Start Up
How Universities are Accelerating Research and Innovation in East Africa.
Ludovica Ochieng, Incubation Manager at @iBizAfrica presenting at the Education Collaborative East Africa Convening in Kampala.
Do universities stand at the nexus of research and innovation?
Yes, they do. Not only do these institutions draw curious minds, but they also offer a platform for fostering entrepreneurial skills and innovation. However, they also face the challenge of connecting students with employment opportunities in a job market that can be quite limited, both formally and informally.
Consider these staggering numbers: every year, around 10–12 million young Africans enter the job market, but there are only 3 million formal job positions available as per recent data. Additionally, the International Labor Organization reported that in 2020, youth unemployment rates in Africa were at 10.7%, higher than the global average of 13.6%.
To bridge this gap, university-industry partnerships have emerged as crucial connectors, with statistics from 2022 revealing that 46.8% of universities globally have established links with industries. This symbiotic relationship helps transform academic research into tangible products and services for the market.
Moreover, the rise of university-based incubators (UBIs) has been remarkable. Globally, there are now 150 university-based incubators; our business incubator, @iBizAfrica Innovation and Incubation Centre, is one of them and boasts over 12 years of experience in nurturing innovation and entrepreneurial skills.
In 2012, when the incubator began, students were some of our earliest incubatees. Fast forward to today, and some of our startups have become the founders of successful startup solutions in Kenya and Africa, including names such as PurpInk, Eliteways Travel, SophieBot, MLedger, and Aurora Health Care. These startups have benefited from partnerships with organizations, leading to over USD 250,000 in funding across various sectors such as agritech, fintech, and edutech, with our business incubation center scaling over 800 startups through training, coaching, and mentorship.
What makes university-based incubators potent for innovation? They provide benefits such as nurturing research and development, involving students in real-world challenges, fostering collaboration among students, researchers, and industry professionals, and granting access to valuable resources like labs and expert faculty. Additionally, they serve as fertile grounds for students to incubate ideas, receive mentorship, access resources, and transform concepts into successful ventures. Their impact on fostering entrepreneurial skills and venture creation for innovation is indisputable.
In October, @iBizAfrica shared its insights at the Education Collaborative East Africa Convening in Kampala, joining higher education leaders, educators, industry professionals, entrepreneurs, regulators, policymakers, and government representatives from the East African region. The two-day event, “Accelerating Entrepreneurship and Graduate Employability for Regional Development,” aimed to encourage collaboration and knowledge sharing and inspire innovative approaches within East African higher education.
One of the most engaging sessions revolved around the establishment of incubators within higher education institutions (HEIs). This discussion, facilitated by @iBizAfrica Incubation Manager, Ms. Ludovica Ochieng, delved into the technical, infrastructural, and financial complexities involved in setting up incubators on campus.
These were some key takeaways from her presentation on setting up incubators in HEIs:
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- The success factors of setting up incubators in HEIs include university leadership support, internal expertise from university faculty and staff, the student community that generates a good pipeline of incubatees, and strong industry relationships, among others.
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- To ensure incubator sustainability, HEIs must consistently enhance incubation processes, refine objectives and strategies for quality outcomes, adapt to innovation ecosystem trends, and encourage a blend of public and private funding sources, as well as a revenue-sharing model with investible startups.
The event emphasized the significance of commercializing university-based research output to drive innovation in East Africa. With the African continent contributing only 2% to global research output and allocating 1.3% of funding to research initiatives, increased investments are essential. Kenya’s Gross Domestic Expenditure on Research and Development (GERD) stands at 0.81%, equivalent to USD 2.06 billion, highlighting the urgent need for heightened investment. Despite effective knowledge transfer practices and strong intellectual property protection, the absence of patenting poses challenges to commercialization.
Preparing students for success requires collaboration with diverse stakeholders. HEIs alone cannot achieve this task; collaboration with various innovation stakeholders, including industry professionals, entrepreneurs, regulators, policymakers, and government representatives, is essential. Looking ahead, @iBizAfrica’s commitment to partnering with HEIs and sharing knowledge and experiences remains a key goal as they strive for a robust ecosystem for innovation and entrepreneurship within the education sector. @iBizAfrica is dedicated to collaborating with HEIs and sharing knowledge and experiences in this endeavor.
