Meet 28-year-old teen who ventured into business by accident and built million-dollar company

- Mamarr Mass Taal’s dream was to become a diplomat, just like his dad
- But the Gambian bred teen had other skills. He knew how to print t-shirts
- His friends loved the designed and printed t-shirts, so he started selling them 
- He then set up a company called Malyka Clothing. But that was just the beginning

 

Momarr Mass Taal’s success story has been told a number of times before. But you still need to read how this Gambian teen single-handedly built a top brand in his country and beyond.

At the very tender age of 17, Momarr was already a businessman. Strangely, being an entrepreneur was not what he ever wanted to become in life. He dreamed of becoming a diplomat, just like his dad.

The idea to venture into business was born out of one of his hobbies. He used to make designed and printed t-shirts while studying in Canada, where he was pursuing a degree in International Development and Economics. He was doing it for fun. But his friends loved the printed t-shirts. So Momarr started selling them.

Mommar Mass Taal.Photo: Enterprise54

He then decided to set up a company called Malyka Clothing while still in Canada. The business picked up well and soon he was exporting his printed t-shirts to over five countries.

In Change Maker Stories. Photo: Youngstars Foundation.

However, when Momarr jetted back to Gambia, his home country, a fresh business idea hit him. He noticed there was an opportunity in the food export business.

“I saw a gap in the market. I then set out to create a home-based company that was going to add value using our locally agricultural produce,” he says.

Armed with the new business idea, Momarr founded Tropingo Foods, a food processing company that deals with dried fruit and nut exports.

Today, Mamarr's company exports food products to Asia and Europe.
It reportedly has over 140 employees and generates an annual turnover of Ksh160 million (US$1.6 million).