Entrepreneurship Wave Hits Mombasa

Is entrepreneurship the heaven sent solution to joblessness in Kenya and Africa as a whole?

Mombasa, the city strategically placed as the gate of the Republic of Kenya to usher in every wonderful guest and good enriching the beautiful land. The wake of this new day brings forth an elegant set of beads of entrepreneurial ideas stringed together into a reality of “ideas birthed into action”, The MVP (Minimum Viable Product) fair put together and hosted by Digital Opportunity Trust Kenya.

DOT , an international non-profit organization based in Canada has been working with the young people in Kenya since the year 2005. It empowers the youth to become leaders in themselves first in order to deliver Information and Communications Technology training in their own communities. The aim is to act as a bridge in the school-to-work transition, providing youth with market-driven skills, self-confidence and networks they need to find jobs and start businesses.

From an entrepreneur’s perspective, Fine Wealth Services has had three separate opportunities to interact with the DOT Kenya's interns in Mombasa and their students. In two of the occasions, Magdalene Kamau-Otieno the Technical Manager of Fine Wealth Services had the honor of mentoring the students through entrepreneurship talk that she branded “The MAG Plans”.

An early arrival at the venue allows this guest an opportunity to see every bit of the setup for the upcoming event. As each student, intern and guest trickle in, the clock ticks 9.00am and anticipation is building deep in everyone’s belly. How will this day turn out? 

Greetings are exchanged, first in hush tones, but in a few minutes of familiarization the mood switches to an exciting moment. The tables are setup in a brisk tempo, in no time; the medium sized hall is well set with samples from the students’ businesses. They are all ready to give a go at their businesses. This is the new wave of entrepreneurship in action hitting Mombasa like the Tsunamis!

With a warm welcome, Ms. Mariam takes the stage and invites everyone to the occasion. There are at least 20 participants as the fair begins. She gives a brief introduction of the event and ushers the guests to visit every business set on the tables for a deep interrogation. Even the rays of the beautiful Mombasa sun cannot resist the urge to peep through the large windows at the excellence in this event. This is where the rubber meets the road.

The Cyber-cafe Business Stand

Quickly scanning through the hall, the guests notice a table with two occupants, nothing much for samples except some A4 printouts of what they cannot make out from a distance. What could this business be all about? Approaching the table, the young entrepreneurs eagerly welcome them.  “Our business is a cyber café, we have put up a small office to offer our customers affordable Internet services, photocopying, printing and laminating services”, pitches one of the entrepreneurs. In less than 5 minutes, the gentleman goes on to explain all about their business. Great idea! Confidence and positivity is no secret with this duo. Brainstorming between the young entrepreneurs and the guests kick in; the need for a coca-cola fridge fully stocked with the much needed cool drinks in the Coast heat is more than a thought. Learning computer repairs skills is not a by the way but a core need for the business. Advice well received and the young men are ready to conquer the world!

A lone ranger entrepreneur is set up in the next stop, small wrappings of unknown substances and bottles of colorful liquids declare the birth of yet another business. In details, he explains to the guests how to make the home made multipurpose soap. Cutting down household budgets are we?  As a major supplier of the soap in his estate, he has to make several trips to satisfy his customers, a bicycle is definitely in order here. Oh, and maybe repackaging of the hand soap into some girly kind of bottles would go a long way not to mention the need to keep the colors as beckoning as lilies floating in the slow moving waters of a cool stream. How about the need to brand the product? Could small clinics and restaurants in the region find a cleaning solution in this venture? While at it the need for proper records of the raw material expenditure as well as the tracking down of income may just boost this business.

A new stop has desired to make Mombasa’s “Kongowea” market mobile by buying second hand clothes and handbags from the market’s wholesalers, give the products a facelift by washing them and ironing where necessary before showing them off to the good people of Mombasa who may just be too busy to shop at the crowded market. Entrepreneurship has no boundaries, besides, the world is not a box, it is wild! The issue of lack of adequate capital comes up, to which the guests are quick to address that it would be an enormous offense to begin a business of that magnitude with a bank loan. The need to scout about for odd opportunities that would yield Sh. 500 for startup capital would be harden the entrepreneur enough to run the chosen venture.

The event floats on till about noon as the guests visit a few other businesses, though physically exhausting, their hearts swell with elation seeing that the hard work invested in the students by DOT Kenya as a whole is absolutely productive. Together they iron out the major issues popping up from time to time in the fair:

1.       Start with what you have: All entrepreneurs must begin with what they have as capital, hands and feet are good enough to generate initial capital. Targeting loans for such businesses is a no-go-zone.

2.       Respect People’s time: Observing time while dealing with clients is key to business success. Showing up late for an appointment is disrespectful to the client’s time.

3.       Commit to growth: For growth to happen, advancing the product is a must. Branding, repackaging and introducing a new dimension of the product will give the business a competitive advantage.

4.       Profits are for Progress: Progress the business by saving the profits made in the business with the aim to reintroduce the same for evolving the business. The use of suitable banking services such as Mshwari M-banking for the startups is wise!  

5.       Staircase Planning: Every entrepreneur must have a progressive plan for the growth of the business. Where exactly do they want to accomplish in say; 6 months, 12 months, 3 years?

6.       Confidence pleated with right Attitude: No client will be interested in an entrepreneur who lacks these key ingredients while selling products to them. For every MVP this is even more important!

7.       PESA: Aim at solving your clients problems, whether present or potential client. There is no possible progress in business unless you have a way of drawing and retaining your clients to your business with your product. They will only reward you when you are able to solve their problems. Remember “A Product is an Elegant Solution to someone’s Anxiety!”

#MAGWEALTH