 old now and they will be telling us how exactly they got into that and how they've ruined their business over the past months. On my right, I have Mary, no, I have Marianne Vanjero, they're both Marianne, and then on my farthest right, we have Marianne Kenyan-Jewy, so they'll give us their titles. Let me start with you. So, good morning. I am Marianne Vanjero, in JRE. I am the managing director at Twinkle Time Cleaners and also an undergraduate at Strathmore University. All right, welcome. Thank you. And then the next one, Marianne. I'm Marianne Vanjero, Kenyan-Jewy. I'm a student at Musconia University, I came to come and I'm a finance director at Twinkle Time. I'm also an aspiring leader at Montague University, the next president, first female president at Montague University. Wow, look at that. All the best. Yeah, I hope we will come to interview you now next to the student leader. Okay, how are you both called Marianne Vanjero? And interestingly, let me share this fact. This is a family business, the Twinkle Time Cleaning Company run by cousins, yes? Wow, tell us about that. That's quite interesting and you're all young, undergrads, you know, running a business and you had also mentioned that you're working. So tell us, how did you guys come about this and why family? Why family? Well, let me first start with the first question that you asked. How come we have the same name? Yeah. So we are both named after our auntie who passed away in 1989. And so when we were born, personally, when I was born, it was around 10 years later. And then so I'm like the first one and then she's the second one. Okay. And then there's another Marianne Vanjero after us. Wow. Yeah, so that's how the name came up to be. She must have been a good person. She was. All of you to be named after her. She was. All right. Yeah. So how the business, I think she can answer. Yeah, go ahead. Hi, I'm Marianne. Once again, Kenyan Jewy, student at Motiken University taking become finance major and that's why I'm the finance manager of Twinkle Time. So the idea came about last year around September when it was ending. We had so many ideas, like almost 10 ideas, but we came into a conclusion to start a cleaning business. It was, it was now the idea came in, but it was months of debating, of researching, of contributing money. And the worst headache was where to get the finance and we started saving as low as 500 shillings, 500. We served up until December where we started by designing our uniforms and buying our uniforms. Then an investor came in. Luckily, we have a very supportive family, very supportive. Everyone is willing to help. So our auntie came in as an investor. She invested in our company and we were able now to go for training last year. February, we went for our training. Then on March, we bought our first machine, our show show also supported us a lot and we were able to buy our first machine. Then we started now working. So the machine you bought last year or this year? This year on March. This year on March. Wow. So this thing started as an idea. You guys, you knew that you wanted to, to have a business, to run a business together. So fast, let me get to you, Marianne, the first Marianne, both of you are Marianne. Why are you firing the first Marianne? When, when you guys start, you know, why did you guys decide to start as a family? Do a family business? Well, so many, so many people say that starting as a family is a lot. It's hard. And it is. I'm not going to lie. It is. But especially since you're of the same age. So everyone I call, so it's a whole thing. But also at the end of the day, remember that your family and that's the good thing about it in as much as at times it can be challenging. At the end of the day, you're like, you know, you're my cousin. Yeah. So it's, it's also very interesting and very challenging at the same time. Okay. Yes. So the reason is why we started as a family, I think, as she said, we are close. So let's just do something. Yeah. Okay. So the challenge, okay, the challenge now working with families because now you're the same age and everyone can once you have their say. So how do you work around that? That's when the roles came in. And also the mentorship from, from the relatives, like the bigger people in the family, when you're on a journey and be a Merianie and now like me, Merianie, the managing director and then her, she's a finances guy, lady, and then there's someone else who is in another position. So when I speak, they listen. When she speaks, we listen to her. At the same time, just in case there's anything going on where there's no agreement between the rest of us, then I come in and have the final say in most cases. Okay. Plus also there's a whole thing about trust and understanding that we are all there for each other and to make the business grow as well as the family to stay together as one. Okay. That's pretty interesting. Merianne Kinandru, you mentioned that getting the funding was the main problem initially before you got an investor in. How did you get an investor in in the first place for someone who's thinking about starting a business, but now, you know, the funding is the problem. How did you get to get an investor come on board? So at first, I think you have to start somewhere. So when you went to look for an investor, we had something on our hand. We did not go empty-handed. What