The start-up stage of BraveHearts Expeditions was quite an adventure. It has been a journey of the unknown: from one business competition to another. The very last one was the World Startup Cup. We were privileged to represent Ghana when we won the Ghana Startup Cup Competition. We placed second on the world’s stage. Indeed it was a proud moment.
But for us, awards and citations meant nothing compared to the realisation of our dream. Our dream was to create employment opportunities for young graduates and generate enough revenue needed to scale up our business to the next level. The hardest nut to crack in all these was making outdoor adventure meaningful to Ghanaians.
Our biggest dream was to develop outdoor culture in Ghana. But surrounding us were more Dream Killers than Dream Believers!
Now, business competitions, business coaches and business mentors are good but still beware. Remember you had your dreams first before they all came into the picture. Let them help you shape your dream and business but don’t give them the wheel, else they will change your course.
We have encountered business coaches who never came to terms with the fact that an outdoor company could be founded and managed by Ghanaians!
We have sat in business competitions where we’ve been belittled and demands made of us to drop our standards and act more of the travel, tour or recreational company before we could be accepted by Ghanaians!
We have sat in business competitions where CEOs of popular banks gave us thumbs up for our business plan. And in the same breath, they blatantly told us adventure business is not feasible in Ghana!
Too many a time, we have been reminded of the efie abeyifuo syndrome as soon as we started talking hiking, mountaineering, abseiling, kayaking and Zip lines. “This is Africa and Ghana ooo!” Indeed, it is a cultural thing and we have already charted a course to change.
I can go on and on about Dream Killers!
Bravehearts Expeditions: Now
At a glance, everything looked impossible but here we are serving adventure at its best. Hiking and mountaineering among breathtaking valleys and hills, abseiling off cliffs and rock surfaces, biking through troops of baboons and antelopes, kayaking across vast expanses of lakes, cross country safaris and looking into the future with high ropes courses and the introduction of the world’s longest Zipline on the world’s largest man-made lake (Lake Volta) all bundled up as the “Survival Island Dream”.
It’s a humbling Journey! But we are still waiting for the day all our Dream killers will become our Dream believers. Some are already our clients, the rest will follow the ladder soon.
Dream the impossible! Seek the unknown! Achieve Greatness!
Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies (Dream Killers) : thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the Lord for ever. Amen. ¬ Psalms 23:5-6 KJV
About Braveheart Expeditions
A BraveHearts Expeditions expedition offers you the chance to explore parts of your world you might otherwise never see. BraveHearts Expeditions is an African adventure firm that runs camping, hiking, mountaineering, paragliding, cross-country safari and wilderness experiential learning expeditions. We are the first startup in Ghana to pursue a green economy where entrepreneurial revenue growth is driven by business activities. This reduces environmental degradation and pollution and prevent the loss of biodiversity and ecosystem services. Working in teams, we develop strong relationships and active processes with our clients. This cultivates a culture of change in Africa and creates a sustainable business that provides economic opportunities.
By: Nana Adjoa Darkoa Segbefia
Deputy Expedition Leader @ Braveheart Expedition
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