The Nairobi2017 entrepreneurship conference organized by Youth+ (Plus) Africa is on its 3rd and final day today at the Hotel Royal Orchid Azure, Nairobi.
In attendance at the conference are a number of business leaders and successful entrepreneurs who offer mentor-ship and guidance to entrepreneurs.
Here is an insight into yesterday’s (27th April 2017) Nairobi entrepreneurship conference. (Part 1.)
- Pillars of thriving entrepreneurship environments By Julie Gichuru – CEO, Arimus Media
Starting a new business is not easy, an entrepreneur faces numerous challenges before his/her enterprise grows to be worth billions of shillings.
“An entrepreneur is someone who is adventurous, someone who creates an industry” says Julie. “According to Forbes, one in every ten business fail, 90% fail in their first 3 years.”
As young entrepreneurs, we should stop expecting other people to offer the solutions which we want to see. Instead, we should always be on the fore front in being a solution to many challenges in the country and globe.
Sitting back and complaining about poor leadership will not lead to any positive outcome.
Entrepreneurs face a number of challenges especially when starting the business. One main challenge is lack of enough capital and resources to start the business. “The worst thing an entrepreneur can do is taking a bank loan which he or she cannot service.” She says, “One would rather seek investors to invest in the business than taking a loan which he/she cannot pay back. Being in debt is the worst kind of slavery.”
As an aspiring entrepreneur, start your business where you are with whatever little you have. There is no perfect time to start a business.
Starting the business will encourage investors to invest in your business because they can see you have already started working on the idea.
“People invest on people they can see a potential in and not in business.” Says Julie.
For more info:
www.youthplusafrica.org
