“The current
challenges today
are the
platforms for
young
entrepreneurs
to be
supported. I
don’t think that
they do exist,
and that is what
we are trying to
change, and
that’s what
drives me. I
don’t think that
the tax system
is friendly to
young start-ups
and
entrepreneurs. I
think that
sometimes
young people
with good ideas
are not taken
seriously….”
which is why I got into business,
which I run a company called
Emerging Ideas and C Media and
we help incubate companies,
incubate ideas and the best
entrepreneurs. So the short on, I
really felt like there was a need for
entrepreneurs to be guided, invested
in and helped with their ideas
because Zimbabwe is so full of
potential.
GM.: You are the co-founder of
Emerging Ideas and C Media.
Why did you choose this
industry? How did this business
emerge?
Tommy: I went to business school
at Oral Roberts University. I started
my business when I was 23, which
completely failed but I learnt a lot
along the way.
GM.: So C Media is media and
advertising, I guess….
Tommy: Its video production and
online digital printing.
GM.: As a young business person
what challenges have you faced
with the economic challenges that
we have had over the years?
Tommy: The current challenges
today are the platforms for young
entrepreneurs to be supported. I
don’t think that they do exist, and
that is what we are trying to change,
and that’s what drives me. I don’t
think that the tax system is friendly
to young start-ups and
entrepreneurs. I think that
sometimes young people with good
ideas are not taken seriously and I
think that’s where the future lies; so
the challenges have been I guess
policies on the view of start-ups
and just the overall idea;
the overall perception of good ideas
coming from young people, I don’t
think that they are taken seriously as
they should be.
GM.: Is it viable enough in
Zimbabwe?
Tommy: 100%.And my counter
question to that is; do young
Zimbabweans have potential? And the
answer is yes. 100%
GM.: What grounds you?
Tommy: What grounds me? The word
of God.
GM.: Do you have any other ventures
that you are looking to get into?
Tommy: All the time because we are in
the start-up community, there are
always new ideas, business plans being
brought to my desk that need to be
developed and new ventures coming
up.
GM.: Where to from here. Where do
you see yourself and your business in
the next 10 years?
Tommy: In the next 10 years that’s a
long time, my goodness. My son will be
11, so I do really see a regional presence.
And the goal is that by 2025 we will
have over 100 start-ups that have come
out of Emerging Ideas and that are
successful.
GM.: What advice would you give to
young people out there who want to
start their businesses?
Tommy: The advice is not to be greedy,
to work together, and to complement
each other’s strengths. And to really
work together; to put your own agenda
aside, and to make a difference to the
people around you. And obviously the
last thing is to be living within God’s
will because that’s huge.
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