Afrinection recently interviewed Guylain Katombe, founder of Geoguys. He discusses expanding the digital geology ecosystem of the DRC.

Q. What is the name of your start-up, social enterprise, or innovation?

Geoguys

Q. Where did you grow up and what/who inspired you to set up your start-up, social enterprise, or innovation?

I grew up in Lubmumbashi, DRC and was fasciated at a young age by geology.

Q. In what year did you start your start-up, social enterprise, or innovation?

2017

Q. What does your start-up, social enterprise, or innovation do? What problem does it intend to solve?

Teach mining and SIG software, share knowledge of the DRC geology and digitize associated maps.

Q. In which country/countries/regions does your start-up, social enterprise, or innovation operate?

In the DRC.

Q. What has been the highlight since you started your start-up, social enterprise, or innovation?

Having an increasing global reach.

Q. What has been a key lesson learned so far?

Patience, determinaton, and self-confidence.

Q. What makes your start-up, social enterprise, or innovation worthy of investment? Give us 3 reasons (please elaborate on these).

1. We have a clear growth and sustainability plan which will see our reach and impact grow. 2. We are open for collaboration with various stakeholders in the implementation of our programs. 3. We utilised a human centered approach for all our programs which have proved to be quite effective since inception.

Q. What are your goals?

Working with other partners in the USA, Canada, Germany, France.

Q.What are your 3 key tips for aspiring and budding (social) entrepreneurs? Please explain to us why.

Patience: because the most difficult is the beginning, if you keep in mind how difficult it is to start, you could be discouraged and leave everything. Perceiveness: each difficulty must push you to seek a solution and not to moping you. At the same time, most will discourage you because they do not see what you see, they do not know what you know and do not understand what you understand. You are the only one to know it so it is your responsibility to put it into practice. You are the actor.

Q. Why did you join Afrinection and why should others?

Because I am among a group of people who understand me, who have the same dreams as me, who experience the same difficulties as me and with whom I can receive guidance and assistance in all forms.

Q. Is there anything else you would like to add?

Thanks be to God for all his accomplishment in my life.

Connect with Guylian on Afrinection today by visiting his profile on Afrinection. If you are interested in being interviewed for a future blog plost, please create a free company or individual profile then click on the following link to complete an interview questionnaire:  https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdn_MPwIlg6cQ6JIqTF2ou8Ha6ey6IFEW-0W96qN3BuPzwnwQ/viewform?usp=sf_link.