did you have? We had around 9,000. We had saved up to around 9,000. It was a lot, but it was little at the same time comparing that we had done our research and we had seen we needed around 200,000 starting capital. So you had 9,000 compared to 200,000 I was dealing. Yes. So we went to our auntie. She has around the same business, not here, but outside the country. So when we brought the idea to her, she understood and she knew it had a potential to grow. So even when you're starting a business, you need to go to someone who sees the potential. There's a monotheism you're going to tell from starting a cleaning business. If you invest in you, you'll get my money. You need to go to someone who really understands the line of the business. They are sure they are going to have returns at the end of the day. So we went to her, explained she was so happy and she was ready to help and she was like, I'm not going to give you this money. I'm going to be an investor. So that you know, if anything you have to work hard, you need to bring back my money. You need to give back my money. So that keeps us motivated. Even sometimes we are one monthly, like when you are starting one month, we don't have a job. But you're like, we need to do this. You need to work. Yes. Okay. Quite interesting. You got someone who had faith in your business, in your idea, and that's how you started. All right. Now, before starting, had you tried out different businesses when you were doing your research? Did you have this set in mind that this is what we want to do because now you had someone in the family doing it? Or did you have other options, but they weren't really, you know, adigapo, this was the better option? Let me ask Marianne, the MD. So she actually realized and who was like, cleaning. And you know, when you're being told cleaning, cleaning, like you want us to clean. But then again, you're being, when you look at the profit that comes through cleaning, especially when you do it professionally, because we do it professionally. As she mentioned earlier on, we have undergone training. So there is a training that we did back in Feb with another cleaning company. So we went and looked for someone who's already in there, not our auntie, but someone who's in the market in Kenya, in Nairobi, who's already doing it. We invested money. Again, remember to cut that 9,000. They want to continue to shop as a move. So we invested there and all of you were trained. Yeah. Yeah. So you show up, you show up, you go, you, you. So she tells you, she invites you to actual clients, places, and you go, you clean. You see actually whether you, whether it's something that you'll actually do. Because for us, when we were 13, even up to this point, we still do go and do the cleaning ourselves. Yes, we do hire some people, but we are the main cleaners for now until now. We get, we scale up to a point where now we can fully employ other people permanently. Okay. And that's the thing with startup. It's your baby until now, you're ready to let someone come in, but until then you're still the one leading. How has it been like? But before we even answer that, I don't think we've mentioned to our viewer what exactly you do with twinkle cleaning. What exactly, what kind of cleaning do you do? Let me ask Marianne Keanjuri. It's professional cleaning. So we do, right now we are doing coaches, we clean couches, car seats. We literally clean it with soap and we vacuum it. And by the end of the day, it's dry. We also clean mattresses. If you've never had your mattress cleaned, we do that. I don't think people clean their mattresses. It's very rare. So we do that. We clean your house. If you want a deep cleaning, we clean every corner of your house, everything in your house. We do post construction. If you have a construction ongoing and you need people to clean after that, there is a lot of that after post construction. So we do that. We remove all residues from post construction. If it's paint, everything, we work on that. We also do deep cleaning. That's pretty much it. Wow, amazing. Very interesting. And now, how do you, okay, let me go back to the question that I had asked. How have you been able to do the business over the months? What kind, have you seen growth? Or are you still, are you still growing it? How, how hard has it been? It's been hard, but God has been good. All right, that's so kind of stupid. So, the question, sorry, should I repeat the question again? You know, over the few months, what have you, how has the business been like? Is, have you seen it go on an upward trajectory? Or is it on a roll? Is it still a roller coaster for you guys? It's upward for now. Because in the beginning, as I believe every other business, there were months to go to Nangalyana too. We're like, hey, you might be better too. There are other months, especially right now, where it's picking. It is, especially since we have invested in social media and also influencers, which has helped us to get the word they are and get people to know us and also call us in and get clients. That's quite interesting. Speak of social media. Now, getting the influencer come in and promote the business. Is it not expensive now for a startup company like yours? Is it not expensive to use an influencer? I understand with social media, you can pay them to, you know, the ads and everything, but now also bring an