By Llywellenie Mpasa:
Three young entrepreneurs Tuesday won K1 million grants each from ‘The Millionaires project’ spearheaded by social media influencer Pemphero Mphande and Kips.
The winners are Noel Chaphuka from the Southern Region, who pitched an irrigation farming idea, Faith Magombo from the Central Region with an agribusiness idea and William Mkandawire from the Northern Region with a Chitenje business idea.
Presenting the cheque to Chaphuka in Blantyre, Mphande, who is Kips’ brand ambassador and veteran musician Giddes Chalamanda’s manager, said the project aims to transform the lives of at least 18 brilliant entrepreneurs from across the country by empowering them with K1 million grants each in the next six months.
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“We received a very good response with highly competitive 216 ideas. The winners brought business ideas which came out on top based on how they convinced a panel of judges,” he said.
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Mphande said the aim is to empower entrepreneurs who have brilliant business ideas that have the potential to make a difference and lead to the growth of their businesses in their communities.
Having presented the first three millionaires in the first round, Mphande said the second round for the month of May will be open from May 7 and June 13 2024.
“To the 200 plus submitted ideas, the people have not lost but now join a community of business-minded people in the Paid Members WhatsApp group. In this community, you will have access to more opportunities including funding for your ideas and business loans,” he said.
He said Kips is funding the project as an initiative to give back to the people as part of its Corporate Social Responsibility.
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Chaphuka, a 26-year-old farmer from Chikwawa, said he will use the money to upscale his farming business and acquire a solar-powered pump to use to irrigate the farm to attain multiple yields in a year.
“I expect to employ other people on my farm where I am already planting maize and beans,” he said.
