Inspiring entrepreneurs

Riversands Incubation Hub held its monthly business club meeting featuring Luvuyo Rani, founder and managing director of Silulo Ulutho Technologies, an ICT business and training centre.

Rani, who was recently awarded the Schwab Foundation Social Entrepreneur of the Year Award for 2016 in Kigali, Rwanda, during the World Economic Forum summit, revealed that his entrepreneurial journey was inspired by his mother who owned a tavern.

He said while he got teased about his mother’s business, he learnt important lessons about managing customers and being resourceful.

The businessman related to entrepreneurs how he went from teaching accounting and business in Kwamfundo in Khayelitsha, to selling computers from his car – growing from a single store to 38 branches in the Western Cape and Eastern Cape. Currently, his company employs 178 people and, to date, has trained more than 25 000 graduates.

Read: Riversands Incubation Hub seeks green-fingered entrepreneurs

While Rani has achieved a lot, he acknowledged that it wasn’t easy and explained how he struggled to get financial support to get his business up and running.

“When I started, everything was a mess for six months and I got ridiculed – people were saying it won’t work, why would you leave teaching to sell computers,” he said.

Through all the hardships, Rani persisted because he believed so much in his business idea and he urged entrepreneurs to do the same, saying they must have a thick skin. “Entrepreneurship is not an easy journey and, at times, things don’t go according to your plans, but you must keep on believing and pushing,” he advised.

Asked why it was important for him to speak to emerging entrepreneurs at Riversands, Rani said he wanted to make an impact and inspire others.

“Entrepreneurship is a lonely journey so I’m passionate about giving hope and motivating others to succeed. I want these guys to say, ‘if this man can do it, so can I’.”

Many of the entrepreneurs who attended Rani’s talk were left inspired, saying he was real and authentic. Tim Mohulatsi of HM Media, one of the businesses at Riversands said, “He was very real and inspirational and he talked about who he is. I think a lot of small businesses can learn a lot from him.”

The next Riversands Business Club meeting is scheduled to take place on 22 June and Morongwa Makgamatho – inspirational and motivational speaker, entrepreneur, consultant, facilitator and author – will be the guest speaker.

The Riversands Business Club is a monthly networking event for corporate partners, entrepreneurs and members of the public.

Details: www.riversandsihub.co.za; 011 012 4600.

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