Global entrepreneurs inspire local youth who didn’t make it to Forbes Under 30

Over 200 young entrepreneurs who could not make it to the Forbes 30 Under 30 summit gathered at the University of Botswana where Launchit International held a business forum with some of the Forbes delegates from across the world to enable them to ask questions, get business insights and network.

Launchit International CEO Goitsemang Khutsafalo stated that he recognised the need for entrepreneurs and other young Batswana to get the same exposure and knowledge that attendees of the Forbes summit are getting. The international Forbes delegates that had come to the event themed, ‘The Premium meet-up’ had delegates from the Netherlands, Germany, Romania, Canada, USA and Singapore. The panelists ranged from business people to social activists in different industries.

University of Botswana lecturer Rudolph Boy noted that entrepreneurship is not easy. Boy reminded the youth that entrepreneurship is about being creative and innovative. He implored them not to rely heavily on government but use their ideas to start businesses, as it is only through innovative ideas that young people can survive such tough climates.

CEO of IM Systems from the Netherlands Matthew Corvers said that he never thought that he would be an entrepreneur. Corvers stumbled upon his entrepreneurial journey when he was at university. The university he attended put him in a business incubation program which helped him harness his business acumen. Moreover, the soft skills that he learnt became pivotal in his business journey. “If you are looking for investors you have to look for them before you even begin the business journey in order to build trust with them,” he said. Marylin Chew, founder Eterate Caligraphy Singapore, told the audience that she started a business by chance after being rejected from business school three times. She recalls how her passion of drawing led her to an opportunity opening up in a coffee shop when someone asked her to do some designs for the shop. Chew maximised that opportunity by providing her Calligraphy services to everyone she knew. She admitted that there were days where she did not feel good enough but the Covid-19 pandemic created a gap in the market which she exploited and has resulted in her business growing in leaps and bounds.

Shreya Patel, founder of Window Dreams Production Canada notes that her entrepreneurial journey started on a bad note as she chose her heart over what her parents wanted her to do in life. Patel was in the modelling industry until she decided to give back to the community which led her to uncover domestic human trafficking in Canada. Patel states that it took a couple of years to get the documentary to be seen on international screens and for her to get a big break.

The Forbes delegates advised local young people to work hard, to never give up and push on as business needs a relentless person.