“In this day and age of social media, you just have to know the right people, have the right information, and know where to source.”

These are the words of Vorna Valley resident and entrepreneur Michael Mulindi (34), founder of Greatlakes Branding Solutions, who turned a challenging period in his life into a thriving business venture.

Originally from Kenya, Mulindi has been living in Midrand for several years. His entrepreneurial journey began not out of luxury, but necessity.

Mulindi explained that after enrolling at Midrand Graduate Institute (now Eduvos), financial constraints forced him to pause his studies during his internship. “I couldn’t afford to complete my internship at the time, so I had to find work,” he said.

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He took on multiple roles, working as a guest house manager at the Midrand Conference Centre while also holding a day job that saw him grow from a data capturer to an events coordinator. It was during his time in the events industry that he spotted a gap in the market.

“We used to organise unity walks and runs, and there was always a demand for branded items like T-shirts, banners, and race packs. I started noticing how much suppliers were making from these contracts,” he said.

That observation sparked an idea, one that would later grow into his own branding business.

Mulindi credits his entrepreneurial mindset to his upbringing. Raised by a single mother in Kenya, he witnessed first-hand how business can sustain a family.
“My mother ran a salon and did farming. She didn’t rely on a nine-to-five job to raise us and put me through school. That’s where I learned that financial freedom comes from business,” he said.

He officially launched his branding venture in 2018, initially partnering with a colleague who had access to equipment while Mulindi focused on marketing and client acquisition in Midrand.

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As the business grew, the two eventually went their separate ways, with Mulindi continuing to build his brand independently. Today, his business operates on a model that challenges traditional ideas about starting a company.

“Most of what I do is outsourced. You don’t need a lot of capital to start a business anymore.” According to Mulindi, aspiring entrepreneurs can leverage partnerships with suppliers and service providers instead of investing heavily in equipment from the outset.

“All you need is a registered company, a proper bank account, a strong online presence, and reliable partners. The rest can be built over time,” he said.

For individuals and companies looking for branding, they can contact Michael Mulindi at 076 150 0529.

To read more about this local entrepreneur, grab a copy of Midrand Reporter.

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