Is it just me, or is there a noticeable wave of the diaspora returning to the African continent? Many, eager to start businesses aimed at societal change, are part of this trend. This movement might be influenced by the North American trend of ‘quiet quitting’ or by a general disenchantment with life in the West by many children of immigrants. As a native Congolese immigrant who grew up in the West, I, like many others, now clearly see the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) as a land of opportunity, irrespective of its geopolitical turmoils. Driven by my entrepreneurial spirit, I made the decision to leave my job in Silicon Valley, pack a single suitcase, take my dog, and head to Kinshasa.
Reality vs. Fantasy
Looking back, I might have idealized the process. The path to identifying a problem, finding a solution, and implementing a business is particularly treacherous in Congo. There are the usual suspects: corruption, minimal infrastructure, a painfully slow public sector bureaucracy, and a challenging business environment. But for me, the worst part is seeing foreigners thrive in Congo thanks to the support systems they built, while Congolese show little solidarity towards one another. But despite these challenges, a voice inside me insists on persisting with my business ventures in Congo.
Indeed, while there are challenges, opportunities are abundant. Virtually every sector of the congolese economy needs massive disruption. So I rolled up my sleeves and aimed to launch two businesses in 2023: a tech startup in Kinshasa and an agricultural business in the remote Bandundu region. This was my first mistake. In retrospect that first year should have been devoted to conducting on-the-ground market research to understand the local population’s needs and consumption habits, rather than approaching problems with a top down approach and a Western bias. Once I deprogrammed myself and reframed my thesis I began to make good progress. I understood how navigating the public sector was crucial for business success, particularly for obtaining the appropriate documentation. Subsequently, I started building relationships with like-minded individuals who shared my vision for innovating in the DRC. That made Kinshasa feel more like home.
Executing My Ideas
The difficulty I initially experienced provided the basis for my first local venture, Kinspot.co. Think of it as an app to help users navigate all things Kinshasa: from restaurants to nightlife, to salons and even real estate. The app supports the local ecosystem by promoting local small Congolese businesses. It also promotes the Congolese tourism industry.
I subsequently turned my focus to agriculture. Under the umbrella of the Martin Groupe (MG), a family-owned business started by my father, I launched a honey brand, Lubembo.co. MG Group was born out of my father’s desire to develop his home province of Bandundu and to address the food insecurity issue in the DRC. Together we are spearheading the production of palm oil, forest honey, corn, and fish in our ancestral home. We are also tackling distribution with commercial transport. To date, we have provided over 40 with a steady income in the Mbanza Wamba region of Bandundu, where our farm is located. Recently, we secured funding to build a 70KM road connecting the national road to our farm to ease the transport of our goods and those of nearby businesses.
Both ventures have come with several challenges. Access to capital is difficult, and managing agriculture in a remote region, as well as land development, requires a unique mix of grit and zen. However, the economic development and impact we’ve seen to date have truly been the most rewarding. For anyone wanting to pursue a similar route, I highly advise investing in a credible local lawyer. In agriculture, especially in rural areas, to acquire land, you will have to navigate negotiating with local leaders dubbed ‘chef coutumier’ and nearby community members. They often operate outside of formal global business standards. One common theme is they often jack up prices out of fear of being taken advantage of. This is understandable, given what they have seen in the past, and because land is the only form of asset they have, although it’s neither cultivated nor utilized. But such are the local nuances one has to adapt to.
The Talent Gap
Beyond the lack of formality in business, talent is another important factor to consider. The sad reality of the DRC is that qualified talent, from tech to agriculture production, is scarce. I’ve had to resort to foreign contractors for scientific advisory work, while investing a lot of time in training local talent for entry-level work. Despite all these hurdles, I continue to have faith that with perseverance, and working with like-minded folks with strong private sector experience, we have a bright future ahead of us.
Parting thoughts of optimism
The DRC is a land brimming with opportunities. How can one succeed? Conduct thorough research on the ground, remove any personal biases and Western perspectives, adapt, and most importantly, love and appreciate our country and people for their growing potential. We have a bright future ahead of us but we all need to start paving the way for it now.