We Are Still Standing

If you want to break your back, have no money, keep creditors gnawing at your head and otherwise live in a constant state of chaos and uncertainty, then a start-up is definitely for you. On the other hand, if you want to make your own rules, own the work you produce, build long-term equity and get rich on your own ideas, then being an entrepreneur is the only path.

Provided you can rise above your fear of failure (../../at%20times%20disappointing%20those%20around%20you.jpg) and have complete, unbreakable confidence in yourself and your business, then your chances of running a successful start-up are greatly enhanced.

But does that mean every idea is a great one? All you need to do is watch a few episodes of the Dragon’s Den to understand the stupidity of some ideas (like coloured driving gloves that code the difference between the right and left hand). In this case, conviction alone will not make you rich.

Start-ups have to be innovating something to be successful. Or, as the author of ‘The Startup Owner’s Manual’, Steve Blank, says, “A startup is an organization formed to search for a repeatable and scalable business model.”

Businesses, ideas, services, all have to solve problems in the marketplace—either by solving new problems or creating new and better solutions to old problems.

Being one ourselves, we know a little about start-ups and the moxie, determination, and staying power it takes to run one. And for these reasons we take our hats-off to local entrepreneurs in our Start-UP Issue.

Fifty years on, Nairobi is a city still in start-up mode, and to survive, it will have to innovate as fast as the market demands it. This, of course, is the struggle of all startups.

Today, county devolution and a rising middle class are key signs to the changing times. There’s never been a better time to be a start-up in Kenya. As Nairobi struggles to meet the demands of a fast moving, dynamic and modern population, there are huge opportunities for entrepreneurs to solve issues for consumers and businesses.

At least that’s what we saw when we joined the start-up fray back in 2009—an opportunity to serve lifestyle content to urbanites who want access to cool, smart, edgy brands and events.

We have survived economic fallout associated with two general elections, terrorist attacks and barking auctioneers at our doorstep. And this is not because we have had deep pockets, but because we had a will and belief to keep going. More importantly, we have employees who have weathered the storm with us and are passionate about our cause.

If there is a magic formula behind UP still standing, this is it: people who care; passion for what we do; a desire to create cool and smart solutions for our clients; a driving ethos about making Nairobi a better place—Urban Positive.

As long as you, the reader, believes in us, then we’re not going anywhere for a long time. We are grateful for your support and that of the advertisers who believe in what we do.