By Michelle Njeri.
Key Intellectual property and legal issues to consider when structuring your startup
Intellectual Properties.
In a bid to empower and inspire women entrepreneurs in the tech industry, @iBizAfrica-Strathmore University, in partnership with Standard Chartered Kenya, held the second Women in Tech Masterclass series.
The event delved deep into the fascinating realm of IP infrastructure for startups, shedding light on the theme of intellectual property and legal issues.
Universally, the tech industry is thriving like never before, and women are making significant strides in this field. However, in the fast-paced world of innovation and entrepreneurship, understanding the importance of owning intellectual property is important.
Intellectual property refers to intangible creations of the mind, such as inventions, literary and artistic works, and symbols, names, and images used in commerce. It includes patents, trademarks, copyrights, and trade secrets, all of which can significantly impact the success and sustainability of tech startups.
There are many IP considerations when structuring a startup, and many founders tend to overlook the importance of owning an IP and are faced with questions of IP ownership in critical moments such as business registration or capital raises.
Most investors are mostly keen on these IP assets; thus, as a startup founder, one can be asked to show ownership documentation before making an investment. Businesses are occasionally made aware of IP ownership concerns during the due diligence process of potential investors; such issues may lead investors to either reject the investment opportunity or postpone it until the issue is resolved.
Leading the conversation was Dr. Melissa Omino, Director at the Centre for Intellectual Property and Information Technology Law (CIPIT), Strathmore University. She said, “In the realm of IP, research is the key that unlocks innovation’s chest, helping you identify what’s worth protecting and ensuring your ideas are your most valuable assets.”
Dr. Melissa’s pointed out the following:
- Start with your IP strategy: As a business, focus on building and shaping your strategies around your IP. Prioritize what truly matters to your business model.
- Embed an IP culture in your startup: Regular IP audits are an essential step in identifying what licenses you are missing or need to renew.
- Share your IP now and then: but this also depends on various business factors. Take software developers, for instance; they regularly share code. Although this act might expose their copyrights, it does not entirely permit other developers to harness their product fully since they’ll only use the shared data to earn revenue.
Ms. Dorcas Chebet, Research Manager at CIPIT, mentioned the different types of IPs.
- Copyright: A type of intellectual property that protects original works of authorship as soon as an author fixes the work into a tangible form of expression. It can be writers owning their written work or visual artists owning their designs.
- Trademarks: A sign that can be used to distinguish the goods or services of one company from those of other companies.
- Patent: An exclusive right granted for an invention, which is a product or a process that provides, in general, a new way of doing something or offers a new technical solution to a problem.
- Trade Secret: IP rights on confidential information that may not be sold or licensed.
Understanding how to protect IP is paramount for startups aiming to shape their niche in the market. The masterclass featured expert speakers who demystified IP concepts, highlighting their relevance and the legal implications involved. Participants gained insights into the different types of IP and learned how to safeguard their innovations from potential infringement.
Events like this act as catalysts for progress and change as women continue to create a place for themselves in the tech industry. The masterclass’s insights will undoubtedly inspire women entrepreneurs to follow their passions, take risks with their innovations, and contribute to the rapidly changing digital sector.
By Wachira Kevin.
Women in Tech Program awards 7 women-led startups with USD 70,000
- 7 Kenyan women-led startups awarded USD 70,000 through the Women In Tech Program
- To date, 64 start-ups have participated in the Women In Tech Program and 32 have been awarded over KES 38.4 Million in seed funding
The Standard Chartered Bank and @iBizAfrica – Strathmore University, through its partnership program the Women in Tech Incubator program has today awarded 7 women-led businesses with USD 70,000 marking the successful conclusion of the 6th cohort of the incubation program.
