It’s been 16 years since Edward Moshole began his business and, while some might say his business is thriving, he believes that with more capital, the company could grow exponentially.

Just 2% of his company’s income comes from exports, which he thinks could grow even further if there was more money invested into the business. Moshole started his company, called Chem Fresh, back in 1999 while he was a student at the University of Cape Town.

While he was studying, Moshole decided to find a piece job so that he could earn an income. “I got a job at Enterprise Food as a cleaner and, while working there, the idea of starting my own company was born,” says Moshole.

While the job was not ideal and not what he wanted to be doing, working for the company inspired him even more and helped him to spot an opportunity in the food and beverage industry.

“I saw that I could serve the food and beverage industry. Through my work as a cleaner, I realised that having effective products to use for cleaning made a cleaner’s job easier,” he says.

However, getting buy in from the industry was difficult.

Mashole didn’t let that stop him from pursuing his dream and, instead of moping around, he decided to do something about it.

“I knew that I didn’t want to be a cleaner; that’s why I started my business. I started it with just R58. I bought myself some basic chemical formulations, a broom and a bucket and I started making my own products,” he says.

Seeing that big business wasn’t buying into his idea, he decided to take matters into his own hands and started selling door to door. This method worked, but his product was still not approved by the South African Bureau of Standards (SABS) and he wanted to make it better so that he could sell it.

“I went to Tshwane University of Technology and asked the TUT chemical station to assist me with modifying the product so that it could be approved by the SABS,” he says. The partnership with the university worked very well and Chem Fresh products were approved.

Now it was time to gun for bigger business. He first approached Pick n Pay, but it was reluctant. Seven years later the company finally agreed to put Chem Fresh products on its shelves. The company also supplies countries within the Sadc region, such as Botswana, Swaziland and Zambia.

Building a company from the ground up with no income didn’t come easy and not having enough capital is still one of the challenges that hinders the business’ growth.

“Access to the market is still a challenge. There are still people who I approach and, because they haven’t seen my products on TV, they won’t buy my products. Now, without access to funding, I can’t go to the media and try to promote my brand – and 16 years is enough time to build a brand. Even today, my brand is not as well established as other brands because of a lack of financial resources,” he says.

Even though he runs an established business with an annual turnover of between R12-15 million, marketing still plays a major role in attracting more customers and putting the business on the map.

Not only does a lack of capital affect the business’s growth in the country, but it’s also limiting the business from being a major player on the continent and, eventually, globally.

“You must also understand the benefit that finance can give you. If you look at my income statement, 2% of my income is from exports. And there’s a big opportunity in exports, but, because I don’t have the financial resources, I don’t have the capacity to go full scale and promote my business to the Sadc region,” he says.

Moshole says there’s a need for more black-owned companies.

“I’m on a mission to build an empire – to build the business to greater heights. Currently, on our continent, we don’t have a lot of black-owned companies. When we build businesses, we need to look at the long term plans, in terms of how we can grow it, not only in our country or on the continent, but as companies that can compete globally,” he says.

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When Mpande bought his first motorbike a few years ago, it was purely meant as a cost-effective means to travel to work.

But it wasn’t long before the ambitious man, who hails from KwaNdebele in Mpumalanga and has plans to retire in his 30s, identified a potential business opportunity.

“While riding, I saw that there were businesses using motorbikes to make deliveries. I also noticed that these bikes weren’t in such a good condition,” he says.

It was from this observation that Bumka Scooter Rentals –- a scooter and motorbike hiring business that provides a rental services to food businesses that make deliveries within a 12km radius in and around the Tembisa area – was born.

Mpande approached local franchise owners and four years later the frugal call centre supervisor owns a fleet of four motorbikes – all of which were bought cash – and provides rental services to the local Debonairs and sandwich shops in the area.

READ MORE: Serial entrepreneur – serial thrillers

He says that the key to starting a small business without incurring a large amount of debt is being prepared to make major sacrifices and cutbacks in certain aspects of your life as far as possible.

“I have had to make many sacrifices to make it this far. I rent a very small room in my effort to save as much money as I can to plough back into my business. I paid cash for all my motorbikes by maintaining a very simple lifestyle,” Mpande says.

He was recently crowned the winner of the Pioneering Spirit competition and gifted with a R100 000 cash injection and a one-on-one sponsored mentorship programme with venture capitalist Vusi Thembekwayo.

He plans to use his prize money to increase his motorbike fleet in order to expand his service offering to include rental packages that also offer a rider, which he believes will set his business apart.

“We’re planning to deliver small packages countrywide. For example, your perfumes that you’ve ordered online. Our service will be prompt and affordable, because we won’t be using cars that get stuck in traffic and require a high level of maintenance,” he says.

READ MORE: Six habits of super-productive entrepreneurs

His ultimate goal is to eventually own a fleet of 200 motorbikes and scooters.

Mpande’s advice to budding entrepreneurs is not to be afraid of taking risks – as long as they are calculated.

“With the right attitude and sacrifice, any goal can be achieved. However, the majority of entrepreneurs in SA are influenced by things that don’t contribute to realising their end goal of becoming a real entrepreneurs,” he says.

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Meet Kwanda Dlamini, a Product Specialist who forms part of the Mercedes-Benz Passenger Cars Product Team. Dlamini is responsible for overseeing passenger product cars at Mercedes-Benz, by presenting exciting new products to the South African market.

“I am responsible for engaging and further strengthening the positioning of the new smart car, the Compact Car-range (A-Class, B-Class, CLA and GLA) as well as the large SUVs (GLE-variants, GLS, and G-Class) and the AMG GT sports car,” says Dlamini.

This is clearly not a job for the faint-hearted. Hanging with the boys, Dlamini (26) embraces any challenge tossed her way.

READ MORE: Mercedes-Benz gets its A-game down with the 2016 A-Class

Landing this job was the perfect fusion of two passions. “I’ve always loved cars, fast cars especially, and I was a marketing honours student, so naturally it was the best of both worlds for me,” says Dlamini.

