Startup Story
Lilian Mapuranga is the co-founder and COO of Chemexon Chemicals Pvt Ltd a chemical company focused on cleaning and sanitation chemicals. She is an MBA and Chemist with over 13 years industry experience and 4 years in the sanitation industry. Lilian was awarded as a TechWomen Emerging Leader 2014 (Hillary Clinton STEM Initiatives in Silicon Valley), was a ZimTrade EagleNest Top 22 Qualifier. Before Lilian became an entrepreneur, she was a business development manager at Integrated Hygiene Systems. Her tasks were oriented towards developing business, looking for new markets and increasing sales. Her focus was in change management and meeting customer satisfaction, something she has adopted into her own business and has helped her shape Chemexon.
LoA spoke to Lilian Mapuranga about her entrepreneurial journey, her passion for building a chemical company focused on the sanitation industry, and her vision for the future.
When did your start your business?
We initially started Chemexon Africa Partners as a Private Business Corporation (PBC) in 2018 and then eventually upgraded it to a Pvt Ltd in August 2020 branding it to Chemexon Chemicals. We maintained operations as Chemexon Africa Partners but the Holdings name as Chemexon Chemicals.
“Our aim is to make green products which are friendly to the environment and biodegradable.”
“We are creating products for the mass market at low cost and which increase in value by making more concerted products.”
What does your company do?
Chemexon’s growth focus is to get into specialty chemicals. In the interim our focus was on making sanitation chemical detergents for household and industrial companies. These products included automotive detergents, disinfectants, liquid soaps, soap bases amongst many others. Our products are government certified and highly concerted and specialized. We offer our products mainly to Pharma, B2B and on a small scales B2C. We are continuously learning, constantly researching, and further developing our products to suit the markets and their needs.
What inspired you to start your company?
As a young lady who had studied Chemistry and Biochemistry, I always wanted to own a scientific based business. I never really want to work for anyone, but fate had it otherwise. I had to learn some soft skills in various industries, that is working in public policy in government and then being head hunted to work for a company which dealt with manufacturing of detergents. This experience is what catapulted my entry into chemical manufacturing, the place where I learnt more about this industry and eventually other spin offs, I could also engage with. So, the initial entry was not that easy, however the COVID pandemic gave us a boost to ensure that we scaled up operations and increased our visibility and that pushed us more and more.
Why should anyone use your service or product?
Our aim is to make green products which are friendly to the environment and biodegradable. We are creating products for the mass market at low cost and increase in value by making more concerted products.
Tell us a little about your team:
My team comprises of my business partner and I, formulating the core structure of the team. Everyone else is hired on a casual contractual basis depending on the intensity of production. We do this to keep our costs as low as possible and maintain our advantage of low-cost pricing in the market. Our team can scale from 5-15 people in one go or more.
“Creating employment gives me the chance to mentor the young people still making their way into the world, to navigate life and make wise career choices.”
Share a little about your entrepreneurial journey. And do you come from an entrepreneurial background?
I do come from an entrepreneurial background, especially from my maternal side. My grandmother used to be a seamstress running her own little cut and design business. My mother inherited her skills and then also doubled all that with poultry rearing, horticultural activities which she ran part time as she used to be employed in the Army. Somehow as a young girl I would dabble with the needles as well creating some artifacts and designs in the hope of one day becoming a fashion designer (I still have those stacked somewhere lol). I also got into selling Oceane Perfumes when I was in college, something that helped me with pocket money and money for other things. I also tried Forever Living, tried thrift clothing to which most of these I only stopped when I got a job in Government, and for 8 years I hung up my boots, until i was headhunted by a couple who wanted to teach me how to make money and hired me as their business development manager. From then I have been at it and growing.
What are your future plans and aspirations for your company?
I would like to see Chemexon dive into other specialty chemicals. The chemicals industry is large and making detergents is just the low-hanging fruits of it. I wish to explore other capital-intensive downstream industries and ensure that we also can be part of thriving industries that will help create major employment in our country and the region at large. The idea is to become an African Giant in the chemical business. We have already started making some inroads into road manufacturing.
What gives you the most satisfaction being an entrepreneur?
Honestly serving. Serving our communities and using the scientific knowledge we gained to create solutions for our existing issues is what gives me satisfaction. That's where the passion is and the money follows the passion.
Creating employment gives me the chance to mentor the young people still making their way into the world, to navigate life and make wise career choices. We also help single mothers, women from marginalized communities to raise income for their families. This allows me to give back and pay it forward from what we learnt as TechWomen Fellows. Your business ideas should have social entrepreneurship involved somehow and this is how we do so.
And lastly being your own boss .... now that’s refreshing and challenging but definitely refreshing.
What's the biggest piece of advice you can give to other women looking to start-up?
Just start. There will never be a good conducive environment to tell you the wind is right start now. Sometimes capital is never there to start with, but you always have something to sell or give as a service to earn your capital.
Never borrow to start a business. Start small and grow. Understand your business, your industry and where your money goes and how you make profits. Understand the financial aspects of things. That way you will be able to realize that CAPITAL is not to be touched but ploughed back into the business.
Market your business, and remember you need every dollar so everyone is a potential client ...so use your femininity to your advantage be warm and smile.
Contact or follow Chemexon Chemicals:
Email: lilyannemaps@gmail.com
Website: http://www.chemexon.co.zw
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/chemexon?mibextid=ZbWKwL
Twitter: https://x.com/chemexon?s=11&t=hpubNd6Dy7xDFJSw8ZhvVA
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/chemexonafrica?igsh=ZzhubzI3NmUydmlx
Why LoA loves it…
The chemicals industry sector is a tough one to break into, but Lilian Mapuranga is doing just that with her business, finding a niche and growing from there. Her ambitions to build a green business that is focused on the future with more sustainable products is good for both climate and consumers. This is a business to watch with interest as it grows to the next level. — Melanie Hawken, founder & ceo, Lionesses of Africa