The award ceremony, themed Leveraging Technology for Impact, was presided over by The Standard Chartered Bank Board Member, Mr. Imtiaz Khan, Standard Chartered Bank Kenya CEO, Kariuki Ngari Strathmore University Vice Chancellor, Dr. Vincent Ogutu, and @iBizAfrica Incubation Centre- Strathmore University Director, Dr. Joseph Sevilla.
The 6th cohort of the Women in Tech Program, launched in March 2023, attracted a pool of over 250 startups from sectors such as agriculture, finance, transportation, health, and the construction industry. 15 women-led startups were shortlisted to undergo a 3-month incubation training modeled around the fundamentals of business idea conceptualization, strategy formulation, the Internet of Things (IoT), marketing, Big Data, and Artificial Intelligence.
Dr. Vincent Ogutu, the Vice Chancellor at Strathmore University, stated, “As we celebrate the graduation of this Women in Tech Cohort, it’s important to recognize the role of technology in our daily lives. A recent study has shown that only 14.6% of startups in Africa are founded by women; there is hope for a bigger representation. If women receive the right mentorship, training, and coaching, the tech ecosystem in Africa will thrive even more. Currently, 30.9% of all new tech roles are filled by female candidates, showing a slight increase from 29% in the previous year, according to recent statistics. Academia and the private sector need to collaborate more on programs like this that support women-led businesses”.
These 15 teams are an increase from the previous cohorts, where 10 businesses were incubated and 5 startups per cohort received funding.
Speaking during the event, Mr.Kariuki Ngari, CEO, Standard Chartered Bank Kenya & East Africa said, “Supporting women-led enterprises is a key component of our ambition to impact and influence the growth of the SME sector, and the Women in Tech programme enables us to bring this vision to life. We have been able to catalyse growth through our latest cohort and are confident that the entrepreneurs who have gone through the programme will be better positioned to take up the opportunities in across the various sectors that they serve.”
The funding recipients were picked after a rigorous judging process undertaken by accomplished industry experts in both private and public sectors, seasoned entrepreneurs, and academic thought leaders on solution innovation, availability of market opportunity, and social impact in Kenya, among other criteria.
The seven awarded women-led startups demonstrated excellence based on three main criteria:
- A female-led start-up business that solves social economic needs in Kenya
- An innovative startup that utilizes emerging technologies ie. Internet of Things (IoT), Artificial Intelligence, Augmented and virtual Reality; 3D & 4D Printing; Cloud Computing; Big Data; Blockchain; Drone Technology, and Biometrics.
- A business model with a Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) alignment
The Women In Tech Top 7 startups for this year are as follows:
- Sign-With Us – Sign with Us is a Sign language training institution that teaches sign language to anyone around the world who has a passion for sign language, or may interact with a deaf person in their line of work.
- Saidiwa Rides – Aims to bridge the gap between unreliable public transportation and relatively expensive digital taxis with a novel driver-passenger pairing model that permits daily commuters to share taxi seats and share costs.
- Imani Health – An e-wallet that enables people to save specifically for healthcare. It breaks down large payments into piecemeal payments that one can easily pay over time before they need the healthcare service.
- Know Learning Ltd – Revolutionizes parental engagement by providing a user-friendly platform that bridges the gap between schools and parents.
- PanaCare- A healthcare company that provides affordable telemedicine services using USSD technology for consultations, remote monitoring, and health management tools without internet access.
- Rhea Soil Health Management – Rhea provides access to soil testing and agricultural extension services to smallholder farmers, analyzing soil and providing results and fertilizer recommendations through a machine learning-powered recommendation system.
- Instruct Africa -Instruct is a legal tech company that leverages tech and data to provide legal assurance to matatu drivers and bodaboda operators. Our mission is to democratize access to justice and legal tools in the informal sector.
In today’s increasingly digitized landscape, emerging technologies have become essential for startup innovators to integrate into their ventures. Notably, AI startup funding in Kenya is valued at KES 13 billion according to a recent survey. However, the adoption rate of such technologies in Kenya remains relatively low at 28.76%, falling below the global average of 35.17%.
