Startup Story
Kabira Dewan is a serial entrepreneur and the founder of Tamura Enterprises (Pty) Ltd in South Africa. She is also a proud wife and mother of 3 with a successful career pivot from being a 20 year Ex-Banker at one of the 4 Big Banks in South Africa. She is a passionate social entrepreneur with a firm belief in combining profit with philanthropy and is the founder and Craft Director at Bead Expressions, a social enterprise that is creating jobs for women in underprivileged communities in an effort to eradicate unemployment. In addition, she is also a Franchisee for a Famous Brands Combo Store Restaurant Franchise. She enjoys sharing her insights and knowledge of women franchisees, as women are particularly underrepresented in fast food franchise. She is also a guest blogger for Lionesses of Africa.
Kabira has been recognized for her entrepreneurial journey, and in February 2018, she saw Bead Expressions being selected to be sponsored for the Nedbank sponsored Women of Stature – 5 Pillars of Empowerment Learning Journey. In 2020 she was the Recipient of the 6th Annual Panache Women of Wonder “I Conquer Award 2020, and in the same year was the winner of the Fishaways Gauteng Community Charity Awards for community involvement and upliftment. In 2022, she took up a Board appointment at the BeSelfless Foundation.
LoA spoke to Kabira Dewan about her entrepreneurial journey and her impact ambitions for the future.
What does your company do?
Coaching and mentoring services for potential entrepreneurs in the franchise industry.
“I saw a niche to assist people to seamlessly enter the franchise world.”
“As an ex banker turned franchisee, I am in a unique position to coach and mentor potential franchisees on exactly what banks are looking for.”
What inspired you to start your company?
I successfully pivoted from a 20 year banking career to a franchisee in the fast food industry. I was then approached on an almost weekly basis by people that were either retrenched or wanting to leave the corporate world wanting to do the same. I saw a niche to assist people to seamlessly enter the franchise world particularly.
Why should anyone use your service or product?
As an ex banker turned franchisee, I am in a unique position to coach and mentor potential franchisees on exactly what banks are looking for with regards to funding, business plans, assessing viability of a proposition, as well as the fit to the different franchises available.
Tell us a little about your team
I am currently the only one offering my unique service on a national basis, either via a Teams or face-to-face consultation depending on the customer's need.
Share a little about your entrepreneurial journey. And do you come from an entrepreneurial background?
Bead Expressions started as a hobby and a creative outlet and is now run as a community-based micro manufacturing enterprise. Bead Expressions currently employs 3 ladies and we are aiming to achieve a scaling of our manufacturing capacity with a medium term goal of entering the export market and thereby achieving: The United Nations Sustainable Developmental Goal of No Poverty.
In 2017, I purchased a Mochachos franchise and in 2020, I purchased a Famous Brands 3 way Combo Restaurant. I have always been an Entrepreneur with my company Beadxpressions, which was run on an informal basis and more as a creative outlet before being formalized in 2015.
“I am currently the only one offering my unique service on a national basis, either via a Teams or face-to-face consultation depending on the customer's need.”
What are your future plans and aspirations for your company?
To grow my team and expand my service offering so that I am able to consult with more customers and to roll out of my current programme to a Masterclass with the major banks in South Africa.
What gives you the most satisfaction being an entrepreneur?
A combination of profit with philanthropy.
What's the biggest piece of advice you can give to other women looking to start-up?
The best time to start your business is yesterday. The next best time is NOW.
Do not wait for a perfect product or service to launch your business. Believe that your product or service solutions a need and will continue to evolve.
Contact or follow Tamura Enterprises
WEBSITE | FACEBOOK | EMAIL kabira.dewan@gmail.com
Why LoA loves it…
Finding your niche is an important step in building a successful and sustainable business, and a good starting point is to leverage your unique skills sets and expertise. In the case of Kabira Dewan, she is able to tap into a wealth of knowledge, experience and specialist expertise in both banking and franchising. Now she can provide her clients with essential insights into the world of franchising, whilst at the same time building her own franchising businesses and her social enterprise which creates impact in her community. Inspirational! — Melanie Hawken, founder & ceo, Lionesses of Africa