She began at Mercedes-Benz in December 2015, following a stint at Ford South Africa as a brand analyst.

Dlamini says the Mercedes-Benz brand is constantly reinventing itself to stay relevant, and this excites her. “We work quite far ahead,” says Dlamini. “We also have to be trend-focused, so right now, with the focus on eco-mobility, we’re expanding on a line of e-cars and hybrids, bringing the right product to market.”

Taking SA’s current economic situation into consideration, careful attention has to be given to the marketing of new products. Dlamini says her team works hand-in-hand with the marketing department for accurate market research, launches and sales. Because Mercedes-Benz SA launches are run in conjunction with the global brand, it’s very important for the local team to adapt accordingly.

READ MORE: SekelaXabiso: Growing from strength-to-strength

Dlamini admits that she’s become the go-to motoring person among her friends and family. “When I was at Ford, everyone drove a Ford, and now that I’m at Mercedes-Benz, everyone is driving one!”

As a young black woman, it’s tough to break into a male-dominated industry, and Dlamini says there is an assumption that a woman in marketing in the motoring industry must be on the sales team.

“It becomes very objective and I often get questioned – directly or indirectly about my role. The numbers are against us, but I do believe that if you have a passion for it, you will enjoy working in the industry. The time has come for the fairer sex to take a stronger stance.”

So, does a product specialist for Mercedes-Benz ever talk about anything other than cars? Rarely! Dlamini admits that it’s close to impossible for her not to answer when some asks about the company’s products. If she’s in company and people know her job title, the questions flow – some arbitrary and some technical. And as a product specialist, she knows a few fast facts by heart – as well as the price of every vehicle – and is ready to sell you a car on the spot, or convert you to a Merc fan.

READ MORE: Beautiful, powerful SUVs at every age

Dlamini loves that her job constantly challenges her: “Planning ahead can be difficult because of the many factors involved. It’s always exciting, but still challenging.”

She is confident that she will continue to grow along with the Mercedes-Benz brand. “We’re on the move, always working on the next exciting product!”

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Claiming to be an entrepreneur has become a social power statement. However, the truth is that unless your business challenges the status quo or innovates and transforms common wisdom, existing systems, industries or processes, you cannot claim to be an entrepreneur.

Executive coach Refilwe Khumalo says true entrepreneurship goes beyond just providing a product or independent service in exchange for money, being your own boss or working flexible time.

“True entrepreneurs identify pain points within their communities and then come up with existing solutions, products and services to address gaps in their respective markets.

Entrepreneurs also take what already exists and find new ways to resell it, create jobs and help to keep money in the local community.”

Khumalo adds that those who have a talent or skill that they can sell to others at a cost without being tied to an employment contract often refer to themselves as entrepreneurs, but they are actually professional freelancers or independent consultants.

To test whether you are an authentic entrepreneur, ask yourself these questions:

• Is my product or service transforming or going to transform my customers’ lives?
• Will my product or service help to fix a problem in my community and industry? Is my solution to this problem going to make life easier or better for my consumer or improve business for government or the private sector?
• Am I in business for more than just money?
• Am I willing to put in long hours (up to 12 hours a day, seven days a week) to succeed? Running a business requires planning, execution and hard work, particularly in the beginning phase.
• Am I passionate, driven and willing to make sacrifices to ensure that my business succeeds?
• Am I willing to change and adopt creative ways of doing things? Successful entrepreneurs are willing to learn and constantly improve themselves and their business.
• Is my business breaking even and sustainable?
• Does my business help create jobs and empower people within my community?

If you are unsure whether you are a ‘fakepreneur’ or not, reflect on what you’re doing, why and what drives you.

Khumalo says business doesn’t have to be on a grand scale. “Small business owners differ from entrepreneurs because they take conservative risks, and while their dreams aren’t global, they are happy operating in and serving their community. You don’t need to have a big disruptive dream or idea that challenges the status quo, but can take an existing idea, service or product and resell it at profit. Small business owners, unlike entrepreneurs, don’t have their hands in many projects. They are focused on a specific offering and achieving financial freedom, whereas entrepreneurs are fixated on challenging the status quo and changing the world.”

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Ask any up-and-coming small-business owner about what they dread about owning a business and most will tell you that what keeps them up at night is cash flow and accounting-related problems or tax compliance issues.

As an entrepreneur, your job should be running the business aspects of your company and promoting sustainable growth, but small-business owners are often caught in the trap of trying to be a “jack of all trades”. This can not only backfire but can wind up costing you money in the end.

Elize Giese, FNB Business head of investments, suggests these tax-saving tips for small to medium-sized enterprises (SMEs):

• Constantly track business expenses. Small businesses should keep record of all expenses regardless of their value. Sars provides deductions for a range of business expenses such as entertainment, travelling, gifts for clients and common office expenses, among others.

READ MORE: How SMEs can tap into SA’s booming mobile e-commerce market

• Know which exemptions the business qualifies for. Small businesses qualify for several exemptions from Sars depending on their size and annual turnover bracket. For example, if a small business pays its employees annual salaries of less than R500 000, it’s exempt from paying the Skills Development Levy, which has been set up for the training and development of employees

• Bring professionals on board. Many business owners try to save costs by trying to handle everything themselves. This often results in costly financial and tax mistakes which could easily have been avoided by using a qualified accountant or tax professional.

READ MORE: Free assessment service for SMEs launched by SMEasy

• Use credible online financial tools. Start-ups that can’t yet afford to hire or outsource accountants can take advantage of online solutions offered by their bank or financial institutions.

• Employee tax. Small businesses that specialise in project work across the country often use temporary workers. Employers need to understand the tax rate for temporary employees on different salary brackets to avoid mistakes and fines from Sars.

Source: FNB

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Some businesses take longer to flourish than others because industry algorithms vary considerably. However, small business entrepreneurs realise the importance of staying on their toes and are adjusting to the pace, ensuring that their brand gets ‘out there’.