Since its inception, the program has trained more than 64 women-led businesses leveraging on technology by offering mentorship, advisory, coaching, networking opportunities, access to seed capital, and investor forums that help mold their businesses to international standards. To date, 32 startups have been awarded over KES 1.2 million (USD 10,000) in seed funding with the first five cohorts attracting over 2,000 applications.
Inclusion and Digital Innovation to Empower the Deaf Community
Hali Halisi, Digital Sign Language Interpretation
In a world that is growing more connected, it is essential to ensure that no one is left behind, especially when it comes to accessing information and services.
In response to this demand, @iBizAfrica-incubated startup Hali Halisi has become a pioneer in digitally connecting institutions with qualified interpreters, enabling the Deaf community to have uninterrupted access to vital information.
Hali Halisi’s remarkable achievement was recognized in June of this year when they won a coveted Sh3.5 million at Mozilla’s Africa Innovation Challenge.
The Birth of Hali Halisi:
The company came to life from the vision of Silvia Muturi, founder of Hali Halisi, who, after over 15 years of sign language interpreting, dreamed of bridging the communication gap between the Deaf community and the hearing world by utilizing technology to bring access and inclusion to those who were often denied access to important health and education information by communication barriers.
“I witnessed firsthand the struggles faced by the Deaf community in accessing crucial information. This ignited a fire within me to create a solution that would empower them to lead more inclusive lives.” Says Silvia.
Incubation at @iBizAfrica:
Hali Halisi found its nurturing ground at @iBizAfrica, a renowned incubation center. Through the Women in Tech program. Through @iBizAfrica’s comprehensive support, including mentorship, networking opportunities, and access to resources, Hali Halisi transformed from an idea into a dynamic startup. Silvia Muturi acknowledges the impact of @iBizAfrica, stating, “By the time we were joining the incubation at @iBizAfrica, we were at the ideation stage. We were formerly known as HOD Hear(oes) on Demand, but based on feedback, it was @iBizAfrica where we were able to rebrand to Hali Halisi and understand our product or service better. The guidance and support we received from @iLabAfrica were instrumental in refining our concept and building a robust platform that addresses the needs of the Deaf community.”
Revolutionizing Communication:
Hali Halisi’s capacity to instantly interpret for clients and remove obstacles to productive communication is its one-of-a-kind selling point. The firm makes it possible for the Deaf population to access education, career opportunities, healthcare services, and more by linking institutions with skilled interpreters available on demand. This innovative digital platform is revolutionizing the way the Deaf interact with the world, empowering them to become active contributors to society.
Triumph at Mozilla’s Africa Innovation Challenge:
Hali Halisi’s groundbreaking innovation caught the attention of Mozilla’s Africa Innovation Challenge, a prestigious competition that recognizes and supports transformative tech solutions. Out of numerous entries, Hali Halisi emerged victorious, securing a remarkable Sh3.5 million to scale their operations and expand their reach. Silvia Muturi expresses her elation, stating, “Winning the Mozilla Africa Innovation Challenge is a testament to the immense potential of Hali Halisi. This grant will enable us to further enhance our platform, reach more institutes, and empower countless lives within the Deaf community.”
Impact and Future Aspirations:
Since its inception, Hali Halisi has positively impacted the lives of many within the Deaf community. By ensuring uninterrupted access to interpreters, the startup has empowered individuals to overcome communication barriers and seize opportunities that were previously out of reach. Looking ahead, Silvia Muturi envisions a future where Hali Halisi becomes a global force for inclusivity, stating, “We aim to expand our reach beyond Africa and create a world where the Deaf community has equal access to information, resources, and opportunities.”
Hali Halisi’s remarkable journey from an @iBizAfrica-incubated startup to a winner of Mozilla’s Africa Innovation Challenge underscores the transformative power of digital innovation. Through their pioneering platform, Hali Halisi is breaking down communication barriers and empowering the Deaf community to thrive. With their inspiring CEO, Silvia Muturi, at the helm, Hali Halisi is set to revolutionize accessibility and create a more inclusive world for all. As the startup continues to make strides, its success serves as a beacon of hope, reminding us of the remarkable impact that can be achieved when technology and empathy converge.
