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Access to quality African products abroad: An Introduction to Bendera

Olivia Decker is a Kenyan living in the Netherlands. She is the founder of Bendera, an E-commerce platform that specialises in African products. Olivia is part of the Zidicircle Diaspora Entrepreneurship Bootcamp 2020

The story behind the venture name and idea

Bendera means flag in Swahili.  A time for African products/expertise to fly high.

With so many quality African products coming to the market with no common platform to find them, it was time.

What the venture does

Bendera is an E-commerce platform that specialises in African products. To the seller, Bendera provides a more targeted audience for their products. To the customer, Bendera is a one-stop shopping site for reliably sourced quality African products. 

Some of the product categories are:

  1. Organic Tea/coffee
  2. Superfoods (Moringa, baobab etc.)
  3. Art and Home Décor
  4. Accessories (jewellery)
  5. Clothes.

Bendera’s history

Olivia as the founder of Kenya Hub, a community platform that supports start-ups and East African Entrepreneurs in The Netherlands, Bendera will give them a common platform to sell their products, giving them more visibility and accessibility to their products.

Olivia’s 3 key pieces of advice from her journey to fellow entrepreneurs

  1. Put the right structures in place for your business.
  2. Find the right people (with integrity) to work with
  3. Be open to constructive criticism.

What triggered Olivia to take part in the Bootcamp

I was especially interested in product costing & pricing and Financial administration.

Learnings so far from the program and how Olivia has applied the lessons learnt

To immediately apply what you learn.  I came to class with a business idea that I now hope to launch before March 2021.  I am actively speaking to Entrepreneurs to source the best products for Bendera based on feedback I got from the Market research class on what customers actually want and are willing to pay for.

The Bendera we hope to see in 3 years

Bendera being the No. 1 website for buying quality African products in Europe. Working with reliable African businesses and ensuring the supply chain to the customers works efficiently.

Experience with the Bootcamp

The program offers the foundation of running a successful business through topics that will cost you money, time or your business when ignored or not properly managed. I highly recommend this program to other entrepreneurs.

Advice for entrepreneurs in the diaspora

Interact with other Diaspora entrepreneurs and build a network that works for you.

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Financial access for SME’s in Ghana: Meet New Africa Impact Fund

Kwabena Owusu-Agyeman is a Ghanaian living in the Netherlands. He is the Managing Director and founder of New Africa Impact Fund. Kwebena is part of the Zidicircle Diaspora Entrepreneurship Bootcamp 2020

What the venture does:

New Africa Impact Fund (NAIF) is a diaspora led fund providing the diaspora with the opportunity to take ownership of the biggest problem facing SMEs in Ghana, which is affordable funding. In line with their values of trust, integrity and honesty, NAIF identify and manage the fund winners to ensure the investors get a return on their investment.

How the business idea and venture name came about:

Kwabena’s passion for ownership and business development was the genesis of the idea.

I believe there has to be a shift in our mindset from “what do you do” to “what do you own”.

In order to promote ownership through business development, the venture was set up to give people living in the diaspora the opportunity to be owners, investors, problem solvers and be part of the entrepreneurial success story of SMEs in Ghana.

3 key pieces of advice from Kwabena’s journey to fellow entrepreneurs:

  1. Right people + Right environment

Engage and build relations with positive people in an environment that challenges your ideas and dreams. It makes you a better entrepreneur.

2. Learn from your passion

We often hear, follow your passion, but I say learn from your passion. Sometimes your passion may not be commercially viable but take lessons from it and apply it to your business. 

3. What is the worst that can happen? Go for it!

Why Kwabena took part in the Bootcamp:

I was looking for direction. In addition, I wanted to challenge and test the feasibility of my idea to see if it was commercially viable. Lastly, I wanted a reputable facilitator to mentor my journey.

What he has learnt so far from the program, and how he has applied the lessons learnt:

Through the Bootcamp, I have developed a mindset of helping customers solve their problems rather than falling in love with an idea and imposing it on customers. My interactions and findings made me continuously review and update my business model canvas.

The New Africa Impact Fund we hope to see in 3 years:

In three years, the fund should have invested in at least five SMEs in Ghana.

