Startup Story
In today’s highly competitive business world, it is essential to make your brand work for you in the digital marketplace. That’s where Kato Mokabathebe, founder and Creative Director at Colourbox Pty Ltd in Botswana, comes to the rescue. Her creative digital agency brands, digitizes, and markets corporate brands. She is an entrepreneur with a degree in Multimedia Design and a major in Media Innovation. She is passionate about business, creativity, and applying technology to connect people skills. The company started in 2018 and currently has three employees and one freelancer. When she is not at Colourbox, Kato enjoys doing voluntary community work, traveling, and spending time in nature because it fuels her creative spirit.
LoA spoke to Kato Mokabathebe about what drives her passion and her desire to build a creative digital agency that helps other businesses to stand out from the crowd.
What does your company do?
Colourbox is a one-stop creative digital agency with branding, website and application development, and digital marketing services. We develop our client's corporate identity through graphic design and merchandising; then we create your digital presence through website, application development and social media and we advertise your products and services through sponsored adverts, and google keywords. Finally we utilize analytics and brand impact surveys to measure the growth of your brand. We have worked with over 20 companies and produced over 1000 units of branded corporate wear and gifts. Colourbox also volunteers in various community projects such as the Kanye Clean Up Campaign and donates clothes to under-privileged children.
“Colourbox is a one-stop creative digital agency with branding, website and application development, and digital marketing services.”
“Our team has a strong creative culture and skills to match. Our customer service is unmatched and our products are quality.”
What inspired you to start your company?
Unemployment within the creative sector is at a high in Botswana. I was inspired by my own unemployment to utilize the skills I have to open a business that would empower other creatives and serve the community with value-added, creative ideas and implementation strategies.
Why should anyone use your service or product?
Our team has a strong creative culture and skills to match. Our customer service is unmatched and our products are quality.
Tell us a little about your team
We are a team of four with a wealth of experience in Multimedia Design, Fine Art, Software Development, and Administration. We all work seamlessly together virtually from our homes to save overhead costs as we grow the business. We utilize digital platforms to stay connected to each other and our clients throughout the day. We are all passionate about Colourbox and have a similar vision for the growth of the business. Our motto is: 'it is not about ideas, it is about making ideas happen."
Share a little about your entrepreneurial journey. And do you come from an entrepreneurial background?
I was the first entrepreneur in my family at the age of 10, making 'good money' by selling ice pops in my neighbourhood. I stopped after buying my bicycle which was why I started in the first place. Fast forward 14 years later when I was starting my first job at an advertising agency, the company closed down 4 months later and I was unemployed for a few months after that. I got a job at another advertising agency, and a few months later I resigned because I had received a more lucrative job offer. I stayed at the new company for 2 years as a temporary employee, I was devastated when my contract did not get renewed because I knew how hard it was to get a job in Botswana as a graphic designer. I stayed a few months without work and finally received a job offer at a very promising start-up company, a few months later, the company went bankrupt and closed down.
At this point, I decided that clearly employment was rejecting me and I started thinking back to my young entrepreneurial days. I decided to use my creative skills to start my own company, I called it Colourbox. Three months later I was serving about 5 clients and making a decent profit that sustained me. I took that as a sign that I was on the right track, and felt motivated to keep going. I have been on the Colourbox journey ever since, although there have been some really tough times following my good fortune in the beginning. After a long lonely 5 year journey, I was joined by 2 full-time employees and 1 part-time employee.
“Colourbox is launching an in-house digital creative project called Afrostock that creates monetary value for pan-African assets (folklore, photos, paintings) by African creatives through copyright and digitalization.”
“The vision is to open a creative centre that trains, nurtures, promotes, and connects African creatives.”
What are your future plans and aspirations for your company?
Colourbox is launching an in-house digital creative project called Afrostock that creates monetary value for pan-African assets (folklore, photos, paintings) by African creatives through copyright and digitalization. The vision is to open a creative centre that trains, nurtures, promotes, and connects African creatives.
What gives you the most satisfaction being an entrepreneur?
Seeing my idea develop from being just a dream to something I can interact with through actual sight and touch.
What's the biggest piece of advice you can give to other women looking to start-up?
The hardest part can be starting, but it is also the easiest part of your job, and once you start, don't stop!
Contact or follow Colourbox Pty Ltd
FACEBOOK | INSTAGRAM | EMAIL enquire@colourbox.design
Why LoA loves it…
It can be tough for any woman entrepreneur trying to build a successful business and brand, especially if the marketplace is a congested one. Standing out from the crowd requires a great creative brand strategy, combined with digital marketing assets that connect and resonate with customers. Kato Mokabathebe knows just how to create and sustain that kind of approach, and she has built a creative team that is customer centric and design impact oriented to help businesses to achieve their goals. — Melanie Hawken, founder & ceo, Lionesses of Africa