Digital Empowerment for African Entrepreneurs: How to Build Legacy Wey Go Last

Na Dean story about how e build legacy of entrepreneurship through digital empowerment for Africa

Business dey run for Dean family blood — na tradition wey pass from generation to generation, e give strong blueprint on how to build business wey get resourcefulness and community for mind. Dean grandfather na real serial entrepreneur — e run pig farm near Polokwane, e get small cinema house, and e even build butchery wey succeed well-well even under the harsh Group Areas Act. Dean papa follow the same entrepreneurial spirit, e start Polokwane first driving school, wey quick become the biggest for the province. Dean entrepreneurial destiny clear from the beginning, but the time wey e take am to embrace am no short.

After e finish him Information Technology studies, Dean start career as software developer, e dey build him network well-well as e dey gather experience. This one turn out to be major strategy, because one important connection later give am chance to help build AdaptIT, the country first Black-owned software development house. E quick make name for himself, e dey sharpen him skill small small, and e dey grow him passion and place for making technology reach more people.

'Deep down, I no fit shake the fact say I don ignore my entrepreneurial calling. My papa used to tease me say I don break the chain from the two generations before me. No pressure dey, na just reminder say one day I go need face my true entrepreneurial calling.'

When him papa die, Dean decide to step back and look him professional path well well. One friend tell am make e use him experience for telecoms space. After plenty conversation, new venture come out — Digichilli, the first ever uncapped ADSL B2C offering for South Africa. As clear example of product wey fit the market well, the business quick build loyal customers, e even attract offer to buy am.

To reject those offers later prove to be big mistake, as players wey get plenty funding come take over the same market wey be theirs before. Dean go back to square one. E quick get job as GM of operations for Bwired, na telecommunications service provider wey dem empower to provide affordable internet and broadband services.

As Dean dey find him own way for him professional journey, dem ask am make e help roll out Soweto first Wi-Fi network — big chance to serve one community wey never get enough access before. E no sabi say this na the last experience wey go prepare am for one life-changing opportunity wey dey come. Hans, one entrepreneur from Netherlands, come dey introduce to am through mutual contact. Hans dey face plenty challenge to bring him travel calling app enter South Africa market. Dean unique expertise fit help solve the problem well well.

'When I see the calling app, I see potential, but I sabi say e need change from the first-world product wey e be that time. I introduce Hans to life for the township — the spaza shops and the foreign nationals wey wan reach family for other African countries. Na whole new world of opportunity dey there.'

Dean deep understanding of telecoms and African market, join with Hans product expertise and fundraising skill, make the two of dem well suited to face the big challenge of changing international calling for African people wey dey abroad. Dean focus well well on how to make the product fit local people, to serve those wey no dey use bank, through the channels wey dem dey use every day. Him vision na to make Talk360 fit naturally into this unique space and way of life.

'We dey launch wetin be, for many people, their first digital product wey dem go pay for. E need light on data, e need slick, easy to use, and reachable. With plenty different languages wey people dey speak, and low digital literacy, most of the work na to teach and to learn.'

Years of dedicated community engagement bring Talk360 to where product uptake dey strong today. South Africa be the flagship, and Talk360 don expand enter new markets across Africa. Dean dey remember him papa saying: 'small small' meaning say big achievement dey come from plenty small contribution wey people no dey notice. Dean see Talk360 future as one wey go give customers steady access to relevant, up-to-date digital services. As trust go dey drive future adoption, Talk360 dey well positioned to give community reliable solutions.

'Sometimes I dey too deep for the building work, so I try stop small to really see where I dey for the moment. E dey touch me anytime I go township or community and I see say na us be the source wey dem fit use call back home. To realise how much we dey affect people life through wetin we don achieve with Talk360 na something I go cherish for the rest of my life.'

Dean journey don see am play major role for plenty 'first' — na true chip off the old block, na pioneer, true builder, wey make am him life work to bring such vision to reality, and many times e achieve wetin other people just see as impossible.