Even the coronavirus can’t keep a good entrepreneur down.
Nhlanhla Ndlovu is the man behind Hustlenomics, an initiative that’s already resulted in him winning the 2019 SEED Low Carbon Award and the SAB Social Innovation Award in 2018.
He also managed to win the final leg of the Chivas Venture, a worldwide competition for innovators, earlier this year, securing his spot at the grand finale to be held in Toronto, Canada. He was all set to plead his case on foreign shores, when the lockdown put a stop to his plans.
Funding the Way Forward
The Chivas Venture is now in its sixth year and offers prize money of $1 million for those who are making a positive contribution to the environment as well as their communities with their initiatives.
Since the pandemic put a stop to its competition, the organizers of this worthwhile competition decided on another route. They divided the prize money up between the 26 finalists instead.
So, it happens that Nhlahla will receive $40 000, which converts to around R700 000 to further his business and continue creating positive change.
About Hustlenomics
Nhlanhla started his business from his home in Soweto where he’s been offering solutions to those living in squalor since 2015. His ultimate aim is to get rid of Soweto’s shacks one at a time.
He does this by offering solutions to low-income households in his neighborhood as an alternative to conventional finance options. His model uses rental income from the generated structure to pay his building costs.
Once he’s secured a new customer, he sets about replacing their current structures with brick and mortar buildings made from recycled bricks. It’s a simple, eco-friendly way to help people better their lives in an eco-friendly way.
Nhlanhla intends to use his winnings to invest in more projects and equipment to help grow his business beyond the confines of his hometown, ultimately expanding into other provinces.
Change is Coming
All over Africa, entrepreneurs are stepping up with innovative solutions to the continent’s most pressing problems. If you’d like to see some of the results first-hand, get in touch and start planning your next southern African safari.
