Tag Archives: ENTREPRENEUR

ELISHA OWUSU AKYAW, A 16-YEAR OLD GHANAIAN IS CASHING IN BIG ON BITCOIN

Posted on Categories LIFESTYLE & ARTS, TECHNOLOGY4 Comments on ELISHA OWUSU AKYAW, A 16-YEAR OLD GHANAIAN IS CASHING IN BIG ON BITCOIN

Currently, Elisha is the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Token Media, a cryptocurrency marketing firm he set up in 2017 to help blockchain projects reach their target audience.

 Although his business is relatively small, he has worked with local financial firms to develop their projects. Token Media, according to Bitcoinafrica.io, has helped raise over $40 million in token sales through its marketing services.

Elisha got into technology at age 12 after he received a mobile device that could access the internet. By exploring it, he was able to create a website all by himself.

One of his first works was building a commercial blog for Firefox OS, Mozilla’s mobile operating system (firefoxcentral.com), but when the project ended he had to venture into other areas in technology which landed him into cryptocurrency, blockchain technology and Bitcoin.

“I got into the tech space sometime in 2013. I had my second phone after using a Nokia 3310 so I got access to the internet and began to explore what mobile phones, operating systems and websites were all about and in 2014 I learned how to create websites on my own through YouTube,” he said.

The Bitcoin fever is sweeping across Africa and young people especially males are investing in it. A report by financial services company Citibank ranked Kenya as the fifth highest bitcoin holder per capita in the world. Nigeria was placed third and South Africa took the sixth position.

Observers have blamed the soaring interest in Bitcoin on the high unemployment rate in Africa. Others believe it’s all about fighting the feeling of not being left behind as young people.

For Elisha, it seems combining his education and entrepreneurship is just a slice of the challenges he faces as an entrepreneur.

His major setback has been the difficulties of moving money as there are few platforms in Africa that support cryptocurrency integration.

At the moment, Elisha is putting together a blockchain event with a heavy focus on cryptocurrency to raise discussions on regulations and the future of cryptocurrency in Africa.

“The future of cryptocurrencies in Africa is bright as it has moved from just being currencies into various useful platforms that will be essential to the African continent. I’m currently working on putting together an event on cryptocurrencies with a particular focus on regulations, the future of cryptocurrencies and how they can help Africa,” he added.

Ghana is gradually catching up with the Bitcoin fever as the country hosted its first blockchain conference last November.

 

ORIGINALLY APPEARED OF  FACE2FACEAFRICA

EXCLUSIVE: MEET CELEBRITY STYLIST AND THE MASTER MIND BEHIND ‘FEAR NO MAN’ CLOTHING

Posted on Categories PEOPLE & PLACES3 Comments on EXCLUSIVE: MEET CELEBRITY STYLIST AND THE MASTER MIND BEHIND ‘FEAR NO MAN’ CLOTHING

Ever genuinely wondered how, where or when to kick start a career in fashion styling? For you, maybe, you are just looking to satisfy your curiosity about the people behind some of the biggest brands in the fashion industry. Either ways, you’re in luck with one.

Hold my beer…..

Team Lyfe republic hooked up with top fashion stylist Prince Boamah Kuleape, and talked about how he got into styling, the workflow, his ambitions, and much more. For the past 5 years, Mr. Boamah has been running the KULAPERRYOUTLOOK (boutique) and for him, working in fashion doesn’t seem like a career choice, but a fate that he just couldn’t resist. With years of professional styling experience, Kula Perry has styled some of our favorite music videos and celebrities. He tells us that his career has been a journey with many lessons learned, attesting to the fact that nothing comes easily.

After enduring Accra’s annoying traffic, the team is finally settling in for a great interview with Kulaperry, the celebrity stylist. He is in high spirits, and we already start throwing questions at him. However, like a typical Ghanaian host, he suspends his answers and offers some good wine.

We accept and take sips, still dying to hear him give us answers already!

Grinning with finesse, he answers the first question.

Q: Tell us a bit about the person or team behind your brand

A: Kulaperry is the person behind FEAR NO MAN. A brand developer, stylist and the lead creator for FEAR NO MAN. Once driven by enthusiasm for the FEAR NO MAN brand and has eagle eye for fashion.

Q: Tell us about your brand (FEAR NO MAN)

A: The FEAR NO MAN clothing line is one of the composites of Kula Perry clothing. Kula Perry clothing is however comprised of three lines, which are fear no man, Royalty and Loyalty.
The FEAR NO MAN clothing line logo portrays a white human face with a red strip across the eyes of the face. The logo represents the African heritage. The color white was chosen for the face because it stands for cleanliness and purity while the red color for the strip represents the toil, hustle and struggle of Africans endured in achieving their dreams. The entirety of the logo simply seeks to highlight on the practice of seeing and speaking no evil. FEAR NO MAN is a line that stands as a symbol for people who fear nobody except God.

Q: How was the start up of (fearnoman)

A: The brand was officially launched in 2017 but has been under feasibility study and research for the past 5 years. The brand has a 15 years development plan. The whole idea was carefully planned. Starting with a few tee-shirt which I wore around and that got the attention of the people. Gradually, they wanted it. We had to focus on that and design different merch.

Q: Can u describe briefly how your outfits are made? Are they all made here in Ghana?

A: The designs are based on my personal life experiences with the idea of evicting Fear and inspiring Hope and no they are made outside Ghana, depending on the type of merch.

Q: Why are you in this particular business?

