Basecamp Business Incubator’s Post

Last week marked a significant milestone in my startup founder journey: Talking candidly about building and growing Billet. For Global Entrepreneurship Week 2024, Basecamp Business Incubator organized the Founders Nexus Pilot—a day dedicated to bringing entrepreneurs, industry leaders, and ecosystem partners together to drive innovation and growth in Namibia's startup ecosystem. During the event, I joined a panel discussion on scaling startups with inspiring founders, sharing challenges and lessons learned along the way. Also, as part of #GEW2024, I gave a brief presentation on my startup journey to over 60 entrepreneurs at the Empower-a-Startup Bootcamp, hosted by The Great Facilitator. While preparing for these talks, I kept coming back to a central theme: Billet’s journey has been underscored by resilience and survival. This isn’t unique to us. As Panduleni Victor from Ibia TV put it, navigating Namibia's startup ecosystem requires the grit of a Welwitschia—thriving in harsh conditions despite scarce funding, bureaucracy, and a fragmented community. But how did we do it? How have we survived over three years and kept striving? Here’s how: 1. Bootstrapping We fund our activities the old-fashioned way—with income for our jobs. Every dollar not needed for bills goes into the startup. It’s not glamorous, but it keeps the vision alive. → Pro tip: Set aside a fixed percentage of your income to reinvest—no matter how small it seems. 2. Keeping product costs low Low-code tools have been our secret weapon. They’re cheap, easy to use, and scalable. Why burn resources when lean solutions work? → Pro tip: Start with free tools that match your needs, upgrading only when necessary. 3. Being scrappy We’re a team of serial budgeters! We rarely pay unless it’s essential, and we maximize free plans and trials to get from point A to point B. → Pro tip: Create a "freebie inventory" of tools and resources for solving problems without spending a dime. 4. Remote first An office might seem like a startup rite of passage, but for us, it’s an unnecessary expense. We’re remote-first, with co-working and occasional meetups. → Pro tip: Evaluate how often your team needs face-to-face time. Use remote tools for everything else. 5. Seizing opportunities We apply to pitch competitions, grants, and accelerators aligned with our goals. It’s about more than funding—it’s networking, visibility, and unexpected wins. → Pro tip: Spend an hour weekly scouting opportunities and apply, even if you think you’re a long shot. -------- Resilience doesn’t make this journey easy, but it makes it possible. I’m grateful to have shared pieces of our story. What strategies have helped your startup survive and thrive? Let’s trade notes! FNB Namibia, GEN Namibia ACT, Sonia Mubiaelelwa, Magnaem A., Niita Shikongo, Ndeshihafela Ndivayele, Festus Malakia, Panduleni Victor, & Eline Nyau.