How a $20 banknote sparked a viral challenge in Zimbabwe

What can you do with $20? For most people in Zimbabwe, $20 is not enough to buy a decent meal, let alone start a business. But for Terence Mathe, a young entrepreneur and co-founder of Southern Incineration Services, $20 was the seed capital that launched his successful venture in biomedical and hazardous waste management1.

Terence Mathe is one of Zimbabwe’s rising business leaders, who was featured in the 2019 edition of Forbes 30 under 30 listing as one of Africa’s most promising entrepreneurs23. His company, Southern Incineration Services (SISCO), provides reliable, affordable and environmental-friendly solutions for disposing of medical waste, such as used syringes, gloves and cotton. SISCO operates three incineration plants with a combined capacity of handling 600 kg per hour of waste and has collection points in 12 cities and towns across Zimbabwe. SISCO counts Zimbabwe’s largest private hospitals, clinics and private labs as clients1.

But how did Terence Mathe start his business with only $20? It all began with a social media challenge that he initiated in 2018, when he posted a picture of a $20 banknote on his Facebook page and challenged his followers to start a business with that amount and share their progress online. The challenge went viral and attracted thousands of participants who showcased their creativity and resilience in the face of economic hardships. Some of the businesses that emerged from the challenge included poultry farming, baking, catering, car washing, hairdressing, tailoring, and many more.

Terence Mathe’s $20 challenge was not only a way of inspiring young people to pursue entrepreneurship, but also a way of demonstrating that money is not the main obstacle to starting a business. Rather, it is the mindset, attitude, and skills that matter. Terence Mathe believes that anyone can start a business with whatever resources they have, as long as they have a vision, a passion, and a willingness to learn and work hard.

Terence Mathe’s story is one of the many money stories around the world that I will share with you on this blog. I hope you find it interesting, informative, and inspiring. If you want to learn more about Terence Mathe and his $20 challenge, you can visit his Facebook page or watch his [TEDx talk]. If you have any questions, comments, or suggestions, please feel free to contact me or leave a comment below. I would love to hear from you and learn from your money stories as well.

Thank you for reading and stay tuned for more posts!