Bogosi Morojele established his e-commerce business in 2020 with the idea of promoting sustainable economic growth and celebrating Africa’s rich legacy.
E-commerce is a method of buying and selling goods and services online.
The 26-year-old from Johannesburg, told Vukuzenzele in a recent interview that he decided to develop Bobza, after he discovered that it was difficult to find an online store that sells African brands.
The platform curates a diverse range of products that span from beauty, fashion, beverages, and cleaning detergents, among others.
He said: “I wanted to make it easier for consumers who [love] African goods to find them. After playing professional football for a considerable amount of time, I made the decision to save my money, launch my own company, and profit from it. This is how Bobza was born.”
Morojele played for Tshakhuma Tsha Madzivhandila FC in Limpopo.
He went to great lengths to find potential funders for his business and attended over 100 meetings with possible investors.
The business secured R35 000 in marketing finance from the Gauteng Enterprise Propeller.
Bobza has also applied with the National Youth Development Agency (NYDA) for a possible R100 000 funding.
The organisation currently employs five people and the platform hosts about 450 products.
“These brands are also relatively unknown, so funding has been their biggest obstacle,” said the entrepreneur.
He added that the business targets young, working professionals between the ages of 22 and 30 who have the capacity to buy on Bobza.
“I am rapidly developing into a retailer of all products, and I hope to soon expand into townships,” he said.
In 10 years, Morojele’s vision is to see his business become one of the leading online shopping destinations, with a presence in every African country.
He said he dreams of a clientele of over five million. He also expressed his desire to hire more staff members as the business grows. ¥
• For more information about Bobza visit bobza.co.za
• The Gauteng Enterprise Propeller can be reached on www.gep.co.za
• If you require funding from the NYDA visit www.nyda.gov.za
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