influencer. How, how has it affected your business? Positively, for the major part, positively. And of course, there are times where you invest in something, but Haena, Haena returns at all. But at the same time, getting the word, they are just the, oh, we have a cleaning company, we have a twinkle time. It helps a lot because at times, we receive calls or even DMs on Instagram from people and then on a tour. We got, or rather, to learn Moxia Patricia's example, which is how much does it cost. So yeah, is it expensive? It depends on, so it also depends on how you talk to each other. What's the transaction that's there and how good you are with your time. At the end of the day, you look at what will be coming in after the advertisement. Will it be more than the expenses or will it be less? So you have to look at every angle. So now, is everyone in the, you know, the six of you, are you the only one who has done finance or has other people, have other people also done it? Do you come in with the finance mind, the business mind or is everyone just business oriented, regardless of the costs that they're doing? I feel like everyone is business oriented. Everyone has ideas. At times, I have an idea, but someone has a better idea. So everyone is, I think right now everyone has, is business minded. But we have every person on board. We have Miriam, who has done international relations. She brings ideas from her side. I'm doing finance. Another one is doing journalism. Another one is doing law. Another one is doing tourism. So we have a lot. We're bringing different minds together. So it's very interesting. This one tells us if we do this, she's doing law. If we do this, we'll be good. It has some legal repercussions. Do it. Okay. That's interesting. Very nice. Different minds coming together as one. What are the, some of the other challenges that you faced? One month ago, we started our business in October. So we were like, we were celebrating and we posted. I, for example, said we've been in this business for one year and there is a lot of character development. A lot. Especially when you're young, people tend to take advantage of you because you don't know. But we say you learn every day when you become better. That's what it's called development. Exactly. I'm like, if you make losses today, you wake up tomorrow and go regardless. You don't know if you're going to make losses or that profit, but you keep going. You keep going. Right. Our challenge has been flow of customers for the first few months, but at least now we are getting more and more flow of customers. It's a challenge too many start in businesses, but we are getting a hang of it. That's nice. And then now when you get clients, then they become referrals to others. Actually, something that's even way better than social media is referral. Because once you get someone, like a client and you do proper work, they will definitely refer you to someone else and that person will refer you to someone else whom they trust. So since that client trusts their friend, they are going to call you. Call you. So yeah, referrals are way top notch. That's number one better than advertising. And how are you guys managing? All of you being in school, Marianne, you mentioned that you're working also. How are you juggling all that? I mostly do the administration part, but we also juggle everything. So when this one is free, then she will be the one who will go to the ground and do the actual singing. So how do I do it? Anytime I get some free time, I check my Instagram, check whether there's someone who has DMed us and just reply. If there's a meeting, especially we normally have our meetings at 9 p.m., when everyone is going to school and those who work at the same time. And then you have the meeting at 9 p.m., every day. Not every day, but at least twice a week to see what's coming up, where are we at in terms of finances. So another thing, I for me in school, there's one thing when we started our business, our family told us, and especially our show, she's so so so on education shows like you guys, you're starting a business, but you need to learn, you need to go to school, you need to get that degree. Even as you start a business, do not forget you need to go to school. She says that in Kiku, you're saying that education is your point. You can't go anywhere without you, in a way. So you take it seriously, even as you have to balance. So if I'm in school, another person will be present and they're going to delegate their work. If they go with other people, they're going to delegate. And we're understanding, I know one day I won't be available, but Marianne will be available, another person will be available. So we just have an understanding. Okay, so it only takes one, at least one of you to be present, and then delegate duties to whoever you come, you're employed for that particular day, contracted rather. Okay, quite interesting. Now for most people, you know, having ideas, most people have ideas, business ideas, but it's in their starting, that's usually the problem. How did you get past that stage? I know you had support, or is it the support that you had? What would you advise someone who has something, an idea, but they're thinking, I don't have the money for it to, I don't have the money to start, I don't have people who will help me start it, you know, so they're just stuck on the