Xola Nouse is the Managing Director of The Odd Number, a registered black-owned advertising company he started with partner Sbu Sitole. He says the biggest lessons they learnt in starting their business are centred around prudent governance controls, people management and managing their pipeline. In the process, they’ve learnt the importance of getting the basics right, paying particular attention to detail that is often lost during the management of the day-to-day operations of a business.

READ MORE: WATCH: Successful South African women on what inspires them

As a start-up entrepreneur or brand, you’ll need to endure the teething stages of growing your business. “The biggest ‘start-up’ challenge we faced was around the distinction between acquiring capital to grow, or organically building working capital to stay afloat without compromising the long-term vision of the business,” says Nouse.

He believes that innovation is simply driven by challenges and a constant need to improve the status quo.

“Budding entrepreneurs should interrogate the market in which they chose to operate, says Nouse. “Through doing that they not only get an intimate understanding of the market landscape, but are also better able to articulate their value proposition and market positioning, which will ultimately result in them being able to compete.”

READ MORE: How to weather the start-up phase

This just goes to show that entrepreneurship is one of the avenues in which competition is healthy.

Nouse adds that The Odd Number wants to lead the African aesthetic in terms of communication through finding, nurturing and up-skilling fresh talent.

So, what are some of the ways entrepreneurs can adjust their mindset to push the envelope?

Brand specialist Preston Jongbloed believes that brands need to adopt a social enterprise marketing strategy. “CSI is the new marketing,” says Jongbloed. “Consumers like to be part of  a community, so brands need to embed themselves into the culture of the consumer they want to attract.”

Jongbloed adds that customer service, could pose as the biggest killer of business if not managed correctly. Your reputation for how you treat your customers will go ahead of you.

READ MORE: Four ways entrepreneurs can get out of debt

As for staying innovative, Jongbloed compares it to fashion, which is seasonal. This means that as a brand you constantly have to stay abreast of things. “Years ago it was predominantly print advertising and marketing,” he adds. “In this era it’s social media, but I am convinced that the future is about businesses being significant, and that’s where social enterprise will become crowd sourcing to service your business niche.”

Coco-Cola and Nando’s are examples of brands that continue to nail the advertising game. While these are not small businesses, there are definitely lessons to take on. In 2015, Coca-Cola released the first Drinkable Campaign for Coca-Cola Zero, conceptualised by Ogilvy Mathers advertising agency. The ad allows viewers a free Coke Zero drink.

[WATCH]

Best believe that Nando’s doesn’t miss a trending moment. As soon as the Concourt’s ruling on the Nkandla matter was finalised on Thursday 31 March, Nando’s South Africa put out a new ad asking: “Bad taste in the mouth, Mr President?”

Imagine what it must be like to sit in a Nando’s ad strategy meeting?

READ MORE: How to keep your business growing

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Beard Gang is a black-owned cosmetics start-up company that produces natural, hand-crafted grooming products that nourish and condition facial hair.

Matlejoane, co-founder of the company, says the idea was born out of a frustration that he and his partner Motloung felt with the grooming products that were available on the SA market. The frustrations included the high-prices one paid for imported products, and products that didn’t work well for the unique texture of their facial hair.

READ MORE: #AskWomen: What they think about your beard

“Most of the products available on the market weren’t really for black guys. For my own beard, I’ve used an array of products which I won’t mention here, but I found that they caused a lot of breakage, and other problems that indicated that they weren’t created for my hair texture, which is why we had to create our own,” he says.

The idea for Beard Gang was initially conceptualised by Motloung, who is somewhat inclined in the field of chemistry and it was during his research that he met Matlejoane and the two went into the business venture together.

“Motloung is a bio-chemistry drop-out. With his aptitude for chemistry, he started making his own DIY/homemade beard oils, and it was during his product development and market research phase that he met me, not knowing at the time that we would be co-founders,” Matlejoane says.

CHALLENGES 

One of the biggest challenges Motloung and Matlejoane are currently facing is that they both still juggle 9-5 jobs.

“Our biggest challenge at the moment is time; we would be doing a lot more if we had more time. So we push as hard as we can in the evenings and weekends, and respond to the emails for all the orders we’re getting. We’ve even got a few international orders. It’s a lot to juggle especially because it’s still just the two of us now, but it’s been very rewarding,” he says.

READ MORE: The 12 habits of the well-groomed man

Beard Gang was launched this year and has already been making waves, with high demand from local customers. This is evidence that this was a huge gap in the market, and men have been looking for a product that caters to their individual and very specific needs.

THE FUTURE 

Matlejoane says that their vision is to foster the culture of healthy beard grooming amongst South African men, and to develop a franchise model.

“Our main goal is to have conceptual barber shops to cater to beard-growing guys in the country, a space just for them,” Matlejoane says.

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Getting into business with your spouse might seem like a good idea, but it can quickly spiral downwards if you don’t share the same views.

This, however, hasn’t been the case for Lita Mbokotho and Hombisa Mbokotho of Tsori Capital, a 100% black-owned company, of which women own 70%.

The couple both worked in the finance sector and decided to quit their jobs to start their own business in 2010. “I’m from a small town called Engcobo in the Eastern Cape, so I grew up where poverty was glaringly obvious, but I never allowed it to define me,” says Lita. “I’ve always seen myself as bigger than what I saw at the time.” And although his family couldn’t afford much, they placed great emphasis on education.

While at the University of Pretoria studying towards a BCom Accounting, one of the companies mentoring Lita got into trouble with the South African Revenue Service (Sars) and he had to come in to assist them.

He consulted with Sars on its behalf and helped the company resolve the issue. This experience gave him a foot in the door. Not only did he help the company avoid a hefty fine, but it was also able to avoid shedding jobs.

After finishing university, Lita went to work in investment banking – there his career soared. He continued to do his studies and has his Honours in Accounting from the University of South Africa. He also went to Manchester to do his MBA.

His wife Hombisa, who is the co-founder of Tsori Capital, has a CV equally as impressive as that of her husband. Also from a small town in the Eastern Cape, called Flagstaff, she was raised by a single mother who also encouraged her to focus on education.

