Perseverance and execution are the keys to being a successful businessperson, according to Panu Kasar, one of the 12 finalists in the Kumul GameChangers Competition, which is designed to ‘bring to life’ ideas from the private sector. He explains his philosophy to Business Advantage PNG.

Panu Kasar. Credit: Sunday Chronicle

‘Ideas are just ideas. I’ve learnt that execution is the key to any business,’ says Panu Kasar, as he reflects on what he has learnt from the Kumul GameChangers competition so far.

‘It is those who persevere and face challenges that bring their ideas into reality.

‘Concentrated, focused effort against the odds will make an entrepreneur succeed in any endeavour. That realisation has changed my mindset towards people stealing my ideas. They can have the same idea as me, but it is the executor that stands out to succeed.’

Since graduating in 2006 from the University of PNG with a Bachelor of Science, majoring in electronics, Kasar has been running a computer repair business, Itel PNG Microtech Ltd.

‘I never wanted to find a job and simply be an employee,’ he tells Business Advantage PNG.

‘The basis of his entrepreneurial plan is to use business innovation to improve the lives of Papua New Guineans.’

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For five years, he operated his business in Port Moresby, establishing networks and carrying out PC repairs for business and government organisations. He spent the next three years in Lae, before returning to the capital to take part in the Kumul GameChangers program.

His entrepreneurial plan is to use business innovation to improve the lives of Papua New Guineans. In the GameChangers program, he worked with two other participants to develop health software.

Bright ideas

Kasar has two other potential ideas. One involves distributing vitamins and other necessities to pregnant women in rural areas.

‘At the moment I’m working on a start-up called Daysmen Luminous, which is a business I registered in 2012. The business is about distribution of glow-in-the-dark products and accessories. The main product I’m trying to sell is a variety of  glow-in-the-dark paints for safety, fashion and landscaping/beautification.

‘It is a lucrative business in terms of selling glow-in-the-dark safety gear to industries in the mining and manufacturing sectors. Gear such as helmets, vests, stickers, safety signs, glowing paint.

‘A third niche market that I’m trying to exploit is landscaping and beautification of our parks and gardens in Port Moresby using the glow-in-the-dark paints. I did a proposal for NCDC to beautify Ela Beach Park.

‘With APEC coming up in 2018, beautifying Ela Beach Park is, well, necessary.’

‘This would make it an awesome park at night and would definitely attract visitors at night. And also help NCDC cut down on electricity costs because they spend a lot of money on light during the festive season.

‘With APEC coming up in 2018, beautifying Ela Beach Park is, well, necessary.’

GameChangers Competition

Game changers Competition Chairman, Anthony Smare

The Kumul GameChangers (KGC) initiative, initiated and implemented by the Kumul Foundation, is funded by the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs, the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) and the PNG Business Council, says KGC Chairman, Anthony Smare.

The competition, which is the first of its kind in Papua New Guinea, received more than 680 ideas, of which 42 of the best ideas were shortlisted,’ UNDP spokesman, Assel Tleof, tells Business Advantage PNG. Twelve made it to the finals.

‘Selected entrepreneurs underwent training with Silicon Valley experts and attended a boot-camp on how to build a startup. This helped them to learn the basics of start-up, build and prototype their ideas, try pitching and fundraising approaches.’

The ICT sector is one of six identified by the UNDP, which has the potential to drive private enterprise growth.

Many of the applicants hold graduate and post graduate degrees, according to a UNDP report on the KGC program.

The second phase of the project will identify further opportunities to foster business ideas and bring them to reality.