Harnessing traditional fruits for health and wealth

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Harnessing traditional fruits for health and wealth

Dec 13, 2023 | Uncategorized | 0 comments

Name: Praise Shammah Maliko

Age: 20

Company Name: Ballenious Pvt Ltd

Sector: Manufacturing /Food and Beverages Country: Hwange, Zimbabwe

Transition into Entrepreneuship

My transition into entrepreneurship is driven by my eagerness to explore and excel in the business world. I actively engage in activities that foster my entrepreneurial journey gaining valuable insights and experience through seminars and competitions. My proactive approach and willingness to learn demonstrates how prepared I am to embrace the challenges and opportunities of entrepreneurship together with my team.

Company Summary

BALLENIOUS Pvt Ltd is a manufacturing business in Zimbabwe that produces Baobab juice and coffee. The company aims to address hunger and health issues while promoting eco-friendly and healthy habits, with a vision to become a major player in the beverage industry. The company was started by five young entrepreneurs from Northlea High School in Bulawayo as part of the National Business Case Competition hosted annually by Emergination Africa. After qualifying for the top ten winners, the team was selected to become part of the inaugural Venture Innovation Accelerator.

Challenges & Opportunities

As Ballenious Pvt Ltd, we realized that the juices being consumed by the majority of people are posing a huge threat to the health of its consumers. To encourage the consumption of naturally healthy fruit juice, we came up with the manufacturing of Nutrimed (now trading as NutriSip after rebranding), a baobab fruit-based juice. NutriSip contains more than three important nutrients required by the body all in one bottle. Not only is it nutritionally rich, but it also has health benefits and is suitable for all age groups.

After winning the competition at first place in the Bulawayo Province and then fourth place countrywide, the team had a chance to go through the Virtual Innovation Accelerator, an incubator program. It allowed the top eight schools that won the competition to meet with different businesspeople virtually and be taught the most important aspects of starting and running a business. It was an opportunity to meet up with well-known business people not only from Zimbabwe but from Deloitte Germany. Concepts taught include financial management, marketing, human resources, business models, and analysis. On 28 December 2021, the company Ballenious Investments (Pvt) Ltd trading as NutriSip was born although production was already in progress. NutriSip is an SAZ-accredited product.

Thankful for Support

The support received from the school was enormous as the school provided the first production place. This provided an opportunity for us to share more about the product with our peers and the inspiration was amazing. EA also provided the much-needed knowledge, skills, and financial support. As a team, we believe that without support our idea would have remained just an idea. We are grateful to Northlea High School teachers, especially Mrs. Mutero, who At the base, the parents were standing for the team from all sides after realizing how determined they were for the business. At first, it looked like an obstruction, but the bigger picture made the parents understand that they could go places if they pursued their dreams. At the base, the parents were standing for the team from all sides after realizing how determined they were for the business. At first, it looked like an obstruction, but the bigger picture made the parents understand that they could go places if they pursued their dream, identified, nurtured, and channeled us to EA which then further groomed our young minds to become passionate entrepreneurs and we owe our growth and foundation to them. At the base, the parents were standing for the team from all sides after realizing how determined they were for the business. At first, it looked like an obstruction, but the bigger picture made the parents understand that they could go places if they pursued their dreams.

Successes so far

With the supporting startup capital, the company was able to:

Purchase all necessary equipment required for the production process
Standardize the product with SAZ
To officially register the company
To launch their product
Finance supply of products to customers

Sales started on a low note as customers had their doubts about the quality of the product as it was still new. But with the use of different marketing strategies sales increased tremendously and resulted in increased production to meet demand. To date, we have sold more than 3000 bottles.

The future envisioned

Their core mission is to unveil and discover the power that lies in natural remedies to solve the health predicaments faced by people thus improving lives for the better through innovation. The vision is to create a product suite by discovering and harnessing the potential that lies in the baobab plant in solving today’s health problems. As well as to fully explore and produce a wide range of health products. With more funding, we are hoping to increase our production as well as market share. At the moment, NutriSip is well known in Bulawayo and Hwange and we hope that we market and supply nationally.

Some of the Challenges Faced

Starting a business at a tender age is never easy, there was a lack of experience in tackling business matters and the decision-making process. To make things worse, each one had a different path right after high school. One member of the team decided to quit.
The team became separated after the close of high school and for some time production became almost impossible.
Supplying the product became a challenge at some point because of the inability to meet demand since only a single person was taking care of the production.
The intense market competition caused by the trending baobab fruit juices had its discouraging replications as people tended to compare resulting in a slight decrease in sales.
No one believed in a team of 18-year-olds coming up with a successful venture. The discouragement almost crippled the venture but with constant push and support from EA, our parents, and teacher we remained focused.

Opportunities Unlocked

Manufacturing of the second product, the Baobab Coffee, which is undergoing market testing
Ballenious Pvt Ltd managed to get the attention of one of the most influential faces in the country that is Cde Phil, a radio personality. He was in full support of the move and even offered to assist in terms of marketing the brand. One interesting fact is that he is also an ex-student at Northlea High School thus he was so excited to support.
Radio interviews and free DJ mentions on radio stations such as Sky Metro
Shammah Praise Maliko was nominated to represent Ballenious PVT Ltd in the Anzisha Fellowship, hosted by the African Leadership Academy.

We might be young and seem non-existent to the world but one thing is for sure we are the business leaders of today and tomorrow. Standing together as one, God willing we will take down storms and make a big difference.

Get in touch with Ballenious Pvt Ltd for orders on: