Johannesburg - Dillion Phiri, Founder and Creative Director of Creative Nestlings chats with IOL about his idea.
1. Is Creative Nestlings your first startup?
No, Creative Nestlings is not my first start up, my journey as an entrepreneur began with building websites and designing t shirts.
2. What gave you the idea?
My friend Jonathan Anzuluni and I initially came up with idea to create content around the creative community - we mainly focused on public art and exhibitions. Our main goal was to create our own media network that sold brands on blogs/websites in SA. When Jonathan left to pursue his other dreams, I relaunched the brand with Nokulunga Mateta-Phiri, my wife and business partner, as a support system for young creatives and a way to connect young people around the world through events, online content etc.
3. How is it doing?
We are doing quite well, we recently opened our first creative space in Cape Town called the Nest Space on 129 Longmarket Street
- and we hosted our first Conversations On Creativity event in Johannesburg, a collaboration with Blacknation, J&B Scotch Whisky and Independents United on a funding project called The HIVE.
We have also collaborated with SABS Design Institute on a research project “Young & Creative in SA” to better understand creatives entrepreneurship among young people between the ages of 18-30 in SA. We've accomplished so many our goals, last year we launched our Nestlings Awards in 2015 which was a great success and the winners were announced in February 2016.
4. Did you always want to be an entrepreneur?
Yes.
5. What made you choose this career path?
It chose me and I love helping my fellow young people make their ideas happen, seeing them succeed and contributing to the continent.
6. What's next on your list?
Grow our company, building more creative spaces, and explore the architectural industry so that we can build better housing for the continent.
7. What would you say to someone who wants to be an entrepreneur?
Just start
8. Please explain what your start-up does
Creative Nestlings is a research and development company + creative network that focuses on the growth of young African creatives on the continent.
Creative Nestlings works with young African creatives to establish their footprint in the creative economy and provides them with the tools to sustain it through their membership program, THE NEST.
9. Would you say you need a degree to get started?
No, you just need to start. The internet has made life easier, anyone with access can gain and acquire knowledge.
IOL