Lamo Solar was implemented as a company that was going to build and protect the renewable energy industry by providing specialized services and building a culture of high standard and safe installations.
Elmond Khoza had his first interaction with a solar power system when he was 13years old. His parents bought a 50w solar panel, an inverter and a car battery in their effort to shield the household from power blackouts which occurred frequently in the area. This was the first system he installed. He later enrolled at the university of the Witwatersrand to pursue a degree in electrical engineering, and that is where the founders of Lamo Solar met. Tshibvumo Sikhwivhilu has a background in leadership, and he is currently pursuing his MBA at the Wits Business School. Elmond and Tshibvumo partnered for their honors year lab project. The project was in renewable energy; titled, "grid tied photovoltaic system feasibility study for the Genmin Laboratory".
Lamo Solar was not my first interaction in business, during my undergrad I owned a tuckshop at one of the university's residence, called EOH. That is where I learned valuable lessons about business. Rules of business are the same, whether you are running a multi-national company or selling sweets at a street corner. The most important thing is that you must have satisfied clients.
When we started Lamo Solar, with our background and skills set, we knew that technically we were in the right industry. But we had to distinguish ourselves, and we decided instead of designing solutions for electricians to install, we would ensure that at least one engineer is part of each and every installation team. This at first met criticism that we are wasting valuable skills by using scarce skills in an unconventional way. This is really proving to be our biggest strength because we are able to evaluate risks on site and deal with problems quicker and thus always complete quality installations on time.
The Lamo Solar project was implemented without any startup capital, and this was only possible because of our education and zealousness. We borrowed tools for our first project and since then we have been reinvesting our profits towards building a sustainable company. Today if there is any advice I can give is, entrepreneurs should not dwell in planning to do business, they must start now and move fast, and until they have their first client they should know they do not have a good business idea.
Lamo is not a one man or two men idea, we believe in an open platform model. We believe that getting people involved is the only way we can be a renowned youth led renewable energy company in the world. Within the Lamo team we boast some of the great young minds who would like to apply their skills and energy towards building sustainable communities and ultimately a great country. Our Chief Technology Officer, Didier Iradukunda, is one such individual. Didier is currently pursuing his masters degree in renewable energy at the Wits University.
Education, in a big way contributed and is still contributing towards the Lamo Solar movement. The Lamo Team is passionate about education and we believe that no child should receive low grade education because they do not have electricity at their schools; thus one of our goals is to install solar power system at a thousand rural and underprivileged schools by 2020.
The biggest trials we have encountered today are barriers of entry into specialised businesses. For a youth led business to be taken seriously proved to be a challenge, but once we had our first client, we are ticking off challenges everyday.
I personally get the biggest fulfillment when, after commissioning a project a client comes and says, "thank you Lamo Solar, you guys really know and specialise in renewable energy." It is only when you have met the expectations of the client that you can be proud of your work and know that you are in the right business. The messages of appreciation get us going, they keep us working at wee hours of the morning.
South Africa boasts one of the best conditions for solar power solutions. If young people can get involved, we would be able to come up with life changing solutions to electrify not only the country, but the whole continent.
Regards,
Elmond Khoza
President/Chief Operating Officer
BSc. Electrical Engineering (Wits)
LAMO SOLAR
Engineering Our Installations
Email: elmond@lamosolar.co.za
Mobile: +2778 489 3398
Fax: 086 718 3378
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