By Wachira Kevin.
15 Women-led startups selected to join Standard Chartered USD 175K Women in Tech Cohort 6 program
- The top 15 Women led startups selected to join the Women in Tech Cohort 6
- 15 Kenyan companies will access 12 weeks of incubation, which will culminate in 7 of them getting KShs 1,200,000 million in funding to grow their businesses.
Standard Chartered Kenya in partnership with @iBizAfrica- Strathmore University have today shortlisted fifteen (15) women-led startups that will be undergoing 12 weeks of business incubation training under the Women in Tech Program. This will culminate in seven of the women led businesses receiving USD 10,000 each in funding to grow their businesses.
Standard Chartered Women in Tech (WiT) supports female-led entrepreneurial teams with business management training, mentoring, and seed funding. This year’s top 15 teams were selected from a pool of over 250 startups that applied for the program from different sectors, such as agritech, fintech, the healthcare industry, mobility tech, disability tech, and the construction industry. This is an increase from the previous cohorts, where 10 businesses were incubated and 5 startups per cohort each received funding.
The shortlisting criteria were rigorous and required the selected teams to demonstrate capacity in execution, showcase potential to solve socio-economic challenges in Kenya, have a balanced skill set (team lead, business development, product development, and marketing), while ensuring that they leverage technology.
Commenting on the program, Standard Chartered’s Head of Corporate Affairs, Brand and Marketing East Africa, Ms. Joyce Kibe, stated;
“I wish to congratulate the fifteen women-led enterprises that made it out of a pool of over 250 startups and the rigorous shortlisting criteria to join this forward-thinking, efficient, and transformative Women in Tech Cohort 6 program. As Standard Chartered, we are delighted to have scaled the number from the previous cohorts, where 10 businesses were incubated.”
She further alleged: “Our continued funding of this programme is as a result of research that indicated that female-led startups in Africa attracted less funding in 2022 compared to male-led startups in the region. Women-led enterprises were more challenged by societal bottlenecks and financing limits, so we are pleased to contribute to closing the gap through increased capacity building and focused funding toward female-led enterprises.
I therefore encourage the beneficiaries to maximize this opportunity as we empower them to champion more diversity in technology and advance entrepreneurial and leadership excellence.
Speaking during the selection of the Top 15, Dr. Joseph Sevilla, Director of @iBizAfrica- Strathmor University, said;
The Women in Tech Program has been designed to bridge the finance and capacity building gap that women entrepreneurs face, and we are proud to have partnered with Standard Chartered Bank to further champion this cause through an additional cohort.
“I therefore also congratulate the successful beneficiaries and wish to encourage them to take advantage of this programme as it will equip them with the necessary coping mechanisms and professional skills through training, mentorship, and financial literacy that will resultantly contribute to their survival and success.
He added: As Strathmore University, we are confident that the financial contribution worth US 175K made by Standard Chartered towards the Women in Tech—Cohort 6 programme will go a long way in uplifting the participation of marginalized groups, tackling inequality, and promoting greater economic inclusion for women entrepreneurs in our country. As I conclude, I appeal to more men, as they constitute the majority of the workforce in the technology ecosystem, to offer more support to women in the computing and engineering spaces by taking up mentorship roles and opening doors for them.
To align with the theme for this year, Embracing Equity in Women-Led Businesses, the business incubation training has been modeled around emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence, the Internet of Things (IoT), and big data, while additionally integrating the fundamentals of business idea conceptualization, strategy, formulation, and marketing, which will be key in moving businesses from incubation to sustainable ventures.
The Women in Tech Incubator Program is committed to being digital by design and supporting female entrepreneurs with technology to grow their businesses.
The 15 enterprises that will be starting the 12 weeks of mentorship @iBizAfrica the Women in Tech 2023 include: –
- Ecorich Solutions Limited -A start-up that provides cheap fertilizer. The company has developed a WasteBot decomposer device/smart recycling bin that use AI-enabled recycling to convert waste into valuable and affordable primary farm fertilizer.
