Young entrepreneurs grab ICT industry
Young IT entrepreneurs: From left to right: Owen Mahoto, Executive Chairman: Business Development, Ivan Limbo, Manager: Finance and Marketing, Aitkens Mainga, Chief Operations Officer of OMIG Technology System.
Cousins, Owen Mahoto (22) and Ivan Limba (25), who were both born in Katima Mulilo, are running OMIG Technology Systems, a young information technology company specializing in software, hardware, networks, GPS Tracking, web designing, mobile applications and digital advertising.
Their services rendered are designed to provide an integrated approach to business strategy with respect to the use of web and information technology.
Mahoto started the company in September 2014 and Limba come aboard in December 2014 and since then they have entered the Sanlam Innovation Works Competition making it to the top 5.
“We have gained momentum with the input and mentorship from NBII and did a few jobs mostly subcontracting the work out,” said Mahoto.
When their operations expanded they decided to expand their team and hired Aitkens Mainga as Chief of Operations and Joseph Kasera as the Lead Software Developer.
To date they are involved in the design of Namibia’s next generation booking system (Yellow Mobile), which allows businesses of any nature to take appointments and payments online and via a mobile application. “We are constantly looking into new technologies that will put Namibia at the forefront of ICT in Africa and globally,” they added.
The team also explained that being a start up technology company, proved difficult breaking into the market because they were in competition with large multinationals and other well established firms.
“Proving to investors and other counterparts that age is just a number has been quite difficult, people we have business dealings with would rather sit with people their age, but they are often flattered when the meeting is done,” Mahoto emphasised.
“No one who is living their dreams started out perfectly, they just did not quit when failure was the result of their effort. If you have an idea, do not let the guy with the money tell you that you or your ideas are not worth it, stick to what you believe and you will succeed,” Limba added.
Currently the IT enthusiasts ultimate goal as industrialist and ‘technoprenuers’ is to make Namibia a leading contender internationally in the ICT industry and to help the youth work on ICT related issues and projects for free.
“We would like to serve a more corporate client but not forgetting the small to medium enterprises as we,” they explained. Owen holds a Bachelor of Science in Engineering from the University of Cape Town and and Ivan hold a ND: Land Valuation and Estate Management and is currently doing his Honours in Property Studies both at the Polytechnic of Namibia.