She too worked in the finance sector and then in consulting. Moving from the finance sector was a transition, as consulting was completely new territory for her.

With the skills they acquired during their careers, in 2010 Lita and Hombisa decided that it was time for them to establish Tsori Capital.

Hombisa says she wanted to go into a business that would make a significant impact on entrepreneurship.

“In 2013 I had this nagging feeling that I had worked for people for too long,” she says. She began working part-time in the business and joined fully in 2014.

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Perhaps labels really are just for boxes – because Lindokuhle Mnisi’s talents certainly can’t be put in one. At 24, Mnisi is a multiskilled, self-made entrepreneur. Growing up in Lothair, a village in Mpumalanga, he’s surpassed all expectations of how many thought he’d turn out.

Coming from a family of five, he is the youngest of three brothers. His mother, Thulisile Rebecca Khumalo, had to drop out of school and get married. “My father was a loving man and a church-going person,” Mnisi says. “And he was well off because he had cattle. But the problem came when he tasted alcohol for the first time.” Mnisi’s father turned abusive and domestic violence became a part of their lives.

“From the age of five, I’ve seen my mother cry,” he recalls. “I remember jumping through the window, running away from my father while she had me on her back, seeking help from a neighbour for a place to sleep.”

Despite all the challenges they faced, Mnisi’s mother decided to complete matric at the age of 37. She went on to pursue a degree and graduated in 2014 at the age of 48. And she’ll be getting her second degree on 7 April 2016. “This is where I draw my inspiration from,” Mnisi says. “My mother was forced into a marriage, endured abuse, but finally graduated and followed her dreams.”

Mnisi is an author and has published a book titled The Victim of Circumstances – Life of a Village Boy, in which he looks at the challenges he faced and how he overcame them. “I’ve always wanted to tell stories. In my community there was only one journalist we knew of, [political journalist] Thulasizwe Simelane,” he explains.

In 2010, Mnisi decided to leave the village and head to Johannesburg to embark on a new journey. He lived in his brother’s outside building and travelled from Tsakane in the East Rand to the SABC studios in Auckland Park, where he’d observe the activities of the media organisation. “I’d basically do nothing but look at people,” Mnisi says. He was often part of the studio audience for music show Gospel Time. “I was really trying to get myself closer to what I wanted to achieve and wanted to be, but it just wasn’t happening. But I kept on trying.”

Mnisi applied for a journalism degree at the Tshwane University of Technology (TUT) in 2011. Three months later, the university’s radio station, TUT FM, offered him a position. “As a village boy, I was worried about my English but I managed,” he says.

Mnisi was hired by TUT as a student assistant to help with broadcast studies. Staff members were impressed with his tenacity and hunger to learn. And if that didn’t keep him busy enough, Mnisi also did voluntary work with community newspapers in Gauteng .

Two years later, news network ANN7 offered him a position as a reporter after he’d applied by submitting a proposal rather than sending them a CV. “Trust me, I didn’t even know how to write a proposal but I took a leap of faith.” Many doors opened for him as a result and he soon received an offer to work at news broadcaster eNCA.

He started his company, Iphupho Consulting, in 2014. Its aim is to empower and motivate people in the township – Mnisi visits schools as a motivational speaker. His company also deals with branding and design. A team is assigned to design logos and even make graduation gowns, many of which have been bought or hired for the past graduation period at universities. Iphupho Consulting also makes protective clothing for miners, such as overalls.

Later in 2015, Mnisi published his book, which was no easy task. He had to find a publisher because he didn’t have the funds to do it himself. While many publishers enjoyed his book, some have put the idea on hold for now. “I’m still waiting for the call. But in the process of trying to find a publisher, I learnt the trade of publishing,” he says. He asked a friend to edit his book and the rest is history.

The idea to develop his company even more arose from the difficulty he had trying to publish his book. He thought, “let me start a wing within the company to offer the service of publishing books for those who can’t afford it”. They’ve managed to publish six books.

“What keeps me going is the fact that my dreams are bigger. I don’t want to fail myself and the people who can one day benefit from what I’m doing.”

His motivational speaking experience has taken him as far as speaking at youth development seminar Leadership 2020, after DJ Sbu asked him to take up the task. “You think people aren’t watching when in fact they’re seeing you make moves, which is amazing.” He’s been a frequent guest on SABC1 show Mzansi Insider and is often invited to speak at schools in Limpopo and North West.

Running the business from a garage space he hired in a township, Mnisi’s team of about 15 staff members continue to push boundaries. The young man is arguably a true example of a diehard, and he seems to be going in one direction – up.

“They used to tell me all I’d be good for was to clap as a spectator at Rebecca Malope’s show [Gospel Time] and watch others succeed – but I’m proving them wrong.”

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Very few people have the privilege of making a career out of their hobby and even fewer people are able to turn their hobby into a multi-billion-rand empire that attracts acquisition attention from a big corporation like Telkom.

Mophatlane and his late twin brother Benjamin certainly didn’t think BCX, the ICT company the brothers founded almost 20 years ago this year at the age of 23, would grow into a massive operation that employs 30 000 people.

But what the Mophatlane brothers did know from the get-go was that they wanted to build a “truly South African company” that was centred on building skills, creating opportunities for young professionals and leaving a lasting legacy.

To do this, the brothers partnered with Microsoft to become a certified and specialist solution provider in the country. The partnership gave the brothers access to support and training, which Mophatlane says was critical to the business’ development and their ability to secure a three-year, R100 million contract with Telkom that he describes as a major turning point for the business.

“The contract gave us the staying power and gave us enough spotlight to showcase ourselves,” he said.

Within just two years, Business Connexion was able to repay the R4 million loan it received to start the business.

READ MORE: Business Connexion’s new head

And with the loan amount settled, the brothers were able to focus on building a business that was customer-centric. This, he says, is another cornerstone in building an asset of value.

