Red Apple Technologies: A Journey of Innovation and Persistence

By Veli Gamedze

Behind a successful start-up lies an individual driven by an unwavering vision and a burning passion to make a difference. In this article, Red Apple Technologies shares their journey of building a start-up that has earned several awards for transforming lives through technology.

Red Apple Technologies was born four years ago out of the passion and vision of Majaha Nkambule who identified problems to solve through technology. At a very early age, Nkambule was exposed to technology through his father who worked for one of Eswatini’s telecommunications giants. His exposure to technology birthed in him the desire to start a technology business.

Elon Musk, the founder of Space X was once asked how he learnt to build rockets and his response was; “I read books”. Nkambule was no different;  he built his company through reading books on programming from a tender age. How amazing! “I didn’t wait for university to start my business,” he said during an interview, “I read books and taught myself how to code. Getting tertiary education was just a bonus for me. Whilst I already knew coding, university introduced me to new ideas and different ways of doing the same thing“.

Today, Red Apple Technologies has grown into a business that offers money transfer, tickets and programming services to corporates, small businesses and individuals.

The company has won prestigious awards that have propelled it to the helm of tech start-ups in Eswatini. These include FNB Eswatini Innovation Award 2019 and 2020, MTN Eswatini Apps Challenge, Hackerthorn Challenge and the Fintech Challenge Award.

Through its unwavering commitment to staying at the top, Red Apple Technologies has a unique business model that sets it apart from competitors. The company does not only develop products for clients but it also has its own products (mobile apps) that generate income.

“Unlike South Africa,” SNG Grant Thornton writes, “Eswatini is a small country with a developing business market of about 25,947 small and medium enterprises (SMEs), of which 4,240 are defined as mid-sized companies according to the Eswatini MAP SMME Roadmap 2018-2022 report. However, mid-market businesses in these countries seems to face similar challenges.”

Red Apple Technologies, like many other start-ups globally, also faced challenges that lead to business failure. Research shows that up to 90% percent of start-ups across all industries fail, with the average failure rate for year one at 10%. The failure rate is higher in later years. In Eswatini, the failure rate is estimated around 70% within the first two years of establishment and some of the highlighted challenges are lack of funding and business mentorship. Read the Eswatini MAP SMME Roadmap 2018-2022 report for more insights on the Eswatini landscape.

“We had our fair share of struggles in raising capital. At some point, we ended up relying on word of mouth as a primary way of getting new customers because we could not sustain initiatives such as paid social media advertising because we did not have the money,” Nkambule narrated.

Drawing inspiration from the Founder of Alibaba, Jack Ma whose business idea was initially criticised, the Team puts a lot of effort in creating products that help the community. Looking into the future, the company (registered in the Pinaco & Co Startup Hub) wants to be known for creating employment opportunities for young people who are creative and passionate about the tech industry.

Reflecting on Red Apple Technologies journey’s, Nkambule believes that “if you have the passion for the business you chose, chances of giving up are slim, particularly when it is something you believe in.” Sharing a word of advice and encouragement to aspiring entrepreneurs Nkambule said, “The business route is rewarding, but you have to do everything the right way. Follow all the steps and do not be afraid to fail because that’s where you learn and get a chance to seek advice from industry experts.”

END.

Thinking of starting your own startup? Read Linda Shiba’s 10 Principles for Building a Successful Start-up published in the Eswatini Startup Ecosystem Newsletter. Do you own a start-up in Eswatini? Register on the Pinaco & Co Start-up Hub to gain access to available funding opportunities offered through a growing network on equity investors interested in Eswatini market.

_________

Veli is a Marketing Communications Intern at Pinaco & Co and has a B.A in Journalism and Mass Communication from the University of Eswatini. He joined Pinaco & Co through an Internship Programme that is open to all university students throughout the year. Click here to read more