A: Because fashion is a lifestyle and there’s more to it than making money. It changes life

Q: Is it profitable?

A: Yes, so far as it pays me and enables me to help others

Q: How long were you running the business before you started paying yourself?

A: Started paying myself after the first year, because a lot went into marketing and brand positioning.

Q: Where do you see your brand in the nearest future?

A: It will be the biggest household brand worldwide. Rubbing shoulders with Adidas, Supreme, Gucci etc.

Q: What are the three hard to spot pitfalls that are critical to avoid in your field?

A: Avoid loans. Avoid negative energy and avoid imitating other people’s work.

Q: What’s that thing you’ve told yourself that kept you going during your darkest hour?

A: God is able.

Q: What advice do you have for those out there who want to set up their own businesses too

A: First of all ,every young individual hoping to be successful, should believe in God. Do a lot of research into what they want to do

Q: Any special story u want to share?

A: No,but what I would like to share is that, every talented individual should believe in God and keep pushing with passion

Q: How do people reach you if interested in your brand?

A: Anyone can reach me through the following….
Social Media:IG;(@fearnomanclothing/ @kulaperry)
Facebook:KulaperryGh
Snapchat:Kulaperry

Locate his outlook(s) at Madina Ritz Junction Office, North Kaneshie, adjacent Charter House, Manghin road or contact him on +233244102888/ +233576837911

Mark Every Shoe, Haunting Soles With A Pesewa and A Dream

Posted on Categories PEOPLE & PLACES8 Comments on Mark Every Shoe, Haunting Soles With A Pesewa and A Dream

Meet young entrepreneur Mark Lamptey, the CEO of Haunts Shoes, a startup company ran by three purpose driven gentlemen.

About a year ago and counting, Mark and Albert Amanor established Haunts Shoes on the 5th day of November 2016.

Here’s their story.

Mark and Albert had delivered a set of shoes to a customer. After keenly observing the product he had purchased, the customer immediately confessed the shoes were such stunners and of very good quality. Here’s what the customer did next – he decided to invest into Haunts Shoes making him the missing piece of the puzzle. Three hardworking gentlemen pushing hard the agenda of Ghanaian shoe-making excellence.

With as little as Ghc 500, Mark had struck a good deal with a Kumasi based shoemaker. Leaving Accra to Kumasi was very challenging for Mark as he had never traveled that distance on a bus. A five-hour journey that had started at noon prompt, had the young aspiring entrepreneur arrive in Kumasi a tad bit later than expected. Feeling stressed and angry, Mark hopped on a bus taking him to the destination where he finally met his shoemaker.

“Make me shoes worth Ghs500,” Mark requested, feeling proud of the potential money making deal he had successfully closed that fateful day. ‘A dream and a dollar’ – that phrase hit him in so many ways he could not hide his excitement.   

Back on a bus bound for Accra, Mark thought to himself he needed the perfect name synonymous to the ‘Accra to Kumasi to Shoemaker hassle’. Guess what, Haunts Shoes kept ringing in his mind until he had finally accepted it had to be just the right name for his newly found business. After making a good case for his reasons to go with the name Haunts Shoes, Albert Amanor his partner concurred and that is how the name for their business came into existence.

Fast forward to a year later, Mark Lamptey admits business is profitable. Mark projects that with the steady growth Haunts Shoes is currently enjoying, the shoe business would be doing exponential figures in the nearest future.

Following the strategic partnership with Mr. Eric Nasel SELBY, a customer turned partner, the company was officially registered as MEA Haunts Limited which is clearly an upgrade of the Accra to Kumasi to Shoemaker inspired Haunts Shoes name. Mark has also in effect, equipped himself with the requisite technical skills to start producing the company’s shoes. Hence, he calls himself the shoemaker of MEA Haunts Limited.

As partners Mark, Albert and Eric together practice due diligence before producing shoes from MEA Haunts Limited. It spans from the creation of patterns of the shoes through to the availability of leather and equipment for the actual production stage. Once the checklist is done and signed off, the shoes go into full production. The work ethics of these three gentlemen is unmatched and it’s evidential in the final products that go out into the market. And let nobody tell you different, every shoe is produced right here in Ghana.

Two young men set out on a mission to create something iconic. After what seems like both men having achieved that iconic milestone, Mark reiterates that it is indeed not the height of their mission and that the bigger picture for MEA Haunts Limited is now to take the company global. “Before going global,” Mark smiles with cheeky confidence as he boldly declares, “we are looking to make our shoes a leading shoe-making brand and household name in the West Africa.”

With hindsight, Mark has no regrets for his past difficulties as he believes it helped build or prepare him for this line of work. He is focused on the bigger picture for his company and would go the extra mile to make it all happen.

Mark’s profound message for young people looking to chase their dreams is that it is never worth a damn thing if you would opt to give up. Whether or not you can afford Ghc500 and convince a shoemaker in the very outskirts of town to believe in you, Mark’s message for you is to start with whatever amount within your arm’s reach.

As cliche as this may sound, great success indeed does not come on a silver platter. You need to work hard for it. That’s the bitter truth Mark hasn’t enough sugar to coat. Check out images of some of their shoes below:

Find Haunts Shoes on Instagram, LinkedIn and Facebook today.

Otherwise, contact +233 276 344 492 to send a quick message on WhatsApp now.

Till the next time, be the change you want to see. Hey, write your own story!!!

 

AUTHOR: MAURICE BOYE