“We won customers over because we were professional, punctual and always delivered on time. We spent time sweating the big stuff, but at the same time, we also didn’t ignore the small stuff,” Mophatlane said, adding that the power of word of mouth has the ability to either propel your business or sink it.

For the brothers, it led to bigger contracts and several merger and acquisition deals over the years.

“The real thing about mergers and acquisitions is the human chemistry, people who share the same values as you, which always is important. We’ve always looked at management teams with the same aspirations as us, who ran well governed businesses.”

In 2014, Telkom initiated a whopping R2,6 billion merger bid for BCX, which was approved by the Competition Tribunal the following year.

“We were able to sell to Telkom because we were quite disciplined in ensuring that governance remained straight. When people look at your business, they speak to your auditors, customers and suppliers about how well you run it and they look at the integrity of how you do it,” he said.

But before you get to this point, according to Mophatlane, you need to build a company culture that motivates your employees to perform at their best.

We were able to sell to Telkom because we were quite disciplined in ensuring that governance remained straight. When people look at your business, they speak to your auditors, customers and suppliers about how well you run it

To do this successfully, he said business-owners should be open, lead with integrity, acknowledge their mistakes and take responsibility when things go wrong, develop employees and most importantly, reward them when they achieve good results.

Bearing in mind that the objective is to build a business that “lives beyond you”, Mophatlane advises that you constantly seek out knowledge and “surround yourself with people who are a lot smarter than you and do not be embarrassed to ask for help and be mentored”.

Other lessons he’s learnt along the journey is to resist the urge to allow criticism to drag you down. Once you’ve decided on a specific strategy, he advises that you stick to it and remain true to the cause.

And if you do ever get the opportunity to sell your business and the acquiring firm decides to keep you on to manage it, embrace the transition.

“The key is to remain relevant within the business. If you’re still relevant, then reporting lines don’t really matter,” he said.

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Growing up in Bushbuckridge in Mpumalanga, Thulani Khoza says people used to look down on him because his family was so poor. “People used to look at me like I was nothing, and because of that I told myself that one day I was going to be great, and people would respect me,” he says.

Instead of allowing people’s negativity to crush his self esteem, he used it to fuel his ambition. After finishing high school, Khoza went on to study computer science at Wits University.

After graduating he spent a few months at the South African Broadcasting Corporation (SABC) but left to work for cellphone giant MTN. He stayed less than a year, however, determined to become an entrepreneur.

READ MORE: First locally-manufactured smartphone to hit shelves soon

“I wanted to change my story because when I was growing up people saw me as nothing. So I wanted to be in a space where I could be seen as this creative thinker. Not only that, when I looked at financial magazines all I used to see were white inventors; there were no black people. The only people that you could see were your Bill Gateses and your Mark Zuckerbergs,” he explains.

Khoza wanted to change this narrative and started toying with the idea of creating a smartphone in 2009.

“At the time my focus was on research, how I would assemble the phone and develop the software,” he says.

Despite not having funding, Khoza put a hundred percent into the project and his dream has become a reality. His creation, the T-Touch smartphone will be launched in August.

READ MORE: Legal battle looms over SA-made smartphones

His company, Thules Telecoms, offers various services including fibre optic and other internet solutions. He employs 73 technicians and dreams of opening a factory in Mpumalanga.

“I want to go back and have a factory in Mpumalanga because I want to give back to the community. I also want to inspire others,” Khoza says, adding that he wants to show others that nothing is impossible and that anyone can achieve their dreams.

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Bradley Maseko is the brainchild of BrandedYouth, a marketing agency founded in 2009 to facilitate relationships between brands and the youth market. Maseko had a vision to empower himself as an entrepreneur as well as young people.

He was 26 years old when he established BrandedYouth, and seven years later, he’s gone on to work with some of the most sought-after brands. Serving as the link between brands and the youth market, Maseko says that although it’s been hard work, seeing the fruits of his labour has been rewarding.

“For me, some of the most rewarding moments is being able to employ and empower young people,” says Maseko. “Being able to give young people a salary and get them on board at BrandedYouth makes me proud of the company’s achievements.”

On bridging the gap between youth and the older generation, Maseko believes that miscommunication is the biggest problem. “The two generations don’t understand what the other is trying to say and the channel of communication is broken up.”

He says that the number one reason unemployment is high among young people is the perception that having a degree is enough. “The youth think that just by virtue of obtaining a degree, they’ll land a job,” says Maseko. “However, companies nowadays want entry-level qualifications [a degree] plus at least one year’s experience. We’re trying to promote a culture of going to institutions to study and equip yourself, but also going to companies to gain experience, whether it be twice or three times a week. This will help to build your CV.”

*In South Africa, only about 15% of high school students make it to university, while the total youth unemployment rate sits at 63,1%

Maseko and his team at BrandedYouth will oversee The Standard Bank Youth Expo at the Sandton Convention Centre in Joburg on 6 and 7 August 2016. The expo serves as a platform for brands to engage directly with young people. Topics such as the graduate recruitment programme, training and internships, small-business development and entrepreneurship will be covered in detail. The expo is open to all but aimed mainly at scholars and graduates with experience.

Furthermore, through the expo, Standard Bank and BrandedYouth aim to raise R3 million through sponsorship, exhibitor contributions and donations. The money raised will be donated to various tertiary institutions to aid and award bursaries to hardworking students.

Click here to find out more about The Standard Bank Youth Expo.

*Stats provided by BrandedYouth 

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Townships have become a breeding ground for great business opportunities as more people join the ranks of the middle class.

As a result, many consumers who live in the townships enjoy the convenience of being able to find the same services that people in the city have access to.

Soweto is one township that’s given rise to many entrepreneurs because many resourceful individuals have found better ways of providing these services to consumers. One such individual is George Nkosi, who owns several petrol stations in the township.

The Soweto businessman says that as an entrepreneur, looking for business opportunities should always be at the top of the list of priorities, because these chances will not come to you.

Nkosi, who worked in the pharmaceutical industry in the 90s, decided to quit his job in 1999 to pursue entrepreneurship. “I decided to take the plunge and quit my job as I wanted to go out and look for opportunities,” he says. “I had this thing in me that said I had to do something on my own before it was too late and I wouldn’t have the courage to do it.”

