12 Successful African Entrepreneurs Share Their Best Business Advice

On July 25-26, Nairobi will be abuzz with entrepreneurship. In case you missed the memo, heads of states (including U.S. president Barack Obama), entrepreneurs, investors, and business leaders will converge on Kenya’s capital for the 2015 Global Entrepreneurship Summit.

Didn’t get a ticket? Don’t worry. You can still get top-notch entrepreneurial advice, and you don’t even have to stalk the summit Twitter feed.

We’ve interviewed dozens of uber successful entrepreneurs over the past few months. And they’re not just techies. Some started photography businesses, others catering and public relations companies, and one even turns cow dung into affordable energy (how’s that for resourceful!).

We’ve asked every one of them for their top business advice.

Now we’re finally collecting the best of those answers in a single place. Read on for our favorite nuggets of entrepreneurial wisdom.

Mwangi Kirubi, founder of Click Pictureworks (Kenya)
“Get out of the social prison! … You don’t have to conform to what the world expects of you. Follow your heart. By doing so, you will find peace that surpasses all understanding. Believe me, you’d rather be broke and happy than rich and sad.”

Jason Njoku, CEO and co-founder of iROKOtv (Nigeria)
“My pet hate is hearing people, smart people, complain about how they can’t get their business idea off the ground because they haven’t secured tens of thousands of dollars in investment. I started off with a few hundred pounds, thanks in no small part to my best friend, Bastian Gotter. Bastian would literally give me £100 here, £400 there, and we built a multi-million dollar business on the back of that. If I can do it, so can many more people — they just need the will and the nerve.”

Henri Nyakarundi, founder of African Renewable Energy Distributor (Rwanda)
“Rejection will be part of the day-to-day business for a while, but as long as you keep pushing and adapting to your marketplace, doors will finally open up. Business might be different in substance, but the tools needed to succeed are always the same. The No. 1 reason why people fail is because they quit, and we all know quitters never win.”

Phoebe Munyoro, co-founder of African Beads Safaris (Kenya)
“Start simple so that you keep on marveling at your growth. Things such as registering a company, setting up a website, and joining associations that will add value to your business are important.”

Bernard Kiwia, co-founder of Accelerating Innovation and Social Entrepreneurship (Tanzania)
“If we innovators can be daring, we can create great products like our Chinese counterparts. We are brilliant. If we can copy Western musical and fashion styles, why can’t we, with the same vigor, copy innovations but change them so they solve our day-to-day challenges?”

Olive Gachara, founder of Image with Olive (Kenya)
“You have to love what you do. Don’t do it for money, fame, or recognition; do it because you believe with every speck of your being that that is what you are meant to be doing. Everything else will fall into place.

When it comes to capital, only look for it if you really need it. If you are able to get things done without a bank loan or outside investment, start. Then plough back all the profits into growing the business. If you absolutely need capital to get started, there are lots of ways to get funding from banks, individual investors, and investment groups. You may find it easier to get money for expansion rather than start up. So wherever you are, whatever your situation, just start!”

Veneka Chagwedera, founder of NOURI Bars (Zimbabwe)
“Take little bets. The idea is that you take a micro chance every day on something. It’s those little daily steps that will help you further along. For instance, send a couple of emails to people who might mentor you. Or start going through a legal process you found daunting at first.”

Raymond Besiga, founder of Sparkplug and Akabbo (Uganda)
“I would say if you’re going to start, don’t procrastinate. There are people who have done these things before — seek out those people. Use the socially available networks, and don’t be scared to ask questions. I will never say no to an invitation to advise someone. It’s better for everyone if more people succeed than fail. When people fail, they become another statistic; whereas, when they succeed, they become a luminary.”

Ajuma Nasenyana, founder and executive director of City Models Africa (Kenya)
“Be yourself. Always. That is the real deal! You can act for so long. You will get tired; it is stressful and hard work being someone else. When you are yourself, you are able to build on that strong foundation.”

Take it slow. Listen to those who have been there before you. Perfection is key. Find your strong points and maximize them — don’t try to do everything. There’s a reason why we have only two hands and two feet: There’s a limit to how much you can handle perfectly.

Joachim Ewechu, co-founder and CEO of Unreasonable East Africa (Uganda)
“There are a lot of things I could say here. This is a broad question. I guess the one thing I would say is get sh*t done. At the end of the day, what matters is how much, how fast, and how smart you execute.”

Osse Greca Sinare, founder of OGS Studios, (Tanzania)
“When you are just starting out, be free to focus on different styles without the fear of failing holding you back. It is better to follow your passion and enjoy every aspect of it to improve your skills, instead of just focusing on doing it for the money. It takes a lot of practice AND a lot of trial and error to become a great photographer.”

Eugenie Nyirambonigaba, founder of Home Appétit (Rwanda)
“Don’t be afraid. If you want to do this enough, anything is possible. You’ll have to work hard, but help is there if you look for it. There are organizations out there to support entrepreneurs, and there is a world of information on the Internet.”

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Source: AKILAH.Net