Eric Kinoti Biography
Eric Kinoti is a Kenyan entrepreneur raised in Meru. He is the Founder and CEO of Shade systems EA.ltd, a million dollar enterprise that has a presence in over 6 countries. He is on the boards of several prominent East African companies. He has won awards in East Africa and internationally hence gained recognition for his entrepreneurial endeavors and is also a noted philanthropist.
He is the Kenyan youth patron in the Kenyan Chamber of commerce and has received recognition as a youth entrepreneur from Kenyan president Uhuru Kenyatta. He has appeared on Forbes Africa’s Annual List of 30 Most Promising Young Entrepreneurs in Africa twice. He also has received Kenya’s SOMA Awards in 2014 for being the Most Influential SME Personality in Kenya in 2014.
Eric Kinoti Age
Born on 8 March 1984, Kinoti is
Eric Kinoti Family
He is married and is a father to one daughter. He lives in Westlands suburb of Nairobi, Kenya.
Eric Kinoti Education Background
Student at Tsavo Park Institute, Diploma in Business Administration
Secondary school student at Nkubu High School
Primary school student at Abothuguchi primary school
Eric Kinoti Business Career
With a capital of just KSh 20,000, Eric Kinoti immersed himself into entrepreneurism completely in 2007. He bought milk from Kinoo and Kiambu and supplying the city hotels both in Nairobi and Mombasa. With a saving of Ksh 60,000, in 2009, he borrowed almost KSh2 million from a Shylock, to set up Shade Systems where he ended up paying back the money with a million shillings as the interest. He stated that, it was the worst decision he has ever made.
Kinoti today sits atop five powerful companies in Kenya and has been on Kenya’s government delegation to several international economic meetings. Eric Kinoti is also a founder and director of Alma Tents Ltd, Bag Base Kenya Ltd and SafiSana Home Services Ltd. In years 2009 and 2014 came the expansion of Shade Systems to other countries such as Rwanda, Somalia, Congo, Southern Sudan, Uganda and elsewhere. Kinoti is in charge of business affairs in East and Central Africa region.
Sun news has regarded Kinoti as the Warren Buffett of Africa.
Eric Kinoti Photo
Eric Kinoti PhotoEric Kinoti Awards and Honors
He was named as the most influential SME personality at OLX Social Media Awards (SOMA)
He has been on the Top 40 under 40 twice
He was listed among the 30 most promising entreprenuers in Africa Forbes Africa list
Eric Kinoti Interview
How did you get into business?
In 2004, I was working as a cashier at a hotel in Malindi. Since my work hours were mostly at night, I had a lot of free time during the day, so I started buying eggs and supplying it to hotels in the coast. I quit the hotel cashier job in 2007 with a little capital of Sh 20,000 I had saved and started distributing milk to city hotels.
How then did you set up Shade Systems?
I had expanded my business to supplies of foodstuff like rice, milk, beans and maize and one day I met a client who not only wanted foodstuff, but also wanted a tent since he had a function. I immediately sourced for one tent and I made quite a tidy sum. I then went into my saving account, withdrew the entire Sh 57,000 that I had saved and set up Shade Systems. Shade Systems employs twenty-five permanent staff and eight casuals. We manufacture and supply tents, be it relief tents, military tents, gazebo tents, canopies for pubs and restaurants, luxury tents for homes or weddings, bouncing castle, canvas seats and car parking shades.We have a presence in Sudan, Rwanda, and Somalia. My clients include JCC Church, Bank of Africa, East Africa Breweries, Toyota Kenya, the Department of Defense and Bata Company, among other companies.
When was your big break?
My big break came two years after I had started the company and had not yet broken even. My first big job was military tender, which put about Sh 15 million into the company. I eventually had the necessary capital to chase all the big jobs. I also paid all my debts. Amongst the challenges I have faced is very few people give big tenders to the youth; they feel you don’t have what it takes, be it the experience or the financial backing to do a good job. Our business also needs a lot of capital since nobody will pay you until you have delivered.
What can you tell a budding entrepreneur?
Most of the times when successful people are profiled in the media, they only give stories of the glamourous lifestyle they lead and how much money they make. They never give stories on how hard it is to actually earn one million shillings. They never give stories on how painful it is to lose three million in a deal gone sour. In the end many young people think making money and building a successful company is something that can be done overnight. Some people say I am lucky, it is true, I was prepared when lady luck smiled on me. If I hadn’t been prepared, no matter how lucky I am, I wouldn’t have succeeded in running my company. My plan is within three years, we will have surpassed a very modest annual turnover of Sh350 million.
Tell us about your family?
I am married with a six months old daughter. I got married last year. She is the most wonderful woman God placed on earth and I am so lucky to have her by my side, praying for me every day and supporting me through in all my struggle sin business.
Eric Kinoti Video
Eric Kinoti Twitter
Eric Kinoti Instagram
View this post on Instagram
Anyone can give up; it’s the easiest thing to do. But to hold it together when everyone else would understand if you fell apart, that’s true strength. Whatever your issue is, keep moving friend.
About InformationCradle Editorial Staff
This Article is produced by InformationCradle Editorial Staff which is a team of expert writers and editors led by Josphat Gachie and trusted by millions of readers worldwide.
We endeavor to keep our content True, Accurate, Correct, Original and Up to Date. For complain, correction or an update, please send us an email to informationcradle@gmail.com. We promise to take corrective measures to the best of our abilities.