competing in the saturated market when we start approaching big retail customers.

Q: Where do you see your business in the next five years?

A: In the next five years, we hope to have grown to over 3000 egg layers, with an annual production of around one million eggs. We hope to supply at least three big retailers with eggs.

We’ll also have another structure constructed to accommodate the projected growth.

Q: What has been your most significant flop as an entrepreneur, and what did you learn from it?

A: The earliest flop I can cite in my entrepreneurial journey is perhaps underestimating the time commitment required. With the TEF training, I started thinking differently and positioning myself for a full-time transition. What I’ve learned is that a clear vision and most importantly, actionable plan, is critical to keep me on track and motivated to continue.

Q: What is your single most important achievement so far?

A: So far in my entrepreneurial journey, I’d cite my most significant achievement as completing the rigorous TEF training and ultimately getting the seed capital from TEF and finally erecting the poultry farm structure.

Q: How do you define success?

A: For me, success is being able to consistently achieve the milestones I have set out to achieve, no matter how small. And the ability to reflect on any lessons from past activities and doing better with the next milestones.

Q: What advice would you give other African entrepreneurs, especially those just starting their entrepreneurial careers?

A: My advice to them would be to start. The passion is there, the will is there. Opportunities are plenty and there’s a lot to learn from any failed attempt or experience. They should believe in themselves and see entrepreneurship as an opportunity and not a challenge. Give yourself the chance, you deserve it.

~ Author: Chinenye Akandu

The post #TEFALUMNICORNER: Ramasela Molekwa’s Entrepreneurial Journey appeared first on The Tony Elumelu Foundation.

Today on TEF Alumni Corner, we unveil one of our entrepreneurs in South Africa by the name Melishia Pillay, who is breaking grounds in the world of technology.

Q: Can you tell us about your business and when you received the grant?

A: Our business is called MELMARK PTY LTD. We are a business solutions company located in South Africa. We received our seed capital in December, 2021.

We offer a variety of business solutions, our most recent development is a business app to manage, monitor and develop your business online.

Melmark target customer is the entrepreneur and small business owner. We analyze where our client is in their journey and offer them a customized solution to get their business started or propel themselves digitally. I am full time in the business and the co founder as well. We have two part time employees.

A day at Melmark begins by carrying out administrative activities, responding to clients and booking meetings with new clients.

Asides the app, we have added Branding to our services so that we are able to render services walk-in clients too. We are currently working on securing better premises that will allow us to be more accessible to our consumers and increase our revenue.

As much as our goal is to be profitable, our mission is to create employment. So we are currently recruiting virtual agents to do sales on our business app.

Q: What inspired your business idea?

A: That would be the lack of employment opportunities for women and youths as well as the lack of access to information for small businesses and entrepreneurs on how to scale, manage, formalize and operate their businesses.

Q: How has receiving the seed capital, training, mentorship and networking support from the Tony Elumelu Foundation improved your business?

A: With the grant, we have been able to hire two part time employees and purchase much needed equipment. All we need to do now is secure our premises.The training has helped us develop our business perspective and insight. It is especially helpful as we are in the recruitment processes. But all the modules have helped us grow and develop to serve our clients better.

In terms of mentoring, our mentors have been amazing and supportive throughout the journey so far. The mentorship has helped us to analyze our pain points and develop a plan of action that we are working on. We are yet to be assigned our mentors for the rest of the alumni programme but interacting on the telegram group and private chat with mentors there, have been fruitful in terms of receiving information about queries, questions or concerns.

Q: After training and mentorship from the TEF Entrepreneurship Programme, how has your operational model changed?

A: Our operational model has changed in the sense that our business model now aligns with our goals and mission. We now understand how to operate our business, though we are still on the path to learning, as we believe that there isn’t an end to learning.

Q: What would you define as your business’ most valuable proposition?

A: That would be the that we offer a variety of business solutions at your fingertips. Well, at least we endeavor to be a one stop point for an entrepreneur or small business owner to find all the solutions they need. However, our most unique area/product/service of note is our business app. Which is available to access free of charge and it is being developed as a product led growth model. We have already empowered ten businesses with complimentary access to a paid product. Giving away a value of just under 5000 dollars. We have done this to contribute our quota towards the sustainable development goals. Our app is still being modified to include all our products and services.

Q: What have you enjoyed most about starting your own business?

A: What I have enjoyed most about this is being able to meet new people and help others in any way that I am able to. But most of all, it is the potential to lift my family out of poverty.

Q: What do you find most challenging about being an entrepreneur?

A: Lack of funding, access to information and wider networks.

For example, I started my entrepreneur journey ten years ago and went into a local office to register my business. For the sake of ethics, I won’t mention the institution. I went in, paid the fee to register my business and was told to register on the central supplier data base and open a bank account. That was it. The particular institution is known to be an incubator/ business enterprise to help small businesses start-up and ought to have provided more information. But I was left in the dark and that particular business I started back then also got left to just sit. Then I began to hunt for a way to bridge this gap and be the difference, that is how Melmark was born. We help entrepreneurs and small businesses no matter their stages.

Q: Where do you see your business in the next five years?

A: I can give you a whole essay on this. But, ideally in five years time, we would have dived into the international markets, created more employment across Africa as we are digitally able to do so. I must reiterate that we know that any business has the goal to be profitable but our mission is to create employment as we have learned from our great Mr. Elumelu that we rise by lifting others.

Q: What has been your most significant lesson as an entrepreneur, and what did you learn from it?

A: That’s a tough one. Well, my personal motto is “Never a failure, always a lesson”.

