Masitano Sichone
A social entrepreneur and business founder since 2019.
Introducing Masitano
Masitano graduated from our Electronic Business and Information Systems MSc in 2019. He received a START UP Foundership for his tech start-up Spareable.
enables individuals to donate and volunteer to their local food bank remotely, saving time and food waste.
Masitano won the Duke of York Young Entrepreneur of the Year Award in 2019. He was named a 鈥楾op 100 Changemaker Defeating Poverty鈥� by The Big Issue in 2020.
Why did you decide to start your own business?
The idea came to me when I attended a START UP event as a student. I won a competition and refined the idea afterward whilst deciding if I should go ahead and do this or find a job. I almost didn鈥檛 do it because I thought I couldn鈥檛 do it alone. I had the knowledge to do it, but I didn鈥檛 know whether it would become a real product or end up as a proof of concept. It was hard, just me myself working at home, trying to build an app I wasn鈥檛 sure anyone wanted. Getting onto START UP Founderships gave me the nudge I needed.
How did START UP Founderships help you?
I thought I was a developer making an app but I turned into something else. The mentors through the START UP Founderships and Ignite Accelerator programmes opened my mind. They helped to turn the app into a business and grow it nationally. Now, I want to get to a point where Spareable is self-sustaining so I can look into another project in this same space.
What advice would you give for starting a new business?
First, you must understand yourself. What are your strengths, weaknesses, and skills? Do your skills cover some of the work required in the new business? Will you need people with skills that complement yours? Second, you must understand why you want to start the business. Is it aligned with your personal interests and ambition? You are more likely to do well if you are passionate about your business. Last, do your customer research, keep refining your business model, network with like minds, test the market, and most importantly, enjoy the journey.
What is next for you and your business?
Food poverty is a global problem. We are tackling it here in the UK but our solution can work globally. We want to grow our business to become the world鈥檚 leading platform enabling the public to give to good causes. Whilst creating a bigger impact for the cause, measuring and showing the impact made.
"Having worked for companies before, especially as a software developer, you鈥檙e told what you need to do and there鈥檚 not much room for experimenting. Working for myself has enabled me to test and build out my ideas, you can鈥檛 do this in someone else's company".