Dennis Makori, hailing from a humble family in the Kisii region, always nurtured lofty ambitions of becoming an entrepreneur.
Growing up amidst financial constraints, Makori’s path to success was anything but conventional.
Despite the challenges, he pursued a degree in Electrical and Communication Engineering at Moi University, where he discovered his passion for computer programming.
Through self-teaching and sheer determination, Makori co-founded a software development company, facing numerous obstacles along the way.
However, his commitment and innovative spirit eventually led him to achieve remarkable entrepreneurial success.
Here is his story as told by WoK.
Rise of a Self-Taught Programmer
Makori’s journey as a computer programmer began when he first laid eyes on a computer during his studies at Moi University.
Intrigued by the technology, he immersed himself in learning and honing his programming skills.
Late nights spent studying and experimenting led to the realization that he possessed a natural talent for coding.
Driven by curiosity and an entrepreneurial spirit, Makori teamed up with his friend, Andrew Mbuya, to establish a software development company right in his hostel.
Early Challenges and Entrepreneurial Growth
After graduating in 2003, Makori’s company, initially named Comb Soft Developers, faced numerous challenges. Lack of experience hindered their ability to discern what would work in the market, while convincing clients to invest in the concepts of young entrepreneurs proved to be an uphill battle.
Additionally, securing capital for business growth was a constant struggle.
Operating from his home between 2003 and 2005, Makori earned an average of 9,000 Kenyan shillings per month during successful periods.
Perhaps one of the most significant setbacks for Makori and his co-founder was the lengthy process of obtaining a license from the Communications Commission of Kenya (CCK).
As the founders of Onfon Media, they aimed to offer premium content services and value-added mobile phone services, such as ringtones and bulk text messaging.
The year-long wait for approval strained their finances, as they incurred expenses without generating any revenue.
“During the time we were waiting for the licence, we had an office whose rent we were paying. We were incurring costs but were not making any money as we were still waiting for the licence,” Makori said during an interview with NairobiNews.
However, their determination paid off when they finally secured the license and signed a connectivity deal with Safaricom in April 2007.
The Journey to Financial Success
Following the license approval, Onfon Media faced financial challenges due to depleted savings.
Nevertheless, their first deal, struck in September 2007, earned them Ksh 44,000.
By the end of that year, the company had generated approximately Ksh 500,000.
While their initial investment was around Ksh1 million, they managed to develop their own software rather than purchasing costly pre-existing solutions.
Onfon Media’s Remarkable Growth
What began as a modest venture eventually transformed into a thriving enterprise.
In recent years, Onfon Media generated nearly Ksh400 million in revenue, with a target of surpassing Ksh1 billion in 2015.
The company currently handles between two and three million text messages from subscribers each day, a vast increase compared to their modest start of 15,000 messages.
Among their services, the love quotes feature stands out as an unexpected success, with approximately 150,000 subscribers receiving daily messages.
It was this service that propelled them to earn their first million in 2008, exceeding their wildest expectations.
“There is a service that we are very proud of. It is called love quotes. That is the service that earned us our first million in 2008,” Makori said .
