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Anthony Ndolo: Redefining Entrepreneurship Through Technology and Impact

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In a world where innovation and social responsibility increasingly define success, Kenya’s Anthony Ndolo stands out as a leader. An entrepreneur committed to creating sustainable, impactful solutions, he has harnessed technology to serve markets at scale. His journey epitomizes the transformative power of entrepreneurship in driving socio-economic progress across emerging markets.

“I believe in the power of entrepreneurship not just as a creator of wealth but as a key part of moving emerging markets forward on the socio-economic front,” says Anthony. His mission-driven approach has been evident from his university days when he launched small businesses that laid the foundation for his groundbreaking venture, Smatbeba.

Smatbeba: An Asset-Light Revolution in Logistics

While still in university, Anthony identified an opportunity within the construction value chain, selling construction materials and later mobilizing trucks for a fee. “While in university I stumbled into an opportunity in the construction value chain that exposed me to the business of selling construction materials. I later evolved into mobilizing trucks from people and managing them for a fee, while serving the town where my initial business was. This business grew and clients wanted me to handle their logistics needs in other sectors, and other parts of Kenya and neighbouring countries. Demand grew, and I had to figure out how to scale in the most capital-efficient way,” he explains.

This challenge inspired the creation of Smatbeba, a technology-driven logistics platform connecting vetted truck drivers to clients across Kenya and East Africa. His background in Statistics and Computing was key to the data-driven decision-making from the start.

“We realized that an asset-light model leveraging technology was the best way to scale. I partnered with a friend of mine and we embarked on a journey of building an app and website to connect vetted and reliable truck drivers to clients seeking to move cargo across Kenya and East Africa,” he notes. By focusing on reliability and customer service, Smatbeba transitioned from a B2C to a B2B model, enabling businesses to grow their sales volumes and ensuring truck drivers could secure stable income. “Drivers could pay their loans consistently, with some even expanding their fleets over time,” he adds.

Under Anthony’s leadership as CEO from 2019 to 2023, Smatbeba’s impact extended far beyond logistics. “Logistics is one of those industries that create and support a lot of indirect jobs,” he observes. Over five years, Smatbeba supported 10,000 indirect jobs, including mechanics, tyre vendors, insurance agents, and off-loaders.

Navigating the Highs and Lows of Entrepreneurship

He likens entrepreneurship to the ocean: “You have days and moments where it is calm and rosy, and moments where it feels like cyclones are lined up on a conveyor belt. Rough seas make good sailors so both the high and low moments have been equally important in shaping the entrepreneur and person I am today.” Despite near-collapse during the COVID-19 pandemic, Smatbeba survived thanks to exceptional mentors and a relentless focus on market needs.

His advice for aspiring entrepreneurs is rooted in hard-earned lessons: “First, it is important to be very close, be obsessed with what the market needs. Customers are great at giving feedback when solicited in the right way. Second, keep a close eye on cash flow as many businesses run out of cash, which can be fatal. Third, empower staff to take ownership of their roles. Good teams reflect in the quality of customer service, brand loyalty, and the bottom line.”

Agility is crucial for businesses to adapt to changing environments. Anthony lastly advises entrepreneurs to align with cofounders or investors, ensuring clarity on conflict resolution to prevent distractions or business failure.

Scaling Social Impact Through Consulting

After exiting Smatbeba, Anthony ventured into consulting, applying his expertise to help other entrepreneurs and organizations. One standout project involves a plastic waste recycling social enterprise on Kenya’s coast, supported by USAID’s ATI program. Under his guidance, the enterprise tripled its annual plastic waste volumes, benefiting over 500 women and youth while processing more than 200 tons of plastic waste. “This particular project is impactful in terms of the direct and indirect jobs created, in addition to the positive impact on the delicate marine ecosystem threatened by plastic waste pollution.,” he remarks.

As the Chief Operations Officer of Ecoworld Recycling Anthony implemented a Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning (MEL) framework for the USAID Kenya Plastic Circular Economy Program, doubling recycling volumes and expanding regional operations. He secured potential funding deals worth $1 million and forged key partnerships with governments and agencies, positioning Ecoworld as a leader in the circular economy.

Embracing Technology and Africa’s Startup Ecosystem

Anthony is optimistic about the transformative potential of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in Africa. “AI and its subsets, such as Natural Language Processing and Machine Learning, will increase productivity and significantly shift how companies are structured,” he predicts. Highlighting innovative products like Sanifu AI, he believes Africa’s startup ecosystem is entering an exciting phase, fueled by growing venture capital and an increasing number of exits.

“We are seeing more African VC funds and a maturing startup ecosystem,” he notes. However, he acknowledges the unique challenges of raising non-traditional funding in emerging markets, emphasizing the importance of building cashflow-positive businesses in shorter timeframes.

“Business is largely a science with a minor part being an art. Entrepreneurs have to learn the science of building businesses through formal and informal knowledge. Utilize mentors, accelerators, incubators, workshops, read books, go on YouTube and learn best practices to grow yourself and your business,” he advices.

Global Recognition and Lessons from Failure

Anthony’s contributions have earned him global accolades, including:

• 2022 Westerwelle Foundation Young Founders Program Fellow (Westerwelle Foundation, Germany)
• 2022 Mobility Panelist, 2022 MIT Africa Innovate Conference (MIT Sloan, USA)
• 2021 Smart Cities Innovation Programme (GIZ, Rwandan Ministry of ICT and Innovation, Make-It in Africa, Luvent Consulting, MEST, AfriLabs)
• 2021 Africa Mobility Initiative Accelerator Pitch Competition Winner (Shell Foundation, TUMI, GIZ, UNHabitat & C4D Lab)
• 2020 Digital Africa 1000 Winner (Digital Africa & French Embassy)

Reflecting on these achievements, he emphasizes the value of failure as a learning tool. “I have appreciated the different approaches to aspects such as perspectives around business failures and how different that is in the African context where failure becomes a source of shame and ends up being counterproductive in a field where the odds of success are against you right from the ideation phase,” he observes. “They have changed me for the better in areas such as the speed of execution, the depth of analysing opportunities, and the mindset required to overcome failure and keep building.”

Anthony Ndolo’s philosophy underscores the balance between leveraging global trends and staying deeply connected to local market needs. As Africa’s entrepreneurial landscape continues to evolve, he remains a beacon of innovation, resilience, and social impact. His journey exemplifies how technology and entrepreneurship can catalyze transformative change, not just for businesses but for entire communities.

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