Experience with the Bootcamp:

The Bootcamp was a rewarding experience for me. The sessions were of a high standard, the facilitators were experienced, and successful entrepreneurs in their own ventures. The participants were motivated and eager to learn. I will encourage entrepreneurs to join the next edition.

Advice for entrepreneurs in the diaspora:

COVID 19 taught us the importance of having entrepreneurship skills such as flexibility and adaptability to changes in the market. Do not give up, ask the right questions and support the community.

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The black don’t crack experts – Meet FaceFirst Cosmetics

PerfectFaces is a diaspora based venture inspired by real-life experiences. The venture name PerfectFaces came from the challenges People of Colour face.

The name PerfectFaces is an encouragement to that person of Colour who’s self-esteem is low or shaken because of society’s ideologies. The name is a visible stamp of who we are; a protruding forehead, high cheekbones, thick lips, a broad nose, every face shape – we’re perfect.

Stephen Duncan

PerfectFaces has created a range of cosmetic make-up that bridges the gap between suitable, affordable, and durable foundations and powders for Dark Skin. Europe has a very large Dark-Skinned migrant population (approx. 12 billion), and even though the Cosmetic Market is worth €79.8 billion, it still lacks suitability, choice, and affordability for People of Colour.

The skin needs of people of Colour (POCs) vary from that of Caucasians. The PerfectFaces’ range addresses these needs by supplying make-up that provides immaculate coverage without being heavyweight. With colour specific formulations to even skin ones, paraben-free & eco-friendly to protect health and the environment. Making available both matte (not dry) and dewy (not oily) formulations while ensuring availability and easy accessibility.

PerfectFaces founder, Stephan Duncan, is a trained professional make-up artist with a degree in International Business Management. His immense passion for Dark Skin fuels his drive to enhance the beauty of POCs. Having worked in the cosmetic make-up industry for big brand names and indie brands, he constantly had to offer ‘the next best thing’ to his clients, and that was a pain point. It pained him to see the same observations he had as a child growing up in the 80s in Trinidad and Tobago were still affecting POC in Europe in the 90s and now in the 2000s.

Stephen Duncan

“I got sick of saying, ‘yes this looks nice on you!’ Every time I tested a foundation or powder on a person of Colour to meet my sales targets, and I repeated this lie. My passion and love for POC would no longer allow me to do so. Determination to do something about it, listen and continuously improve for our POC is why we’re here today”.

Stephen Duncan

In 2013 he began working with a chemical engineer to formulate and create a brand by POC for POC.

With an aim to growth FaceFirst and reach more POCs who need the brand, Stephan Duncan, joined the Zidi Circle Entrepreneurship Diaspora Bootcamp 2020. A programme aimed at supporting business growth for diaspora led ventures through business coaching, mentorship and investment readiness.

I joined the Bootcamp wanting to learn how to improve PerfectFaces and get it from where it is to amazing. I’ve learnt a lot from the programme, but the main things that stuck are I must know every part of my business, even if getting help to understand it is needed. There is more to being investor ready than having a business plan and a product.

I’ve also learnt the importance of aligning the business strategy with what one wants to attract. I continue to apply these learnt lessons by readjusting and updating PerfectFaces’ Business Model and Strategies.

Of course!!! I would encourage other entrepreneurs to take part in this programme. Where else does one receive such a gift of knowledge, guidance and a boost to move their business from A to Z!!!? This is an opportunity that must be shared.

Stephen Duncan

Stephen Duncan’s 3 key pieces of advice from his journey to fellow entrepreneurs.

  1. Don’t sit on your idea(s). Don’t let the fear of failure hold you back. Just get up and do it! Try it.
  2. Entrepreneurship is a constant learning journey. Be open to fall down and get up, listen, take critique and feedback, learn and improve.
  3. Your belief in your vision must be known/seen/felt for others to believe in it too. That responsibility is yours.

His Advice to entrepreneurs in the diaspora

Their intention to hold us down comes from the fear that we’ll succeed. Our emancipation can ONLY be achieved by our unity. Hold each other’s hand, support each other, trust each other, build each other. Emancipate our community!

The team at PerfectFaces are working relentlessly in order to see their vision come true, to see PerfectFaces in every Afro Hair Supply Store on the European mainland. We are delighted to be part of this journey.

Find out more about the Entrepreneurship Diaspora Bootcamp.

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