JP Matenga Interview

How is J.P doing in 2015?

I’m doing great, just real busy. As you know one has to wear many hats to survive in Zimbabwe.

Where did you grow up?

Born and bred in Harare.

What are your plans for 2015?

I have many plans for 2015 so I will just focus on the main ones. The first is to run a half marathon this year (I hate running but its a fitness goal). I am involved in an eHealth startup so hopefully by october this year we will have a functional prototype. I am in the process of launching an online business portal/magazine for Zimbabwean entrepreneurs which should be up and running in the next 2 weeks. Those are my main plans for 2015.I also sit on the board of trustees for the Zimbolove Foundation so hopefully we will be able to achieve our goals help as many people as we can who need blood.

Can you explain to us in detail what the Start-Up Grind is all about?

Startup Grind is like AA for entrepreneurs. Being an entrepreneur is a very lonely road. So it helps to hear from others who have made it and those who have experience. It makes the journey that little easier when they tell you about their failures, where they went wrong, about their successes and the time and dedication it takes to succeed.
Startup Grind is a global startup community designed to educate, inspire, and connect entrepreneurs. It is powered by Google for Entrepreneurs. We host monthly events in more than 150 cities and 65 countries featuring successful local founders, innovators, educators and investors who share personal stories and lessons learned on the road to building great companies. Started by Derek Andersen and Spencer Nielsen in February 2010 in a small office in Mountain View California, the original goal to bring together friends who would help each other has spread across the world.

What do you want to achieve with this project?

Zimbabweans are very secretive about what they are doing, so they tend to suffer in silence. We hope to achieve a sense of togetherness in the startup and entrepreneurship community. You will find that there are people that can help you but you do not speak up. The motto for startup grind is “make friends not contacts, give and don’t take, help each other and not yourself.” Through these values I believe we can build a vibrant startup and entrepreneurial community that supports itself. As the saying goes together we stand divided we fall. If we can’t stand together then we should not expect anyone to stand for us, be they banks or government. We want Startup Grind to inspire and create a community of entrepreneurs.

How long has the project being running for?

Globally it has been running since 2010. The Harare Chapter has been active since February 2015.

Do you want volunteers?

We welcome volunteers of all shapes and sizes, as long as they are passionate about being entrepreneurs and the entrepreneurial community!

Do you have a specific target market and location?

Our specific target market is aspiring entrepreneurs and successful entrepreneurs from all over Zimbabwe. Harare is not the epicenter so we encourage people to open up Startup Grind Chapters in their cities. One day I hope there will be a Bulawayo chapter, Mutare chapter, Gweru chapter and so on. If anyone needs help opening up a chapter they are free to contact me.

My co-director Irene Chikumbo and I hope that in the not too distant future we will be able to invite schools to the Startup Grind events so that students can also be inspired.

How do you do your research?

If we are talking about research on the people we interview and talk to, there are a few ways in which we get information but the most important is a face to face private interview where we then get a feel for the person we are about to talk to, what they are about and what they stand for.

What has been your biggest challenge?

Our biggest challenge has been educating people about Startup Grind and marketing it. Not many people know what it’s about, but we have just started, so in terms of strategy Irene and I decided that we would rather nail the fundaments of the event and then scale it up. this will allow us to market it properly and to not disappoint attendees and guest speakers.

Who is your inspiration?

Depends on my mood lol. Basically anyone who has fallen and gets up and keeps fighting, anyone who has not taken no for an answer, and anyone who thinks that there is an alternative or better way of doing something inspires me.
Do you think young people are involved in the future of this country?
I think young people want to be involved in the future of this country but are being stifled. I think it’s a cultural thing. I also think that we are too individualistic to make any positive change. So I think the youth want to be involved but we dont have any avenues to effect change and we tend to operate as individuals.

Do young people in Zimbabwe recognize your work or its young people outside Zimbabwe? Is it important to you to be appreciated at home?

I dont do this for appreciation. I have a target and goal in mind, when i achieve that goal then i will worry about being appreciated.

Whats your biggest achievement yet?

My biggest achievement is my 2 year old son.

Are you working alone or do you have people who work with you?

For Startup Grind I work with 2 amazing ladies. The first is my co-director Irene Chikumbo and the other is Tendai “Sokostina” Garwe.

What are you passionate about?

I am passionate about entrepreneurship, creating elegant solutions for problems and inefficiencies and goal setting and strategic planning.

What do you look for in a life partner?

Even though i am single I am not looking for a partner, but if I was to start dating again I would look for someone with maturity, patience and understanding, because being an entrepreneur can be pretty hard and frustrating.

Who is your Zim celeb crush?

I’d have to say it’s Lochnation. Her laid back nature cracks me up!

Your Top 3 Start Up concepts?

i will give 2 local (because local is lekka) and one global. I think SaiSai is awesome and i can’t wait for it to be fully operational. There is another called Kombi Code. I am not sure how far they are but they planned to put QR codes on kombis that you can scan with a smart phone. the information that will come up is name of the driver, is the vehicle insured etc. Globally I will have to say Uber. I am still waiting for some smart guy to get the first Uber cab into Harare.

Any words of wisdom to the youth of Zimbabwe?

Plan, plan, plan! those who fail to plan, plan to fail. Never give up on your dreams, be patient. Listen to others and recognise pivot points, dont be afraid to change your plans. But most of all do not be afraid to fail, and never take no for an answer.

Where can your fans reach you?

I can be reached on twitter @jpmatenga or @startupgrindhre and via email [email protected]