- Imani Health Wallet – An e-wallet that enables people to save specifically for healthcare. It breaks down large payments into piecemeal payments that one can easily pay over time before they need the healthcare service.
- Sol Active (fusion) – A web platform where landlords can list their empty retail space for free, and brands can book it easily
- Saidiwa (squad) Rides – A hailing app that aims to bridge the gap between unreliable public transportation and relatively expensive digital taxis. It introduces a novel driver-passenger pairing model that permits daily commuters to share taxi seats and share costs.
- Ento Farm – A biotechnology company that produces protein-rich animal feed based on dried, inactive insects that are produced through the fermentation of organic waste.
- AgriTech Analytics – They build innovation capabilities of start ups and aspiring start ups in Kenyan universities to help geospatial information systems and AgriTech students develop rare and valuable tech skills needed to come up with profitable and sustainable solutions.
- Techtenum Minds LTD – An E-learning platform that aspires to raise subject matter experts by bridging the practical skill gap between traditional academic curriculum and latest job market needs.
- MyAfya Africa – A mental health organization and digi-health company dedicated to revolutionizing the accessibility and availability of mental health services.
- Rhea Soil Health Management Limited – An IOT soil analysis device that provides soil testing and agricultural extension services to smallholder farmers. A machine learning algorithm is then powered to make recommendations depending on the data shared.
- Know Learning Limited (Recess)- is a platform that enables parents to participate in their children’s learning processes by partnering with teachers and schools to improve the learning outcome. It additionally ensures that schools and parents are on the same page through facilitation of transparent and efficient dialogue on the child’s progress.
- Sign with us – A Sign Language Training Institution Based in Meru and Online The institution teaches sign language to anyone around the world who has a passion for it.
- Acre-insights – They use drones and satellites to collect high-resolution data on crop growth and development, soil moisture, and other key indicators. Through advanced analytics and machine learning algorithms to interpret this data and provide farmers with actionable insights to make informed decisions about irrigation, fertilizer application, and pest control.
- Instruct Africa – They provide affordable legal solutions to professionals in the informal sector
- Panacare: A healthcare company that provides affordable and accessible healthcare services through telemedicine. The company leverages USSD technology to offer consultations, remote monitoring, and tools that help patients manage their health and well-being without the need for internet access or smartphone devices.
- Tynka Global – A platform that connects entrepreneurs, experts, and investors, simplifying the process of forming partnerships. The platform’s open database of investors and businesses allows entrepreneurs to showcase their projects and attract potential investors.
Since its inception, the program has trained more than 10 small and medium businesses to leverage technology by offering mentorship, advisory services, coaching, networking opportunities, access to seed capital, and investor forums that help mold their businesses to international standards. 50 start-ups have participated to date, and 25 have been awarded over KES 1.2 million (USD 10,000) in seed funding. 50 businesses have so far gone through the incubation process, with the first five cohorts attracting over 2,000 applications.
From a hobby, startup to a well-managed fashion brand.
A journey that began as a hobby
A journey that began as a hobby back on campus is now a well-paying job with established management. The @iBizAfrica- Strathmore University team sat down with Sam Njairu the Creative Director of Genteel Fashions, where he shed light on his now successful and well-paying Fashion brand that began as hobby years back.
How did Genteel Fashions begin?
The journey of my brand began when I was still at Strathmore University. Prior to that, I used to buy clothes from Gikomba Market, clean them, and resell them to some of my friends. At the time, I always admired the fashion trends in Istanbul Turkey, with it being the fifth capital of fashion in the world owing to its very robust textile industry and I wondered why we can’t reciprocate something similar to that back home. I imported a couple of stuff from Turkey and started reselling to people and began the journey of trying to understand how to create a locally made brand. I started doing research about Kenyan fashion brands, and where suits came from, trying to understand brands like Henry Poole and so a mix of all this combined with culture basically gave birth to Genteel.
Which year did you begin?