One thing we’ve learnt is taking on clients without a formal contract/agreement of work to be done and payment terms. And with that, we learned how to implement contracts but then another lesson came along that we need a lawyer on our team as without one, it is a timely affair to go the state route for breach of contracts.

This has now been added to our plan of action on how to deal with this kind of situation and have legal help or team behind us.

Q: What is your single most important achievement so far as an entrepreneur?

A: That’s easy! It is my successful entry into the TEF programme, successfully completing the programme and becoming a part of the Tony Elumelu Foundation Alumni.

Q: How do you define success?

A: For me, success is the ability to achieve goals and meet targets in a timeous manner. I define success this way even in small daily goals and tasks as I believe success can’t be determined by a number or quantity, although this may be the manner of measurement in many other factors such as sales targets. For me personally, with life experience, I’ve come to realize that as much as figures are important it takes mini steps to get where you need to be and completing these steps leads to the ultimate goal of being successful. So one must be accountable for taking these steps.

For example I had to meet deadlines, learn and be present during the TEF programme in order to reach the end and succeed there too. This had to be done in a timeous manner.

Q: What advice would you give other African entrepreneurs, especially those just starting their entrepreneurial careers?

A: Dear young African entrepreneurs, start where you are, use what you have and always be thirsty to learn. Use the internet to research that which you don’t know or need more information on. Most of all apply for the Tony Elumelu Foundation Entrepreneurship Programme, it will help a great deal.

~ Author: Chinenye Akandu

The post #TEFALUMNICORNER: Melishia, the lady disrupting Tech in South Africa appeared first on The Tony Elumelu Foundation.

Today, on ‘TEF Alumni Corner’, we are ringing up the curtain on Maymunat Salihu Ahmad, one of our TEF Alumni in Bauchi state, Nigeria, who is exploring the agricultural sector of the economy.

Q: Can you tell us about your business?

A: My business is Catfish farming. Catfish Farming is the most popular (but still underexploited) and very lucrative aquaculture business in Nigeria. There is high scope for the industry to expand and enhance food and nutritional security while contributing to economic growth.

Essence-Aqua Fish Farms is a start-up farm with team experience in the agric sector over the years. We will be introducing modern fish farming techniques soon that will help us stand ahead of our competitors.

Q: What inspired your business idea?

A: I’m sure you know that catfish farming in Nigeria has become one of the most commonly practised fish farming businesses, with a lot of back benefits. The high demand and consumption of fish have made the business very profitable if well-managed. That’s what inspired me.

Q: How has receiving the seed capital, training, mentorship and networking support from the Tony Elumelu Foundation improved your business?

A: The Seed capital is the initial investment into my business provided by venture capitalists or angel investors to help it grow.

The networking, training and mentorship programmes have also played a huge part in my growth as a person and the growth of the business, I got to learn a lot of things during the programme which I’ve applied to my business, and I’m seeing positive results.

Q: After training and mentorship from the TEF Entrepreneurship Programme, how has your operational model changed?

A: Firstly, with access to free capital with which to execute my ideas, there was no need for loans and collateral. The programme exposed me to entrepreneurs of like minds with whom I network and share ideas with. With the training and mentorship, there have been a lot of improvements in my business compared to when I first started out.

Q: What would you define as your business’ most valuable proposition?

A: That would be the introduction to the Fish Egg Hatching system because majority of the fish farmers are usually buying their fingerlings from the market. But for me, I am hatching my own in my farm and then sell it to the buyers.

Also, Hatcheries are the backbone of the aquaculture, or aquafarming, where multiple species of fish, mollusks, crustaceans, and aquatic plants, algae, and other organisms are grown in a controlled manner.

Q: What have you enjoyed most about starting your own business?

A: For me, one of the benefits of owning your own business is the flexibility that comes with it. I enjoy working from wherever I want and setting my own hours.

Q: What do you find most challenging about being an entrepreneur?

A: It is usually financial issues, social rejection, facing criticism, dealing with stress and self doubt, hiring employees for the first time and finding customers.

You might be warned repeatedly about the various ways your business can fail. A lot of people truly do think that it’s more stable to depend on a tenuous job at a brick-and-mortar than to be the head of your own company.

Sometimes critics get personal. They’ll feel jealous or threatened by your independence and try to magnify anything negative they can find, projecting their own insecurities onto you.

Q: Where do you see your business in the next five years?

A: I am hoping to meet the international standards by God’s will. By international standards, I mean being able to tranport my smoked fish to the other countries of the world.

Q: What has been your most significant flop as an entrepreneur, and what did you learn from it?

A: Lack of training and expertise is the most significant flop. I have come to understand that there is need to train the fish farmers on integrated fish farming and monitor the impact of the training in their businesses. This can also offer economic improvement while lessening the adverse environment.

Q: What is your single most important achievement so far?

A: Being able to double my team and growing my own business.

Q: How do you define success?

A: Success is defined by action and innovation. A lot of my successes are contingent upon the success of the artists I represent. I try to think about that and think more about how I can add value and push my career forward.

Q: What advice would you give other African entrepreneurs, especially those just starting their entrepreneurial careers?

A: My advice to them is to reach out to a startup advisor, it is an industry with expertise and experience that helps new businesses get on the right track for growth. They share their business knowledge, networking connections, potential investors, and skills, they will help you to make fewer mistakes as you embark on your entrepreneurial career journey.

Above all, there is need to believe in yourself as an entrepreneur and know that you can do it.

~ Author: Chinenye Akandu

The post #TEFALUMNICORNER: Maymunat the Neoteric Fish Farmer appeared first on The Tony Elumelu Foundation.