Order Out Of Chaos: How Zimbabwean Startups Can Thrive in Uncertainty

 

Hello

This is Cain Ndhlovu the founder of Sunrise Start-up Solutions and creator of the three-part free training series for you on Start-up Growth Mastermind. If you haven’t registered for this flagship and amazing training yet please click here to do so.

I am a Zimbabwe-based Start-up Growth Consultant and I help early-stage startups, SMEs, established businesses diversifying or entering new markets, NGOs/investors requiring local market insights for projects or entry strategies etc with hyper-local expertise and online product launch services.

Talking about startups the creating God of Genesis 1 and 2 in the Bible is probably the greatest startup entrepreneur of all time.

Eric Ries a world renown entrepreneur define a startup this way " a human institution designed to create a new product or service under conditions of extreme uncertainty."

Yes God isn't human but the mammoth creating enterprise he embarked on creating this planet was definitely executed under conditions of extreme uncertainty because the Bible starts by saying ;

" In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth. And the earth was without form, and void; and darkness was upon the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters. And God said, Let there be light: and there was light."

Genesis 1:1-3 KJV

And in the six days that followed, from the extreme uncertainty of formlessness and darkness God created the deep seas full of amazing creatures, the vast tropical rain forests rich in diverse forms of life, the sophisticated atmospheric phenomenon that dictate our weather, the dazzling flame lily in the valley and the blooming rose in your garden.

Hope you do not find this as being too religious but being a devoted Christian religion sometimes overlaps with other areas of my life. You will have to forgive me.

However, l find this vivid creation narrative in the Bible as the best metaphor to capture the essence of the title: Order Out Of Chaos: How Zimbabwean Start-ups Can Thrive in Uncertainty.

Here is the interesting climax of the creation narrative. (Sorry here we go again) In Genesis 1:26-27 KJV the Bible continues saying ;

"And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth.

So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them."

Being in the "image" of God first and foremost means you are special. Never ever accept being taken as a second-rate human being. You are special simply because you are created in the image of God.

Being in the image of God also mean we have "his creative DNA" in us. This means we can also create solutions out of the disorders of our earthly lives as he successfully did in Genesis 1 and 2. As Zimbabwean entrepreneurs afflicted and bruised we therefore, need to explore this interesting topic further.

Introduction

In his book The Lean Startup, Eric Ries defines a startup as “a human institution designed to create a new product or service under conditions of extreme uncertainty.” For Zimbabwean entrepreneurs, this definition couldn’t be more fitting. 

The country’s economic volatility, currency instability, and infrastructural challenges create a chaotic environment – yet within this chaos lies immense opportunity.

Zimbabwean startups must embrace uncertainty, not as a barrier, but as the very condition that forces innovation. By adopting lean methodologies, validated learning, and agile execution, enterpreneurs can turn disorder into order and build resilient businesses.

1. Embrace the Chaos : Uncertainty as Fuel for Innovation

Many Zimbabwean entrepreneurs see the country’s economic instability as a disadvantage but history shows that some of the world’s most successful startups emerged from crises.

Hyperinflation ? A broken supply chain? Regulatory hurdles ? These are not excuses – they are problems waiting for solutions.

Example : EcoCash thrived in Zimbabwe’s cash crisis by providing mobile money solutions. The very lack of traditional banking infrastructure created the perfect conditions for disruption.

Actionable Insight :

●Identify pain points caused by chaos – these are your business opportunities.

●Adopt a problem-first, not product-first mindset. What do Zimbabweans desperately need right now ?

2. Build, Measure, Learn: The Lean Startup Approach

Ries’ Build-Measure-Learn feedback loop is critical in unpredictable markets. Instead of spending months (or years) perfecting a product before launch , Zimbabwean startups should:

●Build a Minimum Viable Product (MVP) – Launch the simplest version of your solution.

●Measure real-world feedback – Do customers actually use it ? How ?

●Learn and Pivot – Adapt quickly based on data, not assumptions.

Example: A Harare-based agritech startup could first test a basic SMS-based crop advisory service before developing a full app. If farmers engage, scale. If not, pivot.

Actionable Insight:

●Fail fast, learn faster. Zimbabwe’s market changes rapidly – don’t waste time on unproven ideas.

● Use low-cost experiments (WhatsApp surveys, manual prototypes) before heavy investment.

3. Bootstrap and Be Resourceful

Zimbabwe’s funding ecosystem is still developing, but constraints breed creativity. Many global giants (Apple, Dell, Airbnb) started with little capital. 

Example: A startup could use a manual logistics model (bicycle deliveries) before investing in vehicles. Validate demand first.

Actionable Insight:

●Start small, reinvest profits.

●Leverage existing infrastructure (WhatsApp for customer service, local markets for distribution).

4. Leverage the Diaspora and Digital Economy

Zimbabwe’s diaspora is a massive asset. Startups can:

●Tap into remittance-based solutions (e.g., low-cost cross-border payments).

●Offer digital services (remote education, freelance marketplaces).

Example: Zim-based edutech startups can offer online courses tailored for diaspora families wanting to educate relatives back home.

Actionable Insight:

●Think globally, act locally. Zimbabwean startups can serve both local and international markets.

●Use digital tools to bypass physical limitations. 

5. Regulatory Agility: Navigating Zimbabwe’s Business Environment

Zimbabwe’s regulatory landscape can be complex, but startups must stay informed and adaptable.

Example: Fintech startups must work closely with RBZ compliance while innovating. 

Actionable Insight:

●Engage policymakers early. Some regulators are open to sandbox testing.

●Stay compliant but push for progressive reforms.

Conclusion: Order Will Emerge

Chaos is not the enemy – it is the raw material for innovation. Zimbabwean startups that adopt lean principles, validate quickly, and remain resourceful will not only survive but thrive. The next EcoCash, InnBucks, or Zim-specific unicorn will be  born from today’s challenges.

The question is : Will it be yours ?

What’s your take ? How can Zimbabwean startups turn chaos into opportunity ? Share your thoughts in the comments !

This article was inspired by Eric Ries’ The Lean Startup and the resilience of Zimbabwean entrepreneurs.