The Travel Startup: Wemvula

This month in our Travel Startup series, we meet Neil Jansson, co-organizer of Travel Massive in Johannesburg and startup founder at Wemvula, a community-based venture creator. 

What is Wemvula and a venture creator?

We help connect entrepreneurs and changemakers at a grassroots level with seed funding through community-based events and strategic partnerships so they can develop their latest project or venture.

It’s an interesting name for a startup. Where did it come from?

Wemvula comes from the local iSiZulu language which means “rainmaker”.

What gap did you find in the travel industry that inspired you to create this start-up?

Crowd funding via the web has been very successful in the first world and to some extent South Africa, but the majority of Africans do not have internet access, and truthfully do not understand the internet-based platforms. So we get down to the grassroots level – we help fund the smaller ventures that sometimes just need a small amount of cash to jumpstart, offer community support, some advice and a push in the right direction.

Do you have any criteria for entrepreneurs who want to get involved?

We raise capital to kick start small businesses with the only criteria being, it creates jobs, feedback is given regularly on the progress of the project and new projects are supported.

What has your success been like so far?

We have helped over 158 small/micro businesses to date in Africa.

What challenges have you faced in getting your own start-up off the ground and gaining traction in the industry?

Convincing corporate and potential sponsors that grassroots investment makes a difference, and is the way forward. Sometimes a great idea and a plan with mentorship and support trumps a university education and a business plan.

What is your goal in 2-5 years?

We’d like to be the largest community funder on the African Continent. Our aim is 1 million new sustainable small businesses.

What do you think is the biggest challenge in the travel industry you would like to see resolved or improved?

Support for the little guy. The small lodge that no one has heard of, the little restaurant down the road or the local craftsman that has mastered his craft over years of hard work. And definitely support for sustainable community projects. A little less talk and more hands-on action is needed.

As a start-up, what benefits have you seen from being a part of Travel Massive meet-ups?

The support we have received as been phenomenal and getting the word out about our projects through the Travel Massive network in Africa has been beneficial.

We have also been able to help other people in return who we meet at events. At the Johannesburg Travel Massive for instance, we met the dynamic Nyeleti who needed some help launching her new travel app. It is now well on its way to hitting the app stores!

Do you have any tips for new entrepreneurs who want to create a successful start-up? 

Go for it. If you don’t do it, someone else will.

Okay, we want to learn a bit more about you!

What was your first travel job?

I was an Overland Driver in Africa

What is the most important thing during your travels?

Meeting locals.

How do you think we can be better travellers?

Travel with an open-mind. Let’s keep from imposing our ideas on other cultures and communities we visit – instead meet locals, listen to their stories and perspectives.

If you could book a ticket tomorrow, where would you go?

Democratic Republic Of Congo. I’d love to navigate the Congo/Zaire River from Source to Mouth. I’ve already started planning – anyone else in?

Finally, why do you travel?

To learn, to love and to remind myself to live!

The Travel Start-Up is a monthly series that profiles unique online travel start-ups in our Travel Massive community around the world. Follow Wemvula on Travel Massive or connect with Neil here.