At the age of 30, Tonnie Kamau stood as the founder of Ovotox, a multifaceted multimedia training, production, and consultancy firm based in the bustling Westlands area of Nairobi.
His journey has been marked by trials, setbacks, and triumphs as he worked tirelessly to turn his passion into a successful career.
As the founder of Ovotox International School, a subsidiary of Ovotox, Tonnie has made a name for himself in the field of videography and photography by training the next generation of multimedia creatives.
The school offers a range of government-certified programs, from artisan to diploma levels, and distinguishes itself with the integration of artificial intelligence (AI) into its curriculum—a forward-thinking approach that prepares students for the digital age.
Moreover, this venture provides meaningful employment to a team of 10 dedicated professionals.
But the path to entrepreneurship was far from straightforward for Bonnie Kamau.
His journey was punctuated by failures and financial challenges that tested his resolve time and again.
While working as a studio technician and a part-time radio production and music production instructor at Zetech University at the tender age of 21, Tonnie was already doubling as a freelance photographer and videographer, covering weddings and small events.
His side hustle showed promise, prompting him to start his first company and establish a home studio in Ruiru Kimbo.
However, this initial foray into entrepreneurship hit a roadblock due to financial challenges.
“I quit my job to focus on my start-up, but that did not do well after a few months due to financial challenges. I lost everything and could not even keep up with the rent,” says Mr Kamau.
This setback taught Tonnie a valuable lesson: entrepreneurship is a demanding journey, and financial stability is often elusive.
He decided to return to the safety of employment and secured a part-time role as a producer, documenting events for bakery firm Emma Daniel’s Creations.
Yet, Bonnie’s passion for videography and photography remained undiminished.
He rebranded and launched a second company, this time based in Kahawa West.
Unfortunately, this venture faced the same challenges as the first: financial difficulties and a lack of effective strategies led to its closure.
The failure of his second business venture left Bonnie questioning his entrepreneurial abilities.
To address his doubts and acquire new skills, he enrolled in an entrepreneurship workshop.
It was during this workshop that he crossed paths with Mr. Paul Mukoma, CEO of Talanta Institute.
With minimal capital to revive his entrepreneurial ambitions, Tonnie was offered a lifeline by Mr. Mukoma, who hired him as the chief producer, quality control manager, and media instructor for a year.
While the stability of employment was comforting, Tonnie’s entrepreneurial spirit continued to burn within him.
He made the bold decision to resign from his position and commit fully to pursuing his passion.
This time, he set up another studio, this one located in the heart of Nairobi on Dubois Road.
It was a risky move, one that would plunge him into the most challenging and painful phase of his entrepreneurial journey.
Rebranding his studio four times in just two years, grappling with a limited client base, and navigating the harsh realities of financial instability tested Tonnie’s determination to the fullest.
During this trying period, he worked as a car wash attendant just to make ends meet, earning a meager Sh200 per day.
But Tonnie’s spirit remained unbroken.
Despite the hardships, he invested his time in extensive online research on entrepreneurship and life issues.
This period of self-education turned out to be profoundly beneficial, as it laid the foundation for his eventual turnaround.
Armed with newfound knowledge and a well-thought-out strategy, Tonnie embarked on a journey of self-discovery and transformation.
He learned to manage his time effectively and developed a strategy that allowed him to work four different jobs in a single day.
It was a breakthrough moment, a turning point in his tumultuous journey.
Tonnie began offering music production classes at Music Inn Music School, providing video editing services at Sunrise Films, delivering camerawork services to Richard Takim (a Nigerian pastor at 680 Hotel’s daily evening and weekend services), and pursuing his side hustle as a videographer and music producer.
These diverse income streams allowed him to gradually rebuild his financial stability, earning at least Sh150,000 per month.
His tenacity and resourcefulness paid off when he joined a Sacco and, after a year of disciplined saving, secured a business loan.
With additional financial support from his parents and friends, Tonnie established Ovotox—a multimedia training and production firm that would become his platform for success.
