Barclays Black Founder Accelerator 2020 member
Tendelo Ltd

Tendelo's mission is to empower small business owners and informal entrepreneurs with the financial insights to manage their businesses while building the records to access affordable financial services. We are doing this by breaking down the barriers of literacy and cost and enabling everyone to SPEAK the language of business, Accounting.
Why did you join the Barclays Black Founder Accelerator?
I joined because it presents an exciting opportunity to connect, learn from, and share with other founders and leverage on the experiences of the team and mentors.
What would be your desired outcome from this programme?
I hope to leave the programme with an investment-ready start-up in all its elements and to have built an enriching network of fellow entrepreneurs as well as mentors and friends.
Which entrepreneur inspires you the most and why?
Of contemporary entrepreneurs, I draw inspiration from Elon Musk. I admire the mission-driven nature of his ventures and his commitment to keep going strong when everything appears set against him.
What has been your biggest win in your entrepreneurial journey?
I think that would be growing my first sales venture from $2000 capital, assembling and managing a team to support me grow the venture to $150,000 within 18 months.
And your biggest challenge?
Access to patient capital will easily rank as my biggest challenge.
Where did you go for business advice and how did it help you?
I have a mentor who is always generous with his time to share valuable nuggets on business leadership. His advice helps me in navigating tough situations and challenges.
What drives you to make your business a success?
My drive to see Tendelo fulfil its mission is borne out of the realisation of the impact it could make on real lives.
What advice would you give other founders thinking about starting their own business?
You are more likely to keep motivated and stay the course if you're mission driven, and if you set out to solve a problem you truly care about.
Why did you want to start your business?
I wanted to solve a problem which affected my mother in her entrepreneurial efforts and which I am convinced will make the lives of many people much better.
What do you do to relax when not working?
Listen to classical music, or work out while listening to podcasts.
How has covid made you pivot your business?
COVID has seen me and my team working from different countries and learning to stay active and connected. Our test plans have been set back a bit but we have learnt to stay resilient.