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.
Fomba Trawally was forced to seek refuge in Gambia when civil war hit Liberia. He only returned to Monrovia after being away from 1989 to 1991. Armed with a life saving of only 200 dollars, he opened a shop selling rubber slippers. Over fifteen years, he diversified into imported cosmetics, a base which enabled him to build his now multi-million dollar paper and toiletry manufacturing company.
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.
Streaming movies over the internet is a growing trend with IrokoTV leading in Africa. Jason Njoku is a co-founder whose only contribution in the business now valued at millions of dollars was the idea. He is now the CEO of IrokoTV, a streaming business concentrating on Nollywood movies and which has attracted investments to the tune of 90,000 dollars. All he had was an idea. He took it to 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.
For most people, the age of 19 is spent in reckless partying or in the library pursuing some mundane university degree. For Patrick, this is the year he made his first trip to China armed with a loan of 1,800 dollars partly from his mother and partly from a friend. The Tanzanian grew the business and now runs one of the biggest solar companies in Eastern Africa. His turnover is over fifteen million dollars in a year.
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.
Africa has an incredible collection of entrepreneurship success stories. There is the celebrity pig farmer from South Africa called Anna Phosa. Aliko Dangote had to borrow 500,000naira from his grandfather and is now the richest man in Africa. Fred Deegbe knows what bootstrapping is all about, and many more success stories. The above stories only demonstrate that capital is a lame excuse. What is required is passion and hard work.
Fomba Trawally was forced to seek refuge in Gambia when civil war hit Liberia. He only returned to Monrovia after being away from 1989 to 1991. Armed with a life saving of only 200 dollars, he opened a shop selling rubber slippers. Over fifteen years, he diversified into imported cosmetics, a base which enabled him to build his now multi-million dollar paper and toiletry manufacturing company.
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.
Streaming movies over the internet is a growing trend with IrokoTV leading in Africa. Jason Njoku is a co-founder whose only contribution in the business now valued at millions of dollars was the idea. He is now the CEO of IrokoTV, a streaming business concentrating on Nollywood movies and which has attracted investments to the tune of 90,000 dollars. All he had was an idea. He took it to 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.
For most people, the age of 19 is spent in reckless partying or in the library pursuing some mundane university degree. For Patrick, this is the year he made his first trip to China armed with a loan of 1,800 dollars partly from his mother and partly from a friend. The Tanzanian grew the business and now runs one of the biggest solar companies in Eastern Africa. His turnover is over fifteen million dollars in a year.
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.
Africa has an incredible collection of entrepreneurship success stories. There is the celebrity pig farmer from South Africa called Anna Phosa. Aliko Dangote had to borrow 500,000naira from his grandfather and is now the richest man in Africa. Fred Deegbe knows what bootstrapping is all about, and many more success stories. The above stories only demonstrate that capital is a lame excuse. What is required is passion and hard work.
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