Young Batswana make strides in entrepreneurship
Isaac Pinielo | Monday May 30, 2016 15:28
This week Business Monitor caught up with two such young entrepreneurs, who are making strides in the business world.
Having completed their education and not finding a job, Tlotlo Molefe and Khumagadi Setlhare became stronger and turned into the people they are today.
With a motive to make money and to create employment, they started their business, Tlosi Investments after getting a youth development fund from the Ministry of Youth, Sport and Culture. Today they employ five young Batswana. “We registered our business first and we applied for the funding. It was a long process that needed a lot of money and paperwork. We got funded in July 2015 and we have been operating fully since then,” said Setlhare. “We got the idea from loving entertainment and how we could use Facebook as a tool to get us more clients hence we started off with renting out sound camera stages and lights through the inspiration of loving music,” said Setlhare. Located in Extension 4 behind the GSS grounds, the business specialises in a myriad of activities, including printing, stage lights, t-shirt supply, studio recording, cellphone vending, clothing and retail supply, stationery and protective clothing supply, videography, promotions, branding, advertising, among others.“We wanted to have a variety of products in one house without losing a client to go to another entity, hence we supply everything from a pencil to the biggest sound stage,” Setlhare said.With a mission to exceed beyond limitations at the outset, Khumagadi said they wanted to bridge the market for events in Botswana. She noted that she wanted to diversify not only in one market so they chose a company that allows not only their skills and talents but to allow the client to use the same company to attain various things.
Setlhare also said they also give back to the community by holding events and making clothes donations to the SOS, adding that they have an upcoming event for the SOS this coming month. “We use one of our artists, Mollz also known as Molefe to motivate in schools. We help young people to register companies and assist them on how to go about getting funded,” she said. For advertisement, Setlhare said they use the social media, print, radio and verbal contact.
She said being entrepreneurs has affected their family lives because they are constantly busy and never home.
She attributes the secret of success to planning, doing and achieving, noting that there is no formula for one to be successful. “Anyone can be successful even without having gone far with schooling. You just need to be a visionary and align your goals,” she said.