NAIROBI, Kenya – In an effort to promote business expansion, Kenyan entrepreneurs are now being urged to network.
Y News is aware that networking gives creatives the chance to meet others, which may result in joint ventures, mentorship opportunities, and access to fresh resources.
Additionally, developing connections is essential since networking can give their endeavours more visibility, support, and insightful information.
Against this background, over 300 CEOs and business executives from a range of industries attended the official inauguration of the Nairobi chapter of Business Networking Night (BNN), a global platform dedicated to building business relationships.
In addition to being BNN’s inaugural networking event in Nairobi, the event was a part of a bigger push to give MSMEs the chance to network with larger corporations, access prospective markets, and acquire capital.
How is Business Networking Night supporting businesses
BNN CEO Ridwan Yusuf told Y News that the forum will now be held every two months, offering businesses regular opportunities to meet and exchange ideas.
“We are helping the SMEs and the business leaders who are here tonight to network and to learn how best to increase their revenue. This is the best and easiest way how they can connect with other business leaders, and this is how you give and gain,” explained Yusuf.
Yusuf disclosed that this was the first networking event that was being held in Nairobi.
“It is very good that the businesses that everyone has made here, and we have the pleasure of continuing with this event because it will now be happening every two months from now,” Yusuf added.
He indicated that the essence of BNN is to collaborate, grow and connect businesses.
“There is a saying that goes, ‘ your network is your net worth. The more you connect with business leaders, the more you grow your revenue. So, it is all about networking, which is based on referral. When you connect with other businesses, that is when you get opportunities to get referrals, and at the same time, you do referrals to other business leaders,” he stated.
Why investments are a critical aspect to businesses
At the same time, Sarah Karingi, who is associated with travel and tourism in Kenya, told Y News that networking is an investment.
“An investment means that you spend money to gain value. So, SMEs cannot just say that they will sit in the offices and do nothing. They must step out so that they can meet other people and collaborate,” explained Karingi.
According to Karingi, collaboration is good because one person may have a skill, another one may have resources like money, and another one may have a market which you might not have.
“So, it means that when you meet other people, great things happen. As an entrepreneur you cannot just say that you will do nothing by depending on yourself, so you have to meet other people so that great things can happen in your life and also the fear of business getting to know that business people have challenges and the people you meet through networking are the ones who will help you overcome these challenges,” Karingi explained.
How the government can help boost and grow businesses
Karingi, an Award winner in Entrepreneurship, Leadership and Business Networking; an Author and Speaker, said that through networking, one gets to know and understand the plans of the government.
“As an entrepreneur, you must understand events like public participation, the things to do with export, which you may not know by yourself, because sometimes even if you go online, you may not get the right information,” she added.
Meanwhile, Yusuf reiterated that the main thing he is advocating through BNN is that the business and the corporations get a chance to engage each other.
“We have a database, and everyone who is registered here tonight will always be on our database. From the database, they can see how best to interact with each other,” said the CEO.
Yusuf further told Y News that they have done events outside Nairobi, including across the East African region and even in the U.S.
