Startup Story
All pet lovers will know how difficult it is when you move house or jobs overseas and you want your beloved pets to join you. But the logistics involved in making this happen can be difficult to organize. In Mozambique, entrepreneur Satu Vienings, founder of Air A Pet, is there to help with practical solutions and a passion for your pets.
LoA chatted to Satu Vienings during a recent visit to Maputo to find out more.
What does your company do?
At Air A Pet, we specialize in pet transport. We arrange air and ground transport around the world for pet animals. We provide permits, licences and travel boxes.
“At Air A Pet, we specialize in pet transport. We arrange air and ground transport around the world for pet animals.”
What inspired you to start your company?
I "inherited" the idea from my mother in law who ran a similar company in another country before retiring.
Why should anyone use your service or product?
We are the only service provider in this very niche market. I am the only IATA LAR certified shipper in Mozambique.
Tell us a little about your team
Fernando is our permanent employee who can work his magic with any pet. He has been with the company since 2008. We outsource drivers, carpenter, and if needed a Despachante (forwarding agent).
“We are the only service provider in this very niche market. I am the only IATA LAR certified shipper in Mozambique.”
Share a little about your entrepreneurial journey. And, do you come from an entrepreneurial background?
I have no entrepreneurial background. From the beginning, I loved the flexible hours - we work hard and sometimes very late or through the early hours of the morning. In the beginning we struggled to come to terms with the inconsistent income, but over the years we have established our peak seasons and established financial management practices.
What are your future plans and aspirations for your company?
To grow into new platforms and improve our service delivery to the levels of Europe and US.
“Our aspirations are to grow into new platforms and improve our service delivery to the levels of Europe and US.”
What gives you the most satisfaction being an entrepreneur?
Doing our work well, without any issues from start to end.
What's the biggest piece of advice you can give to other women looking to start-up?
Don't rush things, starting small and doing things well pays off in the end when your company grows
Contact or follow Air A Pet
WEBSITE | FACEBOOK | EMAIL satu@air-a-pet.net
Why LoA loves it….
At Lionesses of Africa, we always love meeting women entrepreneurs who are building unique businesses, and Satu Vienings, founder of Air A Pet, is certainly doing that. She saw a niche in the marketplace for a unique kind of service offering to pet owners, and took her passion and family insights on pet transportation into a new and fascinating business. Today, many years down the line, her hard work and commitment to personal service excellence has paid off. She has a great business that each day reconnects families with their beloved pets in new destinations. What a fabulous niche business. — Melanie Hawken, founder & ceo of Lionesses of Africa