Soon after leaving his job, Nkosi spotted a Caltex site in Soweto that was no longer being used. “I approached Caltex. I felt I could do something with the site and they approved my application,” he says.

As this was his first business and he had no prior knowledge about running a petrol station, Nkosi approached other businessmen who were doing well in this kind of business. “I would literally suck information from them by going and sitting with them,” he explains. “I would have a list of questions. Eventually I chose one of them to mentor me.”

In October that year he started operating his petrol station, Roddy’s Motors, which is situated on the Soweto highway in Diepkloof. “Slowly the business started to grow, and in 2001 I identified another Caltex site that wasn’t doing well. The previous owner wanted out of the business.”

The site came with a number of challenges. One of them was the lack of business at night, which meant it could not operate in the evening – not ideal for a petrol station.

They also had a problem with the drainage system. So much so, that when it rained the place was flooded and motorists couldn’t come in. But Nkosi persevered and turned the business into a profitable one.

“Those were very difficult challenges to overcome. It tested us, but we build it bit by bit over the years. It wasn’t an overnight thing.”

Following the success of his two businesses, Nkosi spotted yet another Caltex site in Dawsonville, Soweto. It too had difficulties and he wanted to take it over.

“The site was constantly running out of fuel,” he says. “I went to enquire about the site and was told that the owner was having financial problems and that Chevron [the company that owns Caltex] wanted someone to resurrect the site. Again I raised my hand and got approval to take over the site.”

Based on his determination and success with the previous sites, Chevron identified Nkosi as one of the entrepreneurs they could sell the petrol station to, something he’s grateful for to this day.

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Tired of his friends’ complaints about their hangovers after nights of heavy drinking, Teboho Twala has come up with what he says is a cure for the dreaded hangover.

Born in Qwa-Qwa in the Free State, the trained metallurgical engineer has worked for Imapla Platinum and South African Breweries and has a lot of business experience. He has a thriving Rustenburg-based company called Soul Africa Group that supplies equipment such as tippers, hydraulic hammers, all-terrain forklifts, graders, bulldozers, and rollers to  mines in the area. The company also offers logistical support to the mines and has been thriving for well over three years.

Twala is also the co-owner of a thriving News Cafe in Rustenburg. The intrepid businessman says he still wakes up with a fear about starting new business ventures, but pushes through with a single-minded determination to become an industrialist.

READ MORE:Why it will benefit your brand to think out of the box

His journey has not been easy. Born to an alcoholic and abusive mother, he once had to live on the streets before he graduated from the University of Johannesburg with an engineering degree.

Twala says his secret is education: “I want to emphasise, particularly to the young people, that it’s important to get an education even if you want to be an entrepreneur. Education will help you network confidently and read up on many issues that may help you move forward,” he says.

Watch Teboho talk about his new beverage: 

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While many aspiring entrepreneurs believe their brilliant idea will be the next big thing, not all great ideas are commercially scalable. Avoid wasting money and time by rushing to take your idea to market. The success of your business requires you to test and validate your business concept.

Executive coach Refilwe Khumalo says testing the validity of your product or service helps entrepreneurs to verify low risk and avoid the potential loss of investing in and taking to market a product or service that will bear no revenue, ultimately resulting in a failed business venture.

“The thought of testing your business idea may leave you afraid that someone may steal your idea, so it’s advisable to first draw up a non-disclosure agreement that will enable you to execute the validity stage of your business idea,” she says.

Khumalo suggests the following strategies to help test the validity of your business idea:

Research your idea
Do an online and offline search to ascertain if your concept already exists in the local or global market. It isn’t necessarily a bad thing if you aren’t the first person to come up with an idea. Knowing it already exists is a breakthrough in validating its scalability. Once you know it exists, find ways to innovate what’s already on offer in the market.

Speak to your network 
Sell your idea to friends, family and professional contacts to establish if they would buy your product or service offering. While it’s important to get positive feedback, discuss the weaknesses and potential threats for your SWOT analysis where you evaluate your strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats.

Do a survey
Getting feedback from your inner circle is not enough because they may try to spare your feelings, so it’s best to conduct a survey on cost-effective platforms such as Survey Monkey. Compile a survey and share it on social media and ask your contacts to share it so you can get a pool of non-biased feedback on your idea.

Run test advertisements
Advertise your idea on your social networks or put up ads on some of the free online advertising portals such as Gumtree to see if and how many people show interest in your idea. Also establish how much they are willing to pay for your product or service.

Run targeted Facebook advertisements
For a small fee you can run Facebook ads and monitor the click-through rates. If a good number of people sign up, this validates interest and indicates that it’s time to take the next step in implementing your idea.

Ask industry leaders
Find experts or leaders in your potential future industry and ask for their opinion. Get them to share their opinions on the positives and negatives of your idea.

The post How to test the validity of your big idea appeared first on DESTINY MAN.

As with most entrepreneurial ventures, the idea behind Moloi’s business was born out of the need to create a solution to a problem hundreds of thousands of stokvel groups around the country struggle with on a monthly basis.

Having been part of several stokvels over the years, and after conducting extensive research among a few local groups, the Soweto-born entrepreneur quickly deduced that administration was a major stumbling block that prevented many groups from reaching their full savings or investment potential.

“Their [stokvels’] biggest challenge is administration,” says Moloi. “They never reach their full potential because they’re questioning something to do with their books or they’re struggling with someone paying late. There’s that ‘pain point’, and I thought this is the best way to solve that ‘pain point’.”

READ MORE: Formalising the business of stokvels

“Further to that, when you start analysing stokvels and how they’re growing, you realise it’s one of the ways to tackle inequality in the country, so that’s when I asked, ‘How can we push this forward?’”

Launched on 16 March, Moloi worked on the app for about eight months before partnering with Pluritone – an IT services consultancy that specialises in software and app development – to develop the app for another year before the final product went to market.

