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BE INSPIRED BY THESE YOUNG ENTREPRENEURS


Do you have a business idea but the idea of executing it is still a bit daunting? These 8 entrepreneurs might just inspire you to take the plunge!









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RABIA GHOOR
Founder and Creative Director of SwiitchBeauty.com

While most of us were playing soccer and annoying our siblings at the age of 14, Rabia Ghoor was building an empire. She left school to start her cosmetics business, SwiitchBeauty, with a R6 000 loan from her dad, which she repaid quickly. “I’ve never borrowed a cent from anyone since,” said Rabia to Fairlady magazine. Since then, the now 19-year-old, has expanded the SwiitchBeauty product offering and they are doing more than 3 000 deliveries a month. They’ve also opened an office in Pretoria. Rabia’s tip to the Jet Club Family, “Nobody knows what they’re doing. There is no such thing as ‘good enough’ - when you reach your ‘good enough’, you’ll only want to be better. Whatever it is you need to do to start, do it. A massive advantage I had was starting my business super young. No one had told me yet that it was unconventional so I never really gave the risk too much thought. If you’re willing to teach yourself and not scared to screw up - you’re going to have a great time!” 


OGECHUKWU ANUGO-OBAH
Founder and CEO of BodyLikeMilk

Ogechukwu is the epitome of perseverance. Lack of finances meant she had to drop out of nursing school, but she did not give up. Unable to afford skincare products, she decided to create her own. According to Forbes, she used her last N1,000 ($3) to make cream and sold it to her first clients for N2,500 ($7). In one month she sold over 50 cups and today her online store, www.bodylikemilk.com, is sending products to Dubai, Germany, the UK, Ireland, France and South Africa.


DAVID TORR AND CHRIS VERSTER COHEN
Founders of UCOOK

In 2014 two friends came together to create a R200 million enterprise…from Chris’ garage! UCOOK is a dinner kit delivery service operating in South Africa where subscribers get fresh, organic ingredients delivered straight to their door, with the easy recipes. From 24 boxes in their first delivery round to tens of thousands in 2018, UCOOK is now one of South Africa’s most successful dinner kit services.


PAUL KIHIKO
CEO of Wing It

Paul Kihiko, started Wing It after he realised there’s a gap in the Kenyan market for restaurants specialising in chicken wings. Kihiko faced many challenges while trying to set up his business. “The biggest challenge during the planning phase was approaching the landlords for the buildings where we wanted to be placed. The issue is that they always asked, ‘Have you done this before? Before I give you this space, do you have a track record in this business?’” Kihiko told Motivation.Africa. “And my answer was that I have never done it before. This is my first time. So everywhere I went, doors were locked. People were saying ‘no’ every time. We did that for three, four months,” he added. It’s a good thing Paul never gave up, because his first outlet at Galleria Shopping Mall had a 6-figure annual turnover. Sjoe! In 2019 Kihiko raised $75,000 from two investors for a minority stake in Kenya’s edition of Dragons’ Den, which he’ll use to open other outlets this year. 


NTLALO JORDAN
Chef, Founder and CEO of Jordan's Ways Of Cooking

After working as a sous chef in restaurants all over the world – including Dubai, Liberia and Sudan – Ntlalo decided it was time for a venture a bit closer to home. In 2018 he opened his restaurant Jordan’s Ways Of Cooking in Langa, Cape Town. He raised the money to start his business by hosting themed food events at local community halls. "I found a space to rent as I didn't have enough financial backing to own a property. I started with a two-burner stove, some cutlery and no waiters as we sold food from a small window with an outside setup." It didn't take long for the restaurant to gain popularity from locals and tourists alike, which prompted Ntlalo to close for a few months to renovate the property to accommodate more guests. Now, two years down the line, they have 20 tables, waiters and an industrial kitchen. Jordan’s Ways Of Cooking has also been featured on IOL, Bona Magazine and recently Hemispheres Magazine. "It's a dream! Sometimes I have to pinch myself to check if this is real. Hard work truly pays off.” 

NTHABISENG MOSIA
Co-Founder and CFO of Easy Solar

Nthabiseng Mosia is a South African-Ghanian entrepreneur who started Easy Solar, along with Alexandre Toure and Eric Silverman. Easy Solar, which trades as Azimuth internationally, provides affordable, pay-as-you-go solar ligthing to communities in Sierra Leone who don’t have access to electricity. It has since provided 30 000 households with electricity. In 2019 Nthabiseng made the Forbes Africa 30 Under 30 list and she was also named Social Entrepreneur of the Year by the World Economic Forum.

SIPHESIHLE KWETANA
Farmer and co-owner of Siphe Development and Capacitation Agency

This young South African entrepreneur did not get the results she’d hoped for in her matric year, but instead of seeing it as the end of the road, she saw it as an opportunity to innovate. Today – at the age of 25 – she is an award-winning farmer who grows crops for Pick ‘n Pay, Spar, Food Lover’s Market and Ideal Veg. She told Food For Mzansi, “I thought that just because I wasn’t good with books on an academic level, my strength might lie in working with my hands.” She also co-owns Siphe Development and Capacitation Agency, with her husband. This agri-business offers training and support, infrastructure development and agricultural supplies for undeveloped areas in the Eastern Cape.


BE INSPIRED BY THESE YOUNG ENTREPRENEURS BE INSPIRED BY THESE YOUNG ENTREPRENEURS Reviewed by Jet Club on February 11, 2020 Rating: 5
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