idea stage. For us, I think it was way easier since we are a group. I believe when you're by yourself, it can be challenging, because for us, it's, I'm the one who's down, she will come and tell me, you have to do this, there's this which you haven't done this week, we had said we're supposed to be here, so there's that kusay deyana, kumotivitiyana, but also if, I think if you're an individual, it'll be really good if you have, even if it's just friends around you who keep you accountable. So you look for friends who will keep you accountable to the promises that you've kept for yourself, or the goals that you have for yourself, such that atakama, they are not really in their business themselves, they can tell you, by the way, Meryan, you'd said that you'll be starting maybe your YouTube channel next month, so where have you, where are you at right now? So look for people who can support, even if it's just one person. Wow, okay, yeah, very nice advice, so find someone who will keep you accountable. Meryan, you look like you want to say something, go ahead. So yesterday I was talking to someone and she told me she had an idea, I was like the power, I'm always saying the power is in starting, you have that idea, even start by researching, then actualize on your research, the money, I'm always saying the money will come, and the people, yes we had a supportive family, but there are people who don't have that family to support, there are people who are not in good terms, so I'm always saying you might expect your family to help you, but you will find someone out there, out of nowhere helping you, and you will find, you will find, as long as your idea is legit, it's a good idea, you're going to find and invest in someone who's willing to invest in you. Then another thing, another thing, if you're alone, I'm always saying, especially if you're a youth and you're alone, look for someone just like Meryan said, if you feel you can't start on your own, you search for someone who you can trust, and you can start with a business, sometimes we were saying, some time back we were saying, so it's a lot, a lot of challenges, sometimes you don't feel like it, someone is holding you down, so it's advisable, especially for the young people, if the business you feel like you can start on your own, look for someone you can start with. So it's always okay to look for someone you can partner with, or just get someone who will keep you accountable, there's also the aspect of getting a mentor, someone who's been in the business to advise you, do some good research, go for some training, it'll come in handy, it'll help you along the journey, and now there's this notion that's usually there for most family businesses that are there when they grow, that they become great businesses, and then there are usually some sort of the life that comes at some point, because now we want to have a say in this, you have, you know, when the business gets big, so do you think you have things in place, you've put things in place to make sure that you don't get to that point, where you have disagreements, and the disagreements will cost the business to cram all down? I think one of the things that pushes me is Indian families, when you look at Indian families, there are businesses that run through the family and run throughout generations, and I feel for most Kenyans, other tribes, they should look at what the Indians do, and for us, what we have kept, now to answer your question, what we have, it's, we have policies, by the way, we have a constitution, where if there's a percentage, everyone has their own percentage when it comes to the ownership of the business, so regardless of whatever, this is my percentage, eight away, so there's no one point where you can come and tell us, I've been bringing it all the money, when you go back to the paper, and then again remember we have someone who does low, so either way she will come in and be like, this is legal, it is the constitution. Plus also I think, reading up on what Indians do, I think they should be, we should all look up to them and how they manage to run businesses throughout generations. So is it the values that they hold as Indians regarding the family businesses? I think yeah, yeah, the values, and we look, we sometimes take a minute and a second, so when you have meetings, to look back at where we've come from, we always say we cannot afford, we cannot afford to break, and there are rules, if you want to go, there are rules of how you will go, and how you will leave your share, how they'll be distributed, so there's no way you're going to you can't just wake up and decide you're using, or you wake up and say I'm going, and then you say I'm coming back, it can't happen, it cannot happen. Okay, I love that, interesting, now as we come to your conclusion, what's your vision as a company, any of you can answer that? We are youths under 25 years, and when the reason mostly we started this business is due to the lack of jobs, we're in school years, but we're not sure if we get that degree, we are going to get our jobs, so our vision is to grow big, if there's someone out there who is looking to invest in us who would really appreciate, if there's someone out there who would like to invest in youths, we are looking in the next three years to be big, to bring more youths into board, to employ, we're looking at a