Startup Story
Mildred Matara is the founder and CEO of Mellow Ventures Insurance Agency and Mellow Ventures Investment in Kenya. She is a seasoned and passionate entrepreneur and her insurance business provides consultations and insurance underwriting services, working with class A-C insurance companies in Kenya and East Africa, serving customers in the East Africa region. Her Mellow Ventures Investment business is focused on dealing with General suppliers and retail sales and distribution in Kenya. She founded the business 9 years ago and currently employs 4 permanent employees and 6 casuals/ contract employees. She previously worked in the corporate sector for over 11 years with experience spanning different business sectors. She is currently in the process of venturing into the Agriculture sector to produce and add value to food products in the Western part of Kenya, where she hopes to assist in bridging the food security gap whilst creating a source of livelihood to the locals.
LoA spoke to Mildred Matara about her serial entrepreneurship journey to date and her ambitions for the future.
When did your start your business?
I started business in 2014 with Mellow Ventures Insurance Agency and in 2 years, set up Mellow Ventures Investment. Today the business has created jobs for 10 people.
“My customers are my friends first, and therefore it is friendship that ensures trust and once trust is established, customer service becomes natural since am serving my friends and they completely rely on me 100% and I don't disappoint.”
What does your company do?
Mellow Ventures Insurance Agency – deals with providing consultations and insurance underwriting services, working with class A-C insurance companies in Kenya and East Africa, serving customers in the East Africa region. Mellow Ventures Investment – deals with General suppliers and retail sales and distribution in Kenya.
What inspired you to start your company?
I had customers In the Insurance sector, whom I used to serve. But when I changed from Insurance to FMCG, those customers refused to be served by other people in the organization that I had left behind. So, I would take instructions from Customers, then pass them to my former colleagues for assistance, then they respond to me then I respond to the customers. I did this for about a year until I realized that I can do this directly without being a go between for my former employer, so I researched on starting an agency/brokerage firm and the requirements for the Agency were easily attainable and I set up my Agency with the customers I was serving. They referred their friends and relatives, and the business grew forcing me to quit work and also get help. After a year, there was excess income and where I was situated at the time, there was need for retail and distribution. So I decided to invest in the business and grew it to general supplies, supplying corporates and Institutions as well.
Why should anyone use your service or product?
My customers are my friends first, and therefore it is friendship that ensures trust and once trust is established, customer service becomes natural since am serving my friends and they completely rely on me 100% and I don't disappoint. In case of impossibilities, I communicate, thus transparency. So, Trust, Communication and Transparency make my services special.
Tell us a little about your team:
I have a business development person for the Insurance Agency, and I have a purchasing person/ Storekeeper for the retail/ Distribution business. Once orders become overwhelming and also if business is required out of town, I have people in the different towns in Kenya to support us on the ground to fulfil our customer’s needs. I have 2 more people handling general supplies, getting orders, ensuring the purchasing person sources and they ensure delivery within Nairobi.
“I do not come from an entrepreneurial background. I am the first in my family. It has been a very interesting journey, especially due to the fact that I did not require to borrow to start.”
“When customers keep returning and keep referring their friends and relatives as well as giving feedback for the services, I am happy.”
Share a little about your entrepreneurial journey. And do you come from an entrepreneurial background?
I do not come from an entrepreneurial background. I am the first in my family. It has been a very interesting journey, especially due to the fact that I did not require to borrow to start. For the Insurance Agency, I used my experience to set up, then went back to school to get my paperwork in order and have the requisite licenses in place. No capital needed. Then, from the proceeds of the Insurance Agency, the distribution and supplies business was born. This was ideally to diversify my portfolio and it was very handy since during the pandemic, it was the distribution business that was active and sustained both businesses.
What are your future plans and aspirations for your company?
I want to get into agriculture and value addition space. I plan to engage in commercial farming and also add value to some of the produce.
What gives you the most satisfaction being an entrepreneur?
When customers keep returning and keep referring their friends and relatives as well as giving feedback for the services, I am happy.
What's the biggest piece of advice you can give to other women looking to start-up?
Don’t wait to become a millionaire to start. Start small, start with what you have, and always be honest.
Find out more:
Email: milly.matara@gmail.com
Why LoA loves it….
One of the best ways of starting a business is to harness personal experience, skills and expertise and use that as the foundation of providing services and products that are needed by others. Mildred Matara is doing just that with her business, and importantly, is creating opportunities for others as the business grows. She is a great example of doing what you love, making an impact in the community, and empowering others in the process. — Melanie Hawken, founder & ceo, Lionesses of Africa