I can’t quite remember the first time I started because the majority of this creative process was when I was in Strathmore and I did it more as a hobby at that point in time. I got serious with the brand around 2018-2019 when I joined the @iBizAfrica – Strathmore University Incubator.
How was joining @iBizAfrica Incubator?
It was interesting, joining @iBizAfrica helped me understand the importance of doing research and understanding customers’ mindsets. One of the things we did during the sessions was to come up with a form to try and figure out whether Kenyans would buy locally made stuff so we interviewed more than a hundred gentlemen and out of them, 85% said they will be willing to buy locally made stuff if they have got good quality if the brand had a story and if it will be accessible to them. This formed part of the reason why I felt Genteel would succeed.
How has the journey been in the Fashion industry?
In my view, the Kenyan fashion industry is very unique while versatile mostly because people have a sense of mistrust for locally made stuff. This has been driven by the myth that Kenyan Fashion brands are not able to generate as good quality as what is imported. However, this perception is slowly changing and the consumer’s mindset is improving and becoming much more accepting of what there is locally. The situation has since improved because now we have more and more people who are interested and more accepting of international infiltration into Kenyan brands.
What role did joining @iBizAfrica incubation play in the product market fit?
@iBizAfrica handheld and helped me to appreciate that building a business is a journey whereby in one of the sessions we came up with a business plan in class but when it was practically done at the incubator, it brought the concept to life. Theoretically, learning about business and implementing it are two different things and it is one of the things incubator did. It helped me appreciate that IT is not a career, but an enabler and it really helped me crystallize the impact that IT can play in ensuring the success of a business.
Did you at some point change the business approach?
We have had to change our business model a couple of times. Many people think that fashion is a straightforward sector but one of the things we are trying to do is learn that there is a difference between a business person and an entrepreneur. A business person replicates a business model in search of profit and an entrepreneur creates something new out of nothing in search of profit. The journey of an entrepreneur is a bit different and slightly difficult.
Genteel Fashion’s process of changing the business has been gradual and continuous. One of the strategies we took was tailoring suits, which is currently our main revenue source. It involved a lot of customer feedback, which we constantly keep reviewing, and this has paved way for market expansion, whereby we are now looking into how we are going to capture women.
What challenges did you face?
Challenges are numerous as any entrepreneur will tell you, outside finances, there is that one trying to get the business model to work. We are still figuring this out. We are dealing with the blue economy which means unpredictability and which can often lead to a brand being unsuccessful. There is a challenge of also deciding whether to outsource production or keep it in-house. In addition, the question of what marketing model will scale one’s brand in a manner that ensures awareness and visibility. Lack of confidence is another challenge that most entrepreneurs face, they are not confident enough to prove that they are actually doing great, something awesome, and creating an impact in someone’s life.
What is your advice to startups?
I say people should attach their business to a real-life mentor. In my view, being attached to a real-life mentor from whom they can seek advice and understand how to replicate and build the business is crucial through the lifecycle of the startup.
How are you able to overcome the issue of finances as a challenge?
In the initial phases, we were able to get investments from Angel Investors. My partner and I personally put in some money from the business. Over the course of time, we have gotten some grants from The British Council, and we have also been able to get loans to enable us to push the business. We are looking forward to how we can get tangible investments to help us move to the next level.
How are you using tech to take your business forward?
We have a website and we are trying to optimize our e-commerce page so that guys can easily make purchases from our store. Part of the business is largely on an appointment basis though people go to the website and make calls. We have a system where you can go and automatically book appointments online. We are also using Tech in terms of utilizing and managing our operations such that production, and sales, as well as in the front-end admin work.
Do you have an App?
It is something we are thinking about but at this point in time I would like first to focus on streamlining the operations before we can start innovating.
What advice would you give to upcoming startups in the fashion industry?
Some of the lessons I have picked up are that success does not usually happen overnight, so don’t give up. Always try to be 1% better than you were yesterday. By doing so you will always learn to improve. Use feedback from customers as data and figure out how to improve your service delivery. Be vulnerable and willing to share your challenges, people around you may be of help and may provide solutions to your problems.
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