hundred plus permanent workers for the youths, we are looking to create jobs, that's our main goal to empower those youths, and the best way I'm always saying and we're always saying the best way to empower youths is by employing them, then they can be able to stand by themselves, and they can be able to cater for their needs, you'll be able to make a difference in the society, because that's what you're based on, making a difference to our society and giving back to our society. Oh wonderful, how far do you want to scale up, do you want to get the rest of Kenya, I'm imagining maybe your services now in Nairobi or maybe you can correct me, how far do you want to scale up to Marianne the MD? There's this company, it's in Nigeria, it's called Chiklin Cleaning Company, and she started really by herself just like us, and right now she is big, like she is big, because she does it by herself. So for us, definitely country-wide, and of course if God wills, and also from ourselves, the motivation and the willingness and the hard work if it's put in there, then definitely East Africa. Wow, amazing, wishing you all the best, I mean this is very encouraging even to me, yeah, I have had so many business ideas that have not begun, and it's a good challenge to see that youth can actually just decide and start something and it works, as long as you have the will, God makes a way for you and you get support as along the way. And I think just to add on to Kenyumisama about having the idea and having so many ideas and wondering when, how do I do it, I think there's nothing, there's nothing like lack, there is nothing such as lack, and actually today morning that's when I was thinking about it, there is nothing such as lack, you have to fit in the work, and then the opportunity, it's like when you already have planted the seed, that's when someone will post, we are looking for people, and since already you know how the business runs and you know something about this, then that's when you'll go ahead and ask and reply to the post, I already do this, how can I get them to come to your show, for example, but if you had not started the business, then regardless of whatever is out there, you won't see the opportunity that's there, so you have to first plant the seed, even it's by yourself, just plant it, and then someone else, and then the opportunity to be here, waiting for you to just jump in it, but you need to start, but you have to start, okay, what about for women, it's easier for men to take up the advice, men are usually very daring, and how about women, what do you speak to young ladies out there, Marianne? I feel like ladies have a lot of ideas, they are very talented, they are capable, most women will tell you, I'm scared, I'm scared, but in this world, most roles were made for men, and to survive, you need to be, to act like a man, to survive, so take risks, regardless, do not be scared, if you want to start, go start your own, and yes there are challenges, you will go, you will look for investors, some will want things in return, some will want to use you, but don't give in, stand still, be for what you want, you have the potential, as much as that man has a potential, you have a potential, it's all in the mind, they tell you in the mind, you can do it, if you agree, you will not, it's all in the mind, you have to believe in yourself, you have to start, you are capable, we are women, we are doing it, you are doing it well, you also can do it out there, believe in yourself, it's all in the mind, it's all in the mind. It's all in the mind, I'll take that home with me, tell us where you can find you on social media that you come in. You can find us at Twinkle Time, Cleaners KE on Instagram and everywhere else, it's just Twinkle Time Cleaners KE. Okay, thank you very much ladies for coming on Boil and sharing your amazing insights on how to start businesses and empower women for that matter, and anyone who's just listening in, right? So we wish you the best and we hope to have you here next time and even you as a student leader. Yes, I'm a teacher. Can I say hi to my comrades? Hi, I'm Rian again, presidential aspirant 2024, 2025, whoever is listening to me, comrades, comrades power, comrades power, you got this, if you want to start a business, you can start, you have it in you, you are capable, in fact we've forgotten something, we employ comrades most of the time, we carry them with us, so we are looking, we are empowering, I am empowering, our company is empowering, so it's not about being a politician, it's something that is happening, we are going to employ and inspire more youths and empower them. Comrades, President Renu Akohapa, please support, come next year, we need a new voice, a female in the sector, we can do it, we are doing it in business, even in leadership, we can do it. Amazing, you know, having her as a leader is probably the best decision you will make. Thank you very much, that has been a two-in-call-time cleaners, the company, that's the name of the company, we have Maryann Wanjiru, who's the MD and also Maryann Kenyanyu, who's the financial manager of the company, talking to us about how to make it in business from their own experience, I hope you've taken something from it, myself, I've taken a lot. Now we're going to take a short break and then Brands Akoha will be back with up clothes and pass notes, stay with us.