The app focuses on helping stokvel treasurers and chairpersons keep track of monthly payments and claims, and to schedule meetings.

Anticipating potential resistance to the new-generation approach to a 19^th-century savings solution that’s believed to be worth at least R25 billion, Moloi says his team worked on developing two separate strategies to market the app to older and younger groups.

“With the older generation, you need to interact with them face-to-face, so we’ve been doing community outreach meetings where we talk to communities about the app and its benefits,” he says, adding that the younger generation should take greater responsibility in teaching their parents how to be more tech-savvy.

In addition, the StokFella app doesn’t need to be used by every member of the group. Moloi took into account that not every member may be literate or own a compatible device, so group members are able to capture the details on someone’s behalf. This history can be populated once a member buys a smartphone.

READ MORE: Investment solutions for your stokvel savings

StokFella is available for download on Google Play for Android phones and on the iStore for iPhones – over the past six weeks, 100 stokvel groups across the country have downloaded the app.

Moloi’s focus over the next year is to grow the uptake of the app, particularly in Limpopo, which has the second-highest number of stokvel groups after Gauteng.

He’s currently bootstrapping his venture, so he understands first-hand what a costly exercise starting your own business is. But he says entrepreneurs should never skimp on sourcing the expertise you may lack in order to make your business venture sustainable.

“You don’t know everything when you start; you know what you know,” he explains. “The sooner you get that as an entrepreneur, the sooner you’ll understand the power of networking and collaborating, and you’ll realise that an idea is only an idea if you keep it to yourself. The sooner you get people involved who share your vision and contribute to the idea, the quicker you will succeed.”

The post How the StokFella app plans to tackle SA’s economic inequalities appeared first on DESTINY MAN.

The search for investors to fund a start-up is one of the most challenging tasks for any entrepreneur and can take months or years, and sometimes diminish your belief in your vision.

Executive coach Refilwe Khumalo says it’s advisable to avoid obsessing about securing funding, as this can be a barrier to moving from having an idea to executing it. “Instead of waiting on funding, rather do the best you can with what you have and let investors find you already on your journey. Doing this often gives investors confidence in you as it demonstrates that you too are invested in your vision. This will also enable you to present investors with milestones and metrics which detail your success.”

Khumalo adds that to fund your own vision you should consider bootstrapping or leveraging passive income strategies.

Start with your family, friends and networks
This strategy helps you to manage risk and minimise your exposure to high interest rate loans because starting a business on a loan itself can be a challenge. When approaching your family or networks, be mindful to draw up an agreement that all parties should sign and commit to. Remember to always be honest with them when you cannot keep up with repayments and make revised arrangements to avoid damaging your relationships.

Corporate sponsorship/CSI funding
Many large corporates have budgets set aside to support start-ups and entrepreneurs whose businesses are aligned to their sponsorship or CSI agendas. Research and make a list of corporates that operate in your industry or that share the same values, mission and vision as you, then put together a proposal and seek opportunities to pitch for funding.

Successful entrepreneurs/Angel investors
Do your homework on successful entrepreneurs and angel investors who are high-net-worth individuals who may not necessarily play in the corporate space or even in your industry but run very successful organisations and have a passion for investing in emerging entrepreneurs. Ensure that you understand their mission, vision and expansion strategies so that you can pitch to them for funding.

Advance payment plans with partners or investors
After successfully winning a pitch or obtaining buy-in with a financially secure partner, negotiate advance payments to use this money as capital to execute your business idea.

Venture capitalists
These are professional investors often seeking “out of the box” ideas with the potential of making millions in return. If you have a scalable and proven business model consider approaching venture capitalists.

Crowd funding
Go online to seek crowd funding sites where there are investors that can make a pledge to fund your start-up, pre-buy your product for delayed delivery or make donations to help you execute your business idea.

“Funding is a complex tradeoff that requires a well thought out funding strategy and pitch, not only to win investors, but to also be in a position to negotiate terms that will better suit your repayment abilities, equity and control appetite,” says Khumalo.

“Remember that ultimately investors invest because they want to make money, so for a winning funding pitch ensure that you demonstrate your revenue model and show the investor exactly how you are going to make them money in return for their risk to invest in you and your idea.”

For more information on how to write a business plan, click here.

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Becoming a businessmen requires a lot of hard work and hustling. Some of the country’s top businessmen share why they haven’t stopped hustling, even when they have made it, with DESTINY MAN.

Vusi Thembekwayo, motivational speaker and CEO: Watermark Capital Partners

Does one have to be a bit of a hustler to be successful? Yes. Absolutely. Hustling is about a tenacious spirit. It’s about hunger, determination, fortitude and the unrelenting pursuit of your goals. All these are qualities of the honest hustler.

Describe Thembekwayo-style smart hustling. When I first had the idea of opening an office in London, I knew that we didn’t have the cash required to float the office for a year. So I convinced clients that I was already in London. It meant my global clients could now book me at their local prices. In two and a half months, I generated enough bookings from the London office in foreign currency to pay for the rest of the year. I hustled my future into reality.

Gil Oved, Group co-CEO: The Creative Counsel

Does one have to be a bit of a hustler to be successful? No. You have to be a lot of a hustler to be successful. I’ve been an entrepreneur for 20 years and every day is a hustle. That’s the game.

Describe Oved-style smart hustling. A few years ago, a client decided to stop doing business with us for unknown reasons. The head honcho simply told me not to contact him again. I was bewildered because it meant our entire business could be at risk. I asked everyone with even the slightest connection with this guy to help me meet with him. It was a real hustle to finally secure an appointment. In preparation for the meeting, I studied everything I could about this person: what he wore, what he liked, who he knew, what team he supported. I spoke to other suppliers, clients and colleagues of his. I even went shopping for clothes to resemble his fashion sense. I walked in there mirroring him and showing humility and submissiveness. It worked. Before the meeting was over, he requested his subordinates to re-engage us with vigour. That was a hustling triumph I am very proud of.

