25/08/2023
Here are 3 Lessons I’ve Learnt Building a Geospatial Tech Startup in Africa
Starting a business is hard in Africa, let alone growing it consistently. For the past 5 years, I’ve dedicated an immense amount of energy into running Spatial Sense Inc. — a geospatial data and drone mapping company — and here are a few things that I have learnt on my journey.
1. Network Leads to Networth
As catchy as it sounds, the quality of your professional connections matters the most. 90% of your work will come from those people and not your marketing. Cultivate horizontal connections across related engineering fields for collaboration and vertical connections within your space for learning through professional mentors.
2. Passion Doesn’t Matter
You must not let your passion alone drive you. Instead, rely on discipline, which means showing up every single day with whatever energy you have. Passions are feelings and feelings change! It’s not every day that you will wake up “feeling” passionate but the work still needs to be done.
3. Breadcrumbs Make A Loaf
In the beginning, you will get small projects, often of low financial value. It is important to execute them with finesse and overdeliver on your promises to your newfound clients. As you gain more business experience (which is different from your technical skills) those breadcrumbs will gradually add up as you gain exposure, identify greater opportunities, create more value and charge more on your ticket.
See our work on our website: www.spatialsense.co.zw
