Some women (and men ;-) stand out in their business approach, leading to their success. Annah is an excellent example of how her focus helped to grow herbusiness and impact farmers. In 2021, Annah founded her business, Napas, with a mission to positively impact farmers, their families, and the environment. Napas uses Ugandan fruits that might otherwise go to waste, extending their shelf life by transforming them into high-quality fruit juices. This approach not only reduces food waste but also provides a healthier alternative to the sugar-based drinks that dominate the Ugandan market.
The Balanced Approach of a Social Entrepreneur
As a social enterprise, Napas is an excellent example of balancing social impact with business sustainability. Many social entrepreneurs focus heavily on the social aspect—often the original motivation behind their businesses—at the expense of financial viability. Annah, however, understands that lasting impact comes from a financially sustainable business that can grow and support more farmers overtime.
Strategic Growth with a Clear Vision
Annah remains focused onher long-term goal: expanding the fruit juice line and increasing distribution points, including export markets. Her structured, deliberate decision-making process allows her to weigh short- and long-term goals effectively, and I’m truly impressed by her strategic foresight.
The Power of Focused Decision-Making
One story that highlights Annah's unique approach is her choice not to pursue a grant for a $20,000 machine—a tempting offer for many entrepreneurs. Most Ugandan entrepreneurs I work with actively seek grants, which often consumes valuable time they could invest in their businesses. When I asked Annah why she passed on the opportunity, she explained that while the grant provided funds for machinery, it required attending training sessions and completing assignments. After assessing the content, she felt the training offered little new insight. She calculated that if she invested that time directly into her business, she could reach the same financial goal and buy the machine herself. This decision reflects her disciplined focus on time management and the efficient use of resources.
A Step-by-Step Approach to Scaling Impact
Annah’s careful planning is evident in how she introduces new products. Starting with pineapple juice sourced directly from farmers, she responded to customer demand for additional flavors. Mango juice was the logical next step; however, she discovered that handling fresh mangoes brought challenges, such as quicker decay and pest attraction. For now, she sources mango pulp from a trader until her factory setup is optimized for fresh mangoes. Similarly, while there's demand for berry and apple juices—fruits not grown locally—these products help build her customer base, increase revenue, and drive greater impact for pineapple farmers. She’s also invested in R&D to design new, attractive packaging that has made a noticeable difference in attracting customers and retailers.
I hope this story inspires you to increase focus anddedication for your business and become as successful as Napas!
