Startup Story
Creating a unique service offering is always a great starting point for a successful business, and Ana Belmonte is certainly doing that with Malachi Garden Service Lda. She brings her considerable expertise and passion for gardening to every job she undertakes for her clients, and her reputation for great service is growing as a result.
LoA spoke to the passion-driven Ana Belmonte about her love of gardening and her commitment to training a new generation of gardeners for the future.
Tell us about yourself
My name Ana Belmonte, I am originally from Nampula but currently living in Maputo in Mozambique, and I am the founder of Malachi Garden Service Lda. I am 35 years old, married and a mother of 2 boys and 1 girl. I am licensed in Resource Management. I have always been in love with plants and with family, and in my free time I love travelling. My greatest desire is to see people from all over the entire world have a green consciousness. I very much want to write a book on gardening, and I want to continuously study and learn about plants and in the future give training on gardening. I passionately love what I do.
What does your company do?
Malachi Garden Service LDA is a company that is focused on the creation, rehabilitation and maintenance of gardens, and the decoration of outdoor spaces and landscapes.
“My greatest desire is to see people from all over the entire world have a green consciousness.”
What inspired you to start your company?
Since I have been passionate about plants from an early age, and since I know that they are living organisms responsible for the oxygen that we breathe, they only need a human to help them to thrive in their locations. That is when I decided to be that person, through gardening.
Why should anyone use your service or product?
It’s special because we work to enrich other lives, both in the flowers and plants that we grow, and for our clients.
Tell us a little about your team
I have a super engaged team, most entered the company without previous experience or knowledge of gardening. But through the training that I have organized for them, I can say that they are more expert than me. For the most part, my team consists of young people aged between 20 to 47 years old. There are 11 men and 1 woman, which is me. I want to have more women to be part of the team. We are very proactive, animated, and always attentive to trends and innovation in gardening.
For the future, I would like to write a book on gardening and have a channel on YouTube to talk about my experiences as a gardener. I would love to be able to give certified training.
Share a little about your entrepreneurial journey. And, do you come from an entrepreneurial background?
Since very early in life, I learnt that I should prepare to be a good wife and mother, just like my mother and aunties. I learnt that with time my life could be what they taught me and much more. I know I can do and be what I want. Having fulfilled the role of wife and mother, I felt that something was missing. So I decided to go back to school and look for a job. It was 3 years later while being employed that I still needed to find real satisfaction. I began to reflect deeply and began to ponder over my gifts and talents. In an outpouring of ideas, I discovered my talent whilst on a Femtech training programme specifically for women. I was sure that I would go ahead with my entrepreneurial dream. One year later I resigned and founded Malachi Garden Service, which started without many resources, only 2 employees and a very old grass cutting machine. Without a lot of experience of what to expect, I simply started, full of fears and uncertainties, and got my first clients. I then decided to formalize my business. All the money that I earned, I invested in equipment and paid all my expenses, taking responsibility for the payment of salaries and taxes, so I never really felt the profits. As time passed, the machinery increased, the number of employees also increased, clients were good, so I looked for help to control the company’s accounting. I am currently learning that we - me and Malachi - are separate people. I already know how to delegate tasks. We now have 12 employees who firmly support this dream, and I want to grow more and more. and we are growing. I feel proud of being who I am. I recognize that there are many difficulties in business, both in the external and internal environment. The best thing to do is to be open to the good things, and prevent the bad things, both in terms of our employees and our equipment. Also, we look at our competitors as growth partners.
What are your future plans and aspirations for your company?
For the future, I would like to write a book on gardening and have a channel on YouTube to talk about my experiences as a gardener. I would love to be able to give certified training.
“What gives me the greatest satisfaction in being an entrepreneur, is the freedom to imagine and make my dreams come true, and to be able to work with what I am really passionate about.”
What gives you the most satisfaction being an entrepreneur?
What gives me the greatest satisfaction in being an entrepreneur, is the freedom to imagine and make my dreams come true, and to be able to work with what I am really passionate about.
What's the biggest piece of advice you can give to other women looking to start-up?
I would like to appeal to women to follow your dreams and don’t let anyone or anything hold you back. Follow your instincts, value your gifts and talents. Look for a mentor in the areas that are difficult for you. Always do what is right, even if it’s hard, and not what is wrong and easy. Formalize your businesses. Be yourself, always. Be open to new ideas. When you fall, remember to stand up stronger. Know how to balance work and family. Always remember you are special.
Contact or follow Malachi Garden Service
INSTAGRAM | YOUTUBE | EMAIL ana.belmonte@malachi.co.mz
Why LoA loves it…
It is always so inspirational to see women who are passionate about what they do and not only fulfill their own dreams and aspirations through their businesses, but also create opportunities for others too. Ana Belmonte is doing just that through her gardening business. She is creating a positive legacy for her family and uplifting the lives of others along the way. Inspirational and definitely a business to watch as it continues to grow and make an impact. — Melanie Hawken, founder & ceo, Lionesses of Africa