Lessons I Have Learned in More Than a Year of Building Pashione
When I began this journey of founding Pashione over a year ago, I had a vision but little did I know how profoundly it would transform not just my career, but my entire perspective on entrepreneurship, leadership, and life itself.
In today’s newsletter issue, I look at some of the most valuable challenges and lessons I've learned along the way.
Patience and Development
We had the option to leverage existing e-commerce solutions to build Pashione but we made the strategic decision to start from a clean slate and develop our platform ground up.
This was driven by our unwavering commitment to creating a tailored experience that addresses the unique challenges and opportunities faced by African businesses.
Building on top of existing technologies would have expedited our launch, but we recognised that such solutions often fall short in catering to the nuanced needs of our target market.
Off-the-shelf e-commerce platforms are frequently designed with a one-size-fits-all mindset, failing to account for the distinct cultural, logistical, and operational intricacies that African vendors navigate daily.
By building Pashione from the ground up, we gained the flexibility to meticulously craft every aspect of the platform, from payment gateways and logistics integrations to user interfaces.
It allowed us to deeply understand the pain points and aspirations of our vendors, enabling us to weave in purpose-built solutions that resonate with their specific needs.
Our development process was marked by extensive research, stakeholder engagement, and iterative refinement. .
This collaborative approach ensured that Pashione was not merely a technology platform but a true reflection of the diverse African business ecosystem.
The result of our commitment to building from scratch is a platform that seamlessly blends cutting-edge technology with a profound understanding of the African market.
Opening Eyes to Global Opportunities
One of the biggest lessons we've learned is that many talented African vendors are unaware of the immense global demand for their products and the opportunities that lie beyond their local markets.
There is a knowledge gap, often compounded by limited access to information and resources.
While one might assume entrepreneurs would enthusiastically embrace the chance to sell their wares internationally, we've found that we still have to invest significant effort in raising awareness and convincing vendors of these prospects.
In numerous regions we've visited, artisans and business owners remain oblivious to the worldwide appetite for authentic African goods and designs.
To bridge this gap, we don't simply onboard vendors onto our platform; we take a hands-on approach to education.
Through comprehensive workshops and training sessions, we break down the international opportunity, explaining how our platform can serve as a gateway to global markets.
These sessions cover everything from setting up an online store and managing logistics to understanding international customer preferences and tailoring products for export.
The process is as much about opening minds as it is about opening markets.
We've learned that simply providing the technological means is not enough; we must also illuminate the path to success by raising awareness, sharing knowledge, and empowering vendors with the tools and insights they need to thrive.
It's a humbling experience to witness the transformation as vendors' eyes light up with the realisation that their talents and products have value far beyond their local confines.
Wearing Multiple Hats
When you're building a technology company from the ground up, being a multitasking founder is inevitable.
In our early stages, I quickly learned that I would need to step into multiple roles beyond just being the strategist and visionary.
To keep Pashione on track, I’ve had to roll up my sleeves and wear multiple hats - strategist, manager, customer support and engineer. I found myself frequently jumping in to contribute hands-on with problem-solving alongside the team
When you're building something transformative, being a multitasking founder is a necessity, at least in the early stages.
You have to be prepared to go beyond your core role and get your hands dirty wherever gaps exist within your team.
It's a delicate balancing act, but an inevitable part of the startup journey.
Recruitment is an Iterative Process
One of the biggest lessons we've learned is that recruiting the perfect team from the outset is an unrealistic expectation.
No matter how rigorous your hiring process, there will inevitably be some mismatches between the roles and the candidates you onboard initially.
In our case, despite our best efforts, some of our early hires fell short of the expertise required to tackle Pashione's development challenges.
This mismatch between skills and roles led to lags in our progress and forced us to reevaluate our team composition.
The reality is that finding the right talent fit is an iterative process that requires patience, flexibility, and a willingness to make tough decisions.
We've had to part ways with some early hires and double down on our recruitment efforts to bring in specialists with the precise skills our platform demands.
This experience has taught us the importance of continuous evaluation and adaptability when it comes to building a high-performing team.
It's not just about making the right hires initially, but also having the courage to course-correct when necessary, even if it means letting go of talented individuals who may not be the perfect fit.
Recruiting is an ongoing journey, one that demands perseverance, open communication, and a commitment to fostering an environment that attracts and retains top talent.
Getting it right from the start is nearly impossible, but consistently refining your team is what ultimately leads to success.
Funding: Perseverance and Sacrifices
One of the most significant lessons I've learned in building Pashione is the sheer perseverance and sacrifices required to bring a vision to life, especially when bootstrapping and courting strategic investment partners.
From the outset, we made the decision to self-fund Pashione's development, a choice that demanded immense financial discipline and personal sacrifices.
However, our unwavering belief in the platform's potential kept us motivated and focused on creating a solution that could truly uplift African businesses.
Seeking partnerships and creative funding avenues became crucial.
We were fortunate to secure a valuable $150,000 cloud computing credit from Microsoft, providing a solid foundation for our technical infrastructure.
This partnership not only offered financial support but also validated our vision and the scalability of our solution.
Nonetheless, the journey has been arduous, requiring me to relocate from the United States to Europe to be closer to our target markets in Africa.
This personal sacrifice has enabled more frequent travel and deeper immersion in the communities we serve.
In the last six months alone, my travel across the African continent has amassed over 50,000 air miles, as I've crisscrossed various countries to meet with potential vendors face-to-face.
I have only just recently returned from Kenya where we had a lunch date with some vendors on ground.
While we have made significant strides, establishing a presence in Nigeria and obtaining licenses in four countries, our expansion across the continent is an ongoing pursuit.
Funding remains a key challenge, and we are actively seeking investors who share our passion for empowering African entrepreneurs.
Our vision is to create a truly transformative platform that supports solutions delivering lasting impact and empowerment across the African continent.
The resilience and resourcefulness of our team have been instrumental in navigating these challenges.
In Nairobi, Kenya, for instance, two of our team members have generously offered their homes as temporary office spaces, exemplifying the unwavering commitment that fuels our mission.
While the road ahead is not without its challenges, our steadfast belief in Pashione's potential to uplift African businesses remains unwavering.
Finally
Building Pashione has been a rollercoaster ride, filled with highs and lows, lessons and growth.
Each of these lessons has been a stepping stone, shaping the company and myself in ways I never imagined.
As we continue this journey, I remain grateful for the experiences and look forward to the lessons yet to come.