With a little over $100, these African entrepreneurs started businesses which are now making millions of dollars

Anna Phosa

She is a typical example of the saying, “When life gives you lemons, make lemonade”. Growing up in a suburb in Soweto, Anna Phosa was forced to drop out of school following the death of her father and the impending financial situation in the family. Despite quitting school at that tender age, she followed her passion and this drove her into the entrepreneurship space.

With an initial investment of only $100, four pigs and research on piggery, Phosa landed her first major deal in 2008 with South African supermarket and retail giants, Pick ‘n’ Pay.

The initial deal was the supply of 10 pigs weekly, however, the order was scaled up to 20 weekly due to good feedback from a pool of clientele.

The demand grew and in 2010, she signed a five-year deal to supply 100 pigs worth R25 million ($2.5 million) to Pick ‘n’ Pay. Through that, she got funding from USAID and ABSA to buy a 350-hectare farm property.