Ismail Hassen, CEO: Innotech Group (2015 SA SMME of the Year)

How I Made It…… Ismail Hassen (Executive Chairman of CSR in Uitenhage
Picture: Brian Witbooi 08 December 2014, The Herald

Does one have to be a bit of a hustler to be successful? The hustler instinct will always kick in when facing a tough period in business. Building sustainable enterprises takes time. It’s extremely important to think out of the box.

Describe Hassen-style smart hustling. In 2009, I started my first business, CSR-Africa, in the international tank container market. I saw a gap, as there was no South African company serving this sector. I moved to Durban from Port Elizabeth and rented a small space from a shipping and clearing company. I used only 60m² of a 1 500m² work space. I was close to highly flammable goods, which sometimes made it impossible for me to work. Most of my clients were from Europe and came to SA twice a year. During their visits, I would ask my landlord to give me access to the full 1 500m² area, the boardroom and infrastructure. We would then put up branding all over the place. This is how my company built a reputable brand. Today, we have our own infrastructure in Port Elizabeth and have become a direct competitor for the Chinese manufacturer that was dominating the market.

The original version of this article appeared in the May 2016 issue  of DESTINY MAN

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Typically, renting a property requires a fair amount financial planning given the double rental deposit, key and utility deposit and administration fees required from a tenant upfront.

Tallying these costs, most people have to fork out anything from R10 000 upwards and if you’re a graduate starting your first job or internship, the likelihood that you have that kind of cash saved up before you’ve even earned your first pay cheque is very slim.

Noticing a gap in the market for a financial solution geared towards assisting young professionals secure their first apartment, Nomlala piloted his idea among 15 friends, starting with R150 000 savings. Just over a year later, Deposit4U processes around R450 000 in loans a month.

Andile Nomlala with equity partner Simon Susman

Based on research that shows that, generally speaking, consumers tend to keep up with their monthly loan or credit repayments consistently for the first year before they start defaulting, he offers short-term loans that cover rental deposits and all other associated fees that is payable over 12 months or less, at an interest rate of between 15% and 28%, depending on an applicant’s risk profile.

READ MORE: Soweto entrepreneur on turning failed businesses into a success

The loan is paid directly into the landlord or estate agency’s bank account and once you have settled the loan, the deposit money becomes yours when your lease expires or when you decide to move houses.

“Landlords have been abusing young professionals in terms of refunding deposits. We also educate our lenders around their rights as tenants and what the landlords are responsible for. At the end of a lease we will also fight on your behalf to get your money back if a tenant is struggling,” Nomlala says.

He says the main differentiating factor between his product offering – which is managed by Rainfin – and those offered by traditional banks is the fact that applicants don’t require a credit record in order to access a loan and students will be considered for a loan as long as their parents or relatives can sign surety for it.

You also get the option to repay the loan within 48 hours interest free.

“You want to avert the situation where young professionals get into debt early and ultimately get trapped in the cycle with longer-term loans that offer higher interest rates,” he says.

“A loan for this purpose not only makes rental accommodation more accessible, but it also helps a client with cash flow. It’s far easier to pay back a loan in equal monthly instalments over a year than to fork out a lump sum almost equal to one month’s salary.”

Nomlala says approaching Woolworths Non-Executive Chairman Simon Susman to be his mentor was the real turning point in his business as he not only gained valuable insights into running a business, but Susman liked his idea so much that he became an equity investor.

READ MORE: A tailored banking solution for entrepreneurs

While he describes the process of registering the company as an accredited credit provider as seamless, Nomlala says the most challenging aspect of his line of business is dealing with the risk that first-time credit seekers pose in terms of not being able to verify a lender’s repayment history.

Looking into the future Nomlala is planning to partner with big corporates to organise accommodation for graduates in their internship programmes or those completing articles as well as removal companies to offer a holistic product offering from accommodation searches, financing, moving services and electronics for your home.

“There are a lot of business opportunities for black entrepreneurs, but they are often missed because we overlook the basic, simple things around us. The world is focused on innovation, but innovation doesn’t have to be complicated,” he advises.

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It’s only a couple of months before Thulani Khoza officially launches his smartphone, called T-touch. The Mpumalanga entrepreneur who recently spoke to us about how he came up with the idea, says he is overwhelmed by the response he has received thus far.

Khoza says he has received interest from as far afield as the UK. African countries also want to get in on the deal. He has received orders from the likes of EA Prestige Ventures and the University of Cape Coast in Ghana.

“When I started this, I never imagined that I would have so much support. I thought that I was just going to sell 10 000 phones and have a good life,” he says.

READ MORE: Mpumalanga entrepreneur creates his own smartphone

Khoza, who received over R5 million in investment in the project, says he is now in talks with the Mpumalanga government to use one of the vacant factories in the province to manufacture the phones.
They are hoping to create about 700 direct jobs for people in the province. But what is truly exciting for the entrepreneur is that retailers also want to partner with him.

“In terms of other countries, we are still in the process of meeting their terms and conditions. So far, it is going very well,” Khoza says.

Sakkie Mashigo, who is Khoza’s main investor, says he invested into the business as he believed in Khoza and saw the potential for the business to succeed.

“We are looking at broad distribution. One of the big retailers is very much interested and we are wrapping up a deal in terms of prices and the quantity it wants in its shops,” Mashigo says.

“I saw that if this thing had the right investment, it would come to fruition. I started creating an enabling environment for Thulani to be able to run with the project.”

READ MORE: How to save data on your smartphone

He encourages other business people to invest in young and innovative entrepreneurs.

According to Khoza, this project is a big indication that if South African entrepreneurs get the right support, nothing can stop them from succeeding.

“Having someone who believes in you encourages you to do more. As an entrepreneur, I think it is important for one to always dream big. We need to think out of the box,” he says.

He also advised entrepreneurs to never feel entitled, but to always work hard. Although he has not yet decided on a price for the T-touch, he believes it will be cheaper than other smartphones on the market.

Khoza’s dream is to open a college to teach young people about software and how to put a smartphone together.

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