Tell us about yourself?
My name is Lin Daniel Ouvelou Mbatchou, and I am a 38-year old Gabonese father of three, and am extremely passionate about entrepreneurship, sustainable development, and change of mentality for a prosperous Africa.
I did my professional classes within Bgfibank Gabon, where I was recruited by the Bbs School of Management, where I was in charge of logistics, the timing of External Relations, and Responsible Security.
In 2016, I decided to create a BATCH Conseil, a firm specializing in Commercial, Financial, and Marketing Studies. I then qualified for the Train My Generation Gabon 5000 program, and from 2019-20, I was the project assistant to the Investment and Project Advisor of the Minister of Higher Education.
I have also participated in the TEFConnect program, of the Tony Elumelu Foundation, during 10 months of incubation. I have multiplied several acceleration programs in search of an economic model for BATCHKicréa, which aims to be a Digital business incubator, with a view to their creation, development, and promotion.
I am committed to learning, financial education, and vocational training, in a gender and youth approach for their empowerment, also social inclusion, and financial inclusion.
If you could go back in time to any moment from your journey, and give yourself one tip, what would it be?
The advice I could give myself, going back in time, is to learn to be patient in life.
What makes you stand out as an entrepreneur?
What sets me apart as an entrepreneur is my capacity for resilience.
I can be calm and patient in certain situations in life, especially when I feel that I have done my best.
What are some of the best working habits you’ve gained over the past couple of years?
The best work habits that I have developed over the past two years are:
– State of mind of awakening information of an economic, financial and social nature;
– Pragmatic learn to be a little clear and precise folds on its objectives;
– Knowing how to be punctual, our Project Director at UNESCO, during the Train My Generation Gabon 5000 program, in 2019 had taught us about respecting our commitments, firstly personal and towards others.
– Development of a SMART work schedule, with a performance improvement monitoring framework.
– Know-how passionate about what we are working on.
Give us a bit of an insight into the influences behind the company?
The influences behind our organization are first and foremost nationals, peers who inspire and motivate me to constantly seek excellence:
– The Director-General of the National Promotion and Investment Agency (ANPI);
– The Managing Director of COFINA,
– The former Director of Okoumé Capital, these are my former managers of BGFIBANK, who I had the opportunity to meet and get to know between 2009 and 2014.
As for the international, there is Robert Kyosaky, Ryan (CEO of Earth Smart Robotic), Tony Elumelu, Aliko Dankote.
Where do you see your business in five years?
Within 5 years I see my organisation reaching the stage of an Icon in entrepreneurship, finance, and the digital economy.
A Holding, containing ten companies with high added value, in the sector of Insurance,
Agriculture, Export / Import, Real Estate, Finance, Investment, Accommodation, Tourism, etc.
As a figure, we should have reached the 2,500 Companies supported and trained by our organisation.
What do you think the biggest challenge will be for you in getting there?
The biggest challenge for me to get there would be human resources, I tried several times to attract young people to accompany me, but many do not believe in them – they do not have the notion of sacrifice and the effort to be devoted today in order to harvest in the near future.
But I do not condemn them, they simply did not have the chance and the privilege of having been with the grown-ups to learn.
I always said to myself, that knowledge comes at a price, and I would pay whatever it takes to have it so that I don’t be ignorant.
So today I work to convince young people to empower themselves through entrepreneurship, income-generating activities.
Talk to us about your biggest success story so far?
My greatest success to date is to see the development work of my Web and Mobile application re-anchored thanks to my sister who lives in France, with whom I was able to raise 200 Euros. We were able to restart the work and were in a position where, within three months, the prototype was presentable and I could raise other funding for the 2nd phase of my project.
Because my vision is addressed to all of Africa in general, I aspire to become a charismatic leader and a force of opinion for future generations and to leave this world by bequeathing a legacy.
May my works be remembered and my exploits told to future generations what impact I have brought for the change of my nation and that of Africa.
How do clients and customers find you? Are you much of a salesperson for yourself?
We have chosen to bet on the digitization of our offers and the digital, in order to be at the forefront of technological progress. But we must admit that the last two years have been difficult for us, we need resources to develop the Web and Mobile application.
However, the commercial by training and by profession, I was able in the field to impact up to nearly 1000 young people, 200 of whom had started to use our offers of free face-to-face training services.
For this year we are working so that the platform is operational very quickly, for the test phase, afterward to execute our marketing strategy and increase customer figures and guarantee the profitability of the project.
What one tip would you give to fellow startup founders?
The advice that I would give to another founder is that believing in yourself is enough! Very often when we talk about our projects, aiming at people seems to give us the impression that they seize and understand us, but many will not be ready to pay the price that it imposes to see a work succeed.
This is not the case for me, because of my level of spiritual elevation, I have learned to develop the esteem, confidence, and sufficient hope that it takes to achieve a result.
Many at first wanted to work with me, but when the storms blew many sank and I was left alone.
Today, I can glimpse a glimmer of hope, a bit of light is finally rising on the horizon, I have the firm conviction that something is happening, I do not know exactly what, but I am sure providence and fate have a bright 2022 in store for me.
In short, have sufficient confidence in yourself, never doubt yourself, and allow yourself to be guided by your intuition.
And finally, what do you hope the future brings both you personally, and your business?
What I hope the future brings to me is nothing other than what I have always believed in.
That I was born to succeed and not to fail in my life, although I may have mistakes they are for me the means to learn again, in order to improve myself.
The future promises me more happiness, a universe where everything comes true, doubt no longer has its place.
The time has come for me to no longer be afraid of my destiny, but to be its master.
I can see doors opening, partnerships, and relationships developing so that I finally move forward in my vision.
Also, it brings me more maturity and understanding, because I am an ambassador of change, called to impact my generation.
In short, the future will surprise me, in what I have hoped for so much for 5 years.
