Colin Mkosi, a young entrepreneur from Langa, Cape Town, identified a gap in the market for door-to-door deliveries in his community. In 2020, he founded Cloudy Deliveries, an innovative logistics company that uses bicycles to deliver goods from local restaurants, supermarkets, and stores to customers' doorsteps.
"The idea for Cloudy Deliveries came to me one day while I was studying at home. I needed something from the store but didn't want to leave because I was focused on my studies. That's when I thought it would be great if I could call someone, give them a list of what I needed, and they would go to the store and bring it back for a small fee," Colin explains.
In just four years, Cloudy Deliveries has expanded its operations, employing 10 staff members and winning the prestigious DHL GIBS Route to Market Challenge 2024 powered by Raizcorp. This recognition has opened doors for potential partnerships with major players in the logistics industry, paving the way for significant growth opportunities.
"Winning the DHL GIBS Route to Market Challenge 2024 has been a remarkable achievement, especially since it's the first of its kind. This competition opens doors for businesses like mine to form partnerships with major players in the logistics industry, offering significant growth opportunities," Colin says.
When asked about the company's goals, Colin stated, "Our ultimate dream for Cloudy Deliveries is to one day have a fleet of planes to deliver goods across the country and the world. In the near future, we aim to partner with other delivery services, like DHL, to help them reach areas they can't cover."
Colin credits his family's support for his success, saying, "As the youngest of four children, I've always had strong support from my siblings. Whenever I face challenges or need help, my family is there to back me up."
He also emphasizes the importance of reliability and quality service, saying, "The growth of our business over the past four years has come from consistently being available when customers need us. Providing reliable and high-quality service has helped us maintain and grow our customer base."
Colin's entrepreneurial journey began while he was still a law student, and he took a leap of faith to start Cloudy Deliveries. "I decided to take the leap of faith because I believed the business could make a real impact in my community by providing young people with the opportunity to earn an income and sustain their lives," he says.
By Nonhlanhla Mathebula
This article first appeared in the Drum.
