Frans Langa Shivute: ‘Fear is normal, but regret is worse’
Starting a business with limited resources requires the right mindset as much as opportunity.
Frans Langa Shivute advises young people to “start with what they have, where they are”.
Rather than waiting for ideal conditions, he says they should begin small, reinvest profits and focus on solving real problems as a basis for sustainable growth.
His inspiration for starting Langas Agribusiness Investment CC came from identifying a gap in Namibia’s agricultural value chain.
“I saw a gap between raw agricultural production and finished products in Namibia,” he explained.
Farmers were producing, but much of the value was lost before reaching the market.
His goal was to contribute to changing that by adding value locally, supporting farmers and strengthening the economy through agribusiness.
Like many entrepreneurs, Shivute’s journey has not been without challenges. Access to funding, equipment and market trust proved difficult at the start.
However, he overcame these barriers by starting small, reinvesting every cent and building strong relationships.
“Sometimes you don’t remove challenges, you grow stronger than them,” he said, highlighting the importance of persistence and consistency in building credibility and quality over time.
Step up despite fear
Agribusiness, he believes, presents a powerful opportunity for young people in Namibia.
With strong agricultural potential, value addition such as processing, packaging and branding can unlock significant economic benefits. It also creates jobs, improves food security and enables young entrepreneurs to build impactful and profitable businesses.
He emphasised that building a strong brand requires consistency, quality and honesty.
“Branding is not just a logo; it’s the experience people have with your product,” he said, stressing that trust and reliability are central to long-term success.
For aspiring entrepreneurs, key skills include discipline, patience, adaptability and a willingness to work without immediate reward.
Resilience, he added, is essential in entrepreneurship.
“Business is not a straight line,” he explained, noting that setbacks and failures are part of the process.
Staying motivated requires focusing on purpose, celebrating small wins and remembering the reason behind the journey. He also encouraged young people to overcome fear and avoid the mistake of waiting too long to start.
“Fear is normal, but regret is worse.”
His final message to young Namibians is: “Think purpose. Build businesses that solve real problems, support your community and create opportunities for others. Namibia needs builders, and that responsibility is in our hands.”
