Mutepa Kamoto is the founding father of Property 36, a trailblazing actual property agency in Zambia. Kamoto’s brainchild has survived robust financial occasions to proceed offering actual property service within the Southern African nation.
Enterprise Elites Africa caught up with Kamoto on his entrepreneurial journey and essential points in Africa’s actual property business.
BEA: How did your entrepreneurial journey begin and why did you determine to go that route as a substitute of paid employment?
Mutepa Kamoto: With years of expertise as an actual property specialist in one of many main actual property companies in Zambia on the time, I used to be fortunate to have a managing director who believed in me. He all the time taught me to not bounce jobs however to dream of starting my very own journey. I used to be moulded into an entrepreneur by watching him create his dream into actuality. As soon as I took the leap of religion, I knew precisely which approach to head.
BEA: What methods did you first use for advertising and marketing your actual property enterprise?
Mutepa Kamoto: My technique was what I known as the outside-in strategy. Earlier than an workplace, we arrange an impression – a catchy identify, an internet site, personalised emails and most significantly, I understood that an aggressive social media presence was key. This helped us achieve grounds in 1000’s of interactions and gave us good leads on the early begin of my enterprise.
BEA: What had been the elements that contributed to your success within the enterprise?
Mutepa Kamoto: Whereas they may very well be many, I’ll single out two – firstly, my ardour for the true property sector. I’ve learnt within the final couple of years that keenness stays and grows companies as a result of when the cruel occasions arrive, that retains you going. Secondly, persistence and steady studying. I learnt to belief the method on this journey and all the time be open to studying new traits within the sector. The reality is, you don’t know all of it; continue to learn.
BEA: What are the challenges you’ve needed to surmount in your journey?
Mutepa Kamoto: Beginning a enterprise within the African setup is tough. Statistics present a excessive proportion of companies fail within the second yr. The challenges are all the time interconnected – our African coverage of entry to capital turns into the largest hindrance to an entrepreneurial surroundings throughout the continent. This was by no means completely different for me; it known as for sacrifice and disposal of property to maintain one dream.
BEA: What’s probably the most difficult factor about working a enterprise?
Mutepa Kamoto: For me, it’s the problem of holding that fireside burning in you. Entrepreneurship shouldn’t be a fairy story story; 9 out of 10 issues received’t transfer as you planned- giving up is all the time the highest agenda. Nevertheless, holding that fireside burning in you separates you from the dreamers and the doers.