Represent Interview: Mongezi Mtati – Netweb Events
He’s a youthful left-handed Aquarian (but of course!), he started his first business at 16 selling goods at robots and fervently believes in the untapped potential of the millions of innovative South Africans out there all waiting to find out how to make their business idea work. Mongezi Mtati is selflessly hustling the often barren terrain between those with business knowledge and experience and those with ideas and enthusiasm, this conduit role has brought about the growing Netweb Events in Joburg. There’s one taking place tomorrow night in Melville, go go go (details below) – Represent managed to find out more about Mongezi and the Netweb Event concept:
“When I started in business, I searched everywhere for opportunities and work for the company. It was only much later that I discovered it was people who connected to any and everything that made companies what they are. The Netweb Event began from the premise that, there are many people with skills and expertise they are willing to share with others. However, with the rise of social media we network online mostly thus leaving a larger audience offline. Business changes hands over coffee and and a meal, which is where most small business have advantage. Your livlelihood could be sustained by that piece of business.
The Netweb Event is a monthly networking dinner and talk that connects entrepreneurs. We are a developing community of passionate entrepreneurial minds, building an on offline community. As Howard Man, a speaker at our forthcoming Netweb Event says “80% of business is brought through by 20% of your contacts, focus on the 20%”
Tell us a bit about your backstory Mongezi:
I am from the East Rand, in the growing township of Vosloorus, where I lived most of my life and went to school. Some of my teenage years were also spent in a school at Welkom. After finishing high school, I began working part time as a filing clerk while studying banking with Technikon SA. It was more about archiving the largest heap of paper into a strongroom than work. My studies as a developing banker went uncompleted, and I then went and studied Human Resources 2 years later, which also wasn’t for me.
What are you up to these days:
Most of my time is spent doing research in business innovation, sourcing clients for Xenia Tech (an ICT company I’m co-founder of) and constantly growing the Netweb community. I’m a blogger and online entrepreneur, who hasn’t quite graduated to geek yet.
When did you first venture into business?
The earliest memory I have of venturing into business was after my 16th birthday where I convinced my mom to invest in my first informal company. We bought car shades that I sold for a R5 profit at busy intersection in Vosloorus. While my friends were employed at retail and music stores, I’d sell those shades every Saturday morning.
5 years after my successful car shade selling venture, we tried our hands at food and beverages with a friend. We scraped together some money, bought stock, rented a stall and went selling food at a popular jazz festival. To our dismay, most of the stock we bought returned unsold. Needless to say, we had lots of meat and drink to host braais for a few weekends. And loans to pay off. In 2007 I left small the small cubicles of call centres, hung my headset up and mailed my resignation so I could go off and start an export and imports company. It went extremely well till we had disagreements with my partner. But, thankfully that wasn’t enough for me to return to the ever open doors of a small cubicle, silent existence.
Was there anyone or moment who/that made a difference for you in getting to grips with being an entrepreneur?
There are quite a few people look up to, such as that first investor in my livelihood and adventure. Now of late I read a lot blogs on many different subjects in business. But the entrepreneur I learn a lot from is Richard Mulholland, whose innovation as an entrepreneur and leader surpasses anything I’ve encountered.
We love your enthusiasm for entrepreneurialism , please tell us what your inspiration for creating your Netweb Events?
Thank you. Being wiped out so many times in business and resenting the possibility of returning to night shifts at small cubicles definitely inspired the Netweb Events. What had made a difference in my business ventures, which was a constant for me, were the people that I met along the way. There were so few of them in such long intervals that, I had to see more. Part of it was selfish, but my mentors and colleagues were willing to give free talks. The best advice I ever got was to realize an opportunity where I myself experienced a need. It’s amazing how many people were supportive and gave of themselves for the Netweb Event to grow. We even started an online channel called NetwebTV (www.zoopy.com/NetwebTV), which is all because of the supportive guys at Missing Link.
Who is part of the Netweb Events and how does it work?
At the moment there’s just me as the organizor of the Netweb Event, but the guys who attend especially ones who haven’t missed a single talk, I consider as part of my team. The guys at Missing Link and my mentors are a great part of my venture, as they are the ones whose advice gets me up in the morning when I’d rather not face another day.
Who are you looking to attract to your Netweb Events?
For the networking events community our target audience is: emerging entrepreneurial companies within their first 5 years, online contributors, agents of change, speakers, innovators.
We are also in search of sponsorship, marketers for opportunities to expose themselves at the dinners, Blue Chip companies, sponsors for NetwebTV.
Which have been your most memorable events in the past and why?
One of the venues we used got business from a government funded institution that was 6 times larger than our event. I constantly get calls from guys wanting get into business, whom I assist freely. We have an international author and speaker at our next event. A South African born entrepreneur now working from London, has recently started mentoring sessions with some of the committed guys who attend our dinners. There’s been a few stories from the past 6 events.
What makes you excited about business in South Africa?
South Africa seems to have just caught on to entrepreneurship and it’s becoming a fad. It would be really exciting to see who survives this sudden rise in business. There are many opportunities here, most of whose success is dependent on innovation not qualifications. These are times where companies start from just the possibility of a contract and thrive, without being cynical I’m watching the dynamics closely. Will we prove the cynics wrong this time and reinvent business as it used to be known?
What opportunities do you consider unique to our economic situation?
Our economy accommodates many players in business. South Africans tend to be quite an individualistic market that is changing more now than ever. There’s a shortage of information filtering to where it’s needed, thus we find ourselves continually preaching to the converted. More people need to be converted, informed and educated. This society is turning more towards that direction and we are all working toward reaching the untapped individuals – and there’s millions of them.
You talk about the divide between virtual and offline business arenas – you have a very active online presence, what online tools should all new businesses be investing in?
I’m learning more and more now that social media and its tools are not relevant for all businesses. Having a facebook account is a start, website (though they are fast becoming a novelty), a blog that can even be open source… but beyond financial investment venturing online requires you to commit your time to it. Unlike what many social media ads tell us it’s not a quick fix marketing method.
Which is your favourite social media portal and why?
I use quite a few mediums, here they are in no order of significance: facebook, twitter, my blog, my posterous, zoopy, my channel, youtube, myzone.co.za, gatorpeeps and others less frequently.
What key advice would you give young entrepreneurs wanting to start their own business in 2009?
Just start your business, there’s no formula to it. Like anything else it’s about trial and error, learn from both of them. Experts don’t have businesses they tell you why it won’t work. After all, I’m left handed and I started.
What do we need to do to join you tomorrow night?
You need to signup for your seats at http://netwebevent.pbworks.com and join us for dinner. We are giving away a R50 000 corporate as part of your company profile and a thouroughly researched business plan valued at R10 000. Our mission is to build a 12 000 active member opportuniy hub by 2012, where more business can exchange hands with less effort. People make the systems we live and interact in, that’s who we focus on and in turn they can develop solid working systems.”
