Startup Story

Mara Zhanet is the founder and ceo of Jacaranda Hub, an organization that aims to develop young people through the provision of collective services, infrastructure and specialized tools and equipment for common use among the young and aspiring MSMEs with growth potential. She is a social entrepreneur, project management and business development expert, business coach, facilitator, and mentor with 15 years of professional experience.

LoA spoke to social entrepreneur Mara Zhanet Michelo this month to learn more about her organisation, its mission, and its positive impact on the lives of young people in Zambia.

What does your company do?

Jacaranda Hub is a social enterprise organization that aims to develop young people through the provision of collective services, infrastructure, and specialized tools and equipment for common use among young and aspiring MSMEs with growth potential. We provide a conduit of resources and programs delivered through the hub and partners targeted at improving the Startup / MSME landscape, the use of ICT to create new innovations, creation of innovative institutionalized skills facilities tailored to meet the needs of MSMEs, promoting the use of appropriate technology and of available local resources and; promote the upgrading of skills through formalized training programs all aimed at improving people’s lives, businesses and public services which result in socio-economic impact and commercial growth driven by young people across Zambia.

“I believe that entrepreneurship is the most impactful way of creating sustainable change and development. It stimulates local economic growth, creates jobs, and reduces poverty.”

What inspired you to start your company?

Since I was a child I always knew I was made for greatness and service. I am a dream chaser and problem solver. My work experience and travel exposed me to a wide network of like-minded people that could assist me on my journey. I created Jacaranda Hub to solve the myriad of challenges youth face in Zambia. Jacaranda Hub’s idea is to find, build and mold propitious entrepreneurs. I believe that entrepreneurship is the most impactful way of creating sustainable change and development. It stimulates local economic growth, creates jobs, and reduces poverty. Empowering ambitious innovators to solve problems by converting ideas into reality is the ambitious goal that motivated the journey we are embarking on.

Why should anyone use your service or product?

Jacaranda Hub was built on the principle of goal 17 of the UNSDGs - Partnerships for the Goals; Strengthen the means of implementation and revitalize the global partnership for sustainable development. We operate on the value systems of Inclusiveness, Innovation and End-user Benefit.

Inclusiveness: Improve community access to technology and knowledge to provide a convening point for like-minded young people to make connections, share ideas and create a positive identity.

Innovation: The main goal of Jacaranda Hub is to be an enabler of innovators and entrepreneurs in navigating the development of new solutions and building a startup culture in Zambia.

End-user Benefit: Actualization of the value of new product development and adoption in the local environment with a global perspective that will benefit users.

We are transforming Zambia through Innovation and Entrepreneurship.

“Empowering ambitious innovators to solve problems by converting ideas into reality is the ambitious goal that motivated the journey we are embarking on.”

Tell us a little about your team

To work for Jacaranda Hub, one has to be passionate, agile, multifaceted, ambitious, and dynamic. We work in a very fast-paced environment and hence the levels of stress can be really high. The Jacaranda Hub team are very youthful and this makes it very conducive to the work we do and the community we serve. One thing you can find among the team is fun. We laugh as much as we work.

Share a little about your entrepreneurial journey. And do you come from an entrepreneurial background?

I have always had an entrepreneurial streak in me and what made it even more apparent that I would end up becoming one was my ability to always see opportunities around me when everyone only saw problems, coupled with my personality, tenacity, and die-hard attitude. If you asked someone about me, the things people would consistently say would be, "she is strong, courageous, hardworking", but most commonly said is I never give up. I could say I come from an entrepreneurial background because my mother was one, for as long as I could remember my mom was always trading. Before her passing in 1992 when I was only nine years old, my mom owned 3 hardware stores in Lusaka city's busiest markets town centers market and Kamwala market. She travelled frequently to Congo DRC, Malawi, Tanzania, and Zimbabwe. Even at a young age, I found that intriguing and it left a significant mark on who I am today. I want to change lives and I believe I am in the right position to do that as an entrepreneur.

What are your future plans and aspirations for your company?

My ambitious goal and aspirations for Jacaranda Hub are to establish the Start-Up Village of 10 innovation Hubs across the country. Jacaranda Hub will build a startup ecosystem that facilitates the entire entrepreneurial journey from idea to funding, scaling, commercialization and going global. I envision we will be able to build unicorn and exit ventures in the next 5 years.

“I have always had an entrepreneurial streak in me and what made it even more apparent that I would end up becoming one was my ability to always see opportunities around me when everyone only saw problems.”

What gives you the most satisfaction being an entrepreneur?

I am gratified with the mere fact that I get to do what I love and each day I get to improve someone's life. I have had the opportunity to impact people directly and change their lives and no amount of money can replace that feeling.

What's the biggest piece of advice you can give to other women looking to start-up?

"Don't start because it's easy. Start because it's worth trying. Don't stop because it's hard. Stop because you've tried your very best." It's pretty easy to quit if you allow yourself to even think of quitting, but what if you stuck it out and went through with it? Wouldn't you want to know the outcome?

And for women who have family, especially single parents like me, be kind to yourself. Your children love you unconditionally and they will always forgive you for all the missed recitals and parent-teacher conferences, so breathe and use every opportunity you have to create meaningful and valuable memories with them. Best of all, Lioness, have fun!

Contact or follow Jacaranda Hub

Why LoA loves it…

They say if you want to really change the world and positively impact the lives of others, you need to have a big vision and the energy and drive to make it a reality. Mara Zhanete Michelo is one of those social entrepreneurs who has all of those things and more. She is making a real difference to the lives of young people through her organization, and her mission inspires her to keep thinking bigger in impact terms. This is definitely one social entrepreneur to watch over the coming years as she realizes her vision and creates opportunities for young people to fulfill their potential too. — Melanie Hawken, founder & ceo, Lionesses of Africa