Young entrepreneurs: Inspiration knows no bounds

Steve Jobs once said: “Your work is going to fill a large part of your life, and the only way to be truly satisfied is to do what you believe is great work. And the only way to do great work is to love what you do. If you haven’t found it yet, keep looking. Don’t settle. As with all matters of the heart, you’ll know when you find it.” Steve Jobs started his business in a garage and end up being the CEO of Apple. It is very admirable to have young entrepreneurs in Mauritius. They invest their time and money to do things differently. They have inspiring personalities and face obstacles with their chin up. 

Neelesh Kumar Bundhoo (20 years old): Founder of Audacity

Neelesh, 20, graduated at 18 years and is a fervent patriot. Despite his young age, he wants to make his country a safe place. “I have introduced personal alarms in Mauritius for every Mauritians at a very affordable price and my goal is to see every citizen of Mauritius walking freely and safely in our streets. Peace of mind for parents who contributes to our economy will be more effective at work, a device that cannot be misused to harm anyone keeping women, youngsters and senior citizens safe.”  Audacity is bringing multiple positive aspects to the country. It is known and used worldwide. It is a little device which anyone can carry easily. Someone just need to activate the device which will emit a loud alarm around 200 metres. It can save someone from a dangerous situation like aggression, theft or rape. When I started my business, people were not very supportive. “I was confident in myself. I changed their perception by showing the results of my success.” On the business aspect, he did not have major challenges.  He planned well before getting into action.  “Whenever an unwanted situation comes into surface, it should be fixed right away and not procrastinated over. On this note, he is encouraging youngsters of Mauritius to venture in entrepreneurship and contribute in making Mauritius bloom with a new generation of young leaders.” His message to the youth: Have the audacity to follow your dreams, make your parents and your country proud.

Dakshay Succaram (23 years old): Professional farmer

Dakshay, 23, chose to be his own boss and not to stress over finding a job. Despite his Higher School Certificate and his computer knowledge, he preferred to follow his heart. “It was already hard to find a job and I think that it was better to realise my dreams and live my passion.” That’s how he merged work and passion. When he started his business, it was nearly impossible and it is very rare to choose to be a farmer while others would prefer white collar job. It was a very challenging step. He cultivates whatever he wants, at the pace he wants. The farmer also takes care of everything in a very meticulous way. Being his own boss is an advantage. Furthermore, he admits that “It was rather difficult to convince my family. In today’s world, it is very rare to choose to become a farmer. Dakshay is very much grateful for the help his uncle Rama offered.”  Thanks to him, I am now an MQA approved professional farmer in hydroponics.” Also, his friend Abdool Zakir is of great help and they both started aquaponics. “The main difficulties that I am mostly facing are the financial problems, theft and diseases.”

Ofrah Mungly (22 years old) : Owner and accessories designer of Off M Handmade

At 15, Ofrah started making bracelets and necklaces for her friends. She and her friend thought about selling the creations to increase their pocket money which came to an end due to college obligations. After college, while waiting for her tertiary studies to begin, “I let myself be tempted by the idea of starting my own little business. I wanted to connect passion and work. I have always been fascinated by handmade jewellery, natural resources such as shells and semi-precious stones. It is like having the freedom to create whatever I want, and I love that.” She started a new bright and challenging adventure. “I learnt to manage my time, my finances and also my attitude. I tend to be more attentive to details and be customer-focus.” She also gained in maturity while facing obstacles and challenges of being an entrepreneur. The biggest challenge for her is to allocate her time between her studies, her business and her personal life. She is responsible of all the activities, from the production to the sales and delivery. I often find myself working on my accessories till 2am, and barely sleep.”  Also, in the beginning, it was hard to convince people that my products were worth the price. “One of my biggest challenges has been to create a good reputation for the business and for the quality of my products. People are often judgmental about young entrepreneurs.”  Sometimes feeling overwhelmed, she gives herself a little free time to retreat and do a better jump. 

My parents and my boyfriend are the one who supported me financially. They were always by her side to motivate her in achieving her aims. “My mum still helps me when she has a lot of orders. Her dad and boyfriend always help in making the deliveries whenever I’m unable to do it, and are always ready to bring me shopping for my materials.” Her friends are also part of the little gang and they supported her a lot in promoting and marketing her products. I am always discovering new things, meeting new people, creating new things. There’s no limit. 

By Reshmee Bheemuck