Hi Guys, I had the opportunity to speak to a very interesting entrepreneur, who recently started his jewellery business, he is very involved in the philanthropical world.

Hope you enjoy it.

Hi Khotso, how are you doing, welcome to YHP

I’m doing well, thanks for having me

Can you give us some background information about yourself?

I am 20 years old, I am quite multi-African. I was born and lived in Cote D’Ivoire until 1996. I am half Sierra Leone and half from Lesotho (known as a Mosotho). I came to UK, Kingston University for my degree in 2008.

Name one Interesting fact about yourself?

I am the only person from Lesotho from my entire university.

I know you’re very active in the Philanthropical world, how did you get involved?

As soon as I reached the UK I saw a bursting world of opportunities to grasp, I took first homage within the United Nations Association Kingston Unviersity (UNAKU) (http://www.unaku.co.uk/). For the past two years I grew from being an active member to becoming the Campaigns Officer 2009 – 2010, the best highlights were the ability to help and inspire people within the university community, and to co-organise a Week For Haiti event in partnership with multiple Kingston University Societies, held in February 2010 for the Haiti Earthquake, it raised £3000.

The money was donated to the World Food Programme (http://www.wfp.org/students-and-teachers/blog/students-action-haiti) and the event was awarded the Best Achieving Event of the Year from the University Student Union . Am truly happy that it provided over 180000 cups of food to children in Haiti. During the same academic year I began my entrepreneurial life.

Tell me about your company sk2l jewellery?

Sk2l Jewellery began as a university project, the project allowed me, literally as much freedom as possible, for me to challenge and surpass my comfort zone boundaries, reaching a new level of personal development. It also inspired me to carry a multicultural message, as myself being from different nationalities I felt I needed to carry and promote that message to those whom are interested.

Selling Jewellery was an inspired idea by a fellow partner. Therefore the two were coupled together to educate and fashionise. Throughout the year my team members and I gradually grew the company. I had set a strategy at the beginning of the year, all I knew was I wanted to accomplish the vision, if not all at least most within the academic year. We initially sold to friends and family and then ran 4 Stall Sale events within the Kingston University Campuses; today the objective is to take sk2l Jewellery to new heights!

What ways have you been able to create awareness and bring some exposure to your business?

Sk2l Jewellery ran an online event between the 7th – 18th June, which included a blog launch to describe Sk2L History, to build a starter relationship with customers, cultural education messages through facebook and twitter, and an online store which launched on the 14th June – 18th only, to reach a wider audience to customers that are interested in unique Kurdish jewellery, not available in large commercial jewellery chains.

Thanks for your time Khotso, I wish you the best

Thanks Joseph for having me

Enjoy http://sk2ljewellery.bigcartel.com/

Two students, Sadie Gee (19) and James Pursey (20) from Southampton University are in the process of putting their mark on the entrepreneurial world. After spending a few months working together on the committee for Fish on Toast Southampton Entrepreneurs Society the pair realised that they should combine their skills and create a business.

The first milestone occurred in the Easter break when they founded Yoo Call – a cheap international calls service marketed for students. Yoo Call offers people the chance to call friends and family abroad for as little as 1p per minute, that means on average they’re saving roughly enough to buy a cheeky pint at the students union each time they make a call!

The fun doesn’t end there! Sadie and James are working on the launch of Yoo Discover, the ultimate guide for students which will incorporate a service to allow Southampton students (and eventually every student in the UK), to search for and discover the best places to go to eat, drink and party in the area.

The website will collaborate with other businesses to provide some of the latest discounts, deals and offers to ensure that it is the ultimate ‘student loan-stretcher’ in town! Also featured on Yoo Discover will be a collection of the most addictive free online games, a collaboration of useful study aids, help for those choosing student accommodation and much more.

The motivation to create Yoo Discover stemmed from their own personal frustrations at being new students to University. “We realised that not only had we never been to Southampton before, we didn’t have a clue where to go to grab a cheap meal, to have a good night out with friends or to even have a coffee!”

Yoo Discover solves all these problems and more, creating what will be the only website that students should visit to find everything they need to know in relation to their University life.

Keep your eyes peeled for the launch of www.YooDiscover.com in October, Add them as a friend on facebook: http://tinyurl.com/welcomeyoo

Kulveer Tagger has led an interesting life, much of it due to his determination and ambition. He completed a BA (Hons) degree in Politics, Philosophy and Economics from the University of Oxford in 2005. During his time at Oxford, Kulveer co-founded the Oxford Entrepreneurs society and became the president of the society for a period as well.

In 2004 he was nominated by his peers as FreshMinds one to watch. This was certainly warranted, a young man who always looked to be ‘one to watch’. While in his early uni years he successfully invested in property on three continents. He always had the mindset to make money.

He started his first business, Boso.com, an online marketplace for students, in 2005. This received over 3,000 sellers on the website and received over £300,000 from UK angels before receiving investment from start up venture firm Y-Combinator.

Boso.com became the first non-US firm that Y-Combinator invested in. He also met Evan Williams (founder of Twitter) from whom he was able to seek advice and also became a shareholder.

Having to juggle a job in the city while maintaining a business was no mean feat and in February 2006 Kulveer bravely took the step of leaving his city job, where he had a steady income, to becoming a full time entrepreneur.

He took the risk in the hope of achieving greater success and the life that comes with it. His continued hard work led to him achieving this, a now he is able to enjoy (or not) the Vuvuzelas in South Africa, having been able to afford the best tickets all the way to the World Cup final.

Later in 2007 Kulveer launched the Y-Combinator funded, Auctomatic, an online eBay selling utility. Seven months on, Auctomatic was sold to Canadian firm Live Current Media for a staggering $5 million.

He founded Auctomatic alongside his cousin Harjeet who at 22 was a successful entrepreneur and Law graduate of Oxford University. So much success, so early in his career has not dampened the hunger to grow in business and in mind.