Martin Endjala
Kavita Sports Performance scooped N$50 000 at the Old Mutual Sustainable, Economic & Empowerment Drive pitch night held in Keetmanshoop over the weekend.
Unomasa Kavita could not hold back his excitement after winning the inaugural OM SEED pitch, saying that he feels truly humbled by the whole experience. “I am so grateful to Old Mutual that provided us with this opportunity to learnand grow”.
He narrated saying that he saw a gap in the market in the south, where athletes have no facilities or coach to help them elevate their performance, saying that through the Kavita Sports Performance, they have created a conducive and safe space for athletes to train and practice.
“We also help train our athletes from a young age to one day represent Namibia internationally. This money will therefore make an incredible impact in our business,” Kavita said.
Another OM SEED winner Johnathan Freyer of Porkland Keetmanshoops, stated that winning the money was amazing, but the skills and the training they received through OM SEED was life changing. He won the second prize and received N$25 000.
Freyer said entrepreneurs need funding, but equally as important is access to information and training to help them build and grow their business. “We are so grateful towards Old Mutual”, Freyer expressed.
Berta Boois of Caring Hearts Brick Making Project took third place, walking away with N$10 000.
Boois said that one choice can change your future, and making the choice to apply for OM SEED has in fact changed her future for the better, adding that this has been an incredible journey.
During the award ceremony, the Manager: Communications and Old Mutual Foundation Mufaro
Nesongano, emphasized that the team travelled to various communities in Windhoek, Keetmanshoop and Oshakati to sensitise them about OM SEED. More than 800 applications were received from all three towns.
“After the successful completion of the Windhoek edition of OM SEED, we travelled to Keetmanshoop, where we had the opportunity to engage with 60 excited and determined entrepreneurs, each fighting for their opportunity to grow their business,” Nesongano said.
He further highlighted that various ideas that were pitched from the entrepreneurs in their diverse
fields of business, is what prompted them in realising the need for more initiatives that are aimed at all grass root businesses. Nesongano further indicated that during the Keetmanshoop edition, entrepreneurs underwent business, financial, entrepreneurship and leadership training, as well as their pitches and the importance of such training came out very clearly and showed how critical it is in enabling the entrepreneurs in upscaling their businesses.
He said not only Keetmanshoop winners will get the opportunity to grow theirbusinesses, but they will also be incubated for a three-month period to assist them in utilising their training and capital in the most effective way to better position their businesses in the market.
Meanwhile, the Financial Literacy Initiative senior economist: Trainings and Coordination, Chuma
Siboleka, lauded the vigour and determination the entrepreneurs who took to the stage in Keetmanshoop showed.
“I want to applaud you and congratulate our winners. You have shown hard work, enthusiasm and
commitment to realise your dreams through your pitches, and we are excited to see how your business will grow,” Siboleka said.
Old Mutual Namibia along with Launch Namibia, the Financial Literacy Initiative and the United
Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Accelerator Lab completed the second edition of the OM
SEED initiative on 11 August 2022, with the top 20 Keetmanshoop entrepreneurs taking the stage to pitch their ideas to a panel of three judges.
The next town’s shortlisted candidates to receive training will be Oshakati slated for the 17 and 18
August.
