The Power of Doing More With Less
Lessons from My Journey with Africa Venture Group
Introduction – When “Less” Becomes Strength
There are words we often fear, words we associate with weakness: “lack,” “limited,” “little.”
In the mouth of an entrepreneur, “less” sounds like a handicap. Less capital. Less connections. Less opportunities. Less institutional support.
And yet, my journey has taught me a counterintuitive truth: it is precisely in this less that I discovered the power of more.
Doing more with less is not a slogan from a book or a TED talk. It has been my philosophy, my engine, my way of building Africa Venture Group, and today, my message to every African entrepreneur who dares to dream big with very few resources.
Part I – Roots of the Journey: From Douala to the World
I was born and raised in Cameroon, in Douala. Like many young Africans, I saw reality up close: the educational system, economic constraints, an environment often hostile to dreams. But I carried a deep conviction: whatever I have in my hands, however small, can be transformed into something great.
First Steps – Learning Resourcefulness
In Cameroon, nothing is ever “simple.” Getting an administrative document can take days or weeks. Starting a project means hitting invisible walls: bureaucracy, skepticism, lack of financing.
But it was in this context that I learned resourcefulness. I realized very early that I had to create my own shortcuts, invent my own solutions. Where others saw an obstacle, I looked for a detour.
That mindset became the cornerstone of my journey.
Opening to the World
My path took me beyond Cameroon, to other parts of Africa: Nigeria with its raw energy and entrepreneurial frenzy, Ghana with its patience and process, Ivory Coast with its francophone elegance, South Africa with its impressive infrastructure.
Each country taught me something. Each experience, however small, widened my horizon.
Then came the Middle East, Malaysia, and finally Houston, in the United States. There, I discovered rigor, competition, but also endless opportunities for those willing to persevere.
Part II – A Defining Experience: SLB and the School of Resilience
My time at Schlumberger (SLB) was pivotal. At this global giant, I learned standards, systems, the discipline of structured work.
But I also experienced the contrast between environments rich in resources and those where you had to survive with very little. At SLB, there were processes, networks, means. Back in Africa, I was confronted with the opposite: scarcity.
Moving between these worlds shaped my vision: if one can achieve great results with abundance, then one can also achieve them with scarcity—if the mindset is right.
Part III – The Birth of Africa Venture Group: A Vision Born in “Less”
In 2016, I decided to launch Africa Venture Group. The idea was simple but bold: to create a platform that supports African entrepreneurs by providing what they lack most—structure, networks, solutions, guidance.
But I had no major investors behind me. No large funding. What I had was conviction and experience.
So how do you do it?
By applying the principle: doing more with less.
Start Small, Think Big
Instead of trying to do everything at once, we began with what was possible: targeted services, concrete support. We built partnerships instead of financing everything ourselves.
Where others saw weakness—few resources, a small team—I saw strength: agility, speed, adaptability.
Turning Scarcity into Advantage
Less budget meant more creativity. We maximized every resource: one contact could open five doors, one client could become an ecosystem.
That is how Africa Venture Group grew, step by step, into a known and respected structure in Cameroon and beyond.
Part IV – Lessons for African Entrepreneurs
Through this journey, one truth became clear: doing more with less is not a constraint for the few. It is the daily reality for the vast majority of African entrepreneurs.
But that reality can be turned into strength.
- Fewer resources = more creativity
Without a marketing budget, you innovate: you use WhatsApp, build direct relationships, rely on word of mouth.
- Fewer connections = deeper relationships
With a small network, every relationship counts. You learn to nurture them.
- Less capital = more discipline
When every franc matters, you learn to spend wisely and invest where it counts.
- Less security = more resilience
Obstacles forge character. Every wall you climb makes you stronger.
Part V – A Message to Aspiring Entrepreneurs
I am speaking today to you, young Cameroonian who hesitates to start because you have no investor. I am speaking to you, young African woman who believes your dream must wait for financing before you begin.
No. You don’t need to wait. You need to start.
Start small. Act with what you have. Adjust as you go. The rest will follow.
Because the truth is this: great projects are rarely born in abundance. They are born in scarcity, where only the most determined push forward.
Conclusion – A Call to Action
My story with Africa Venture Group is not a fairy-tale success. It is a story of faith, persistence, resilience. It is a story where every “less” became a “more.”
And that is what I want to pass on :
- Don’t wait for perfect conditions. They will never come.
- Use what you have, now.
- Build your own path if no road exists.
- Surround yourself with partners, not just investors.
- Turn obstacles into opportunities.
- And above all: believe, act, adjust.
One day, you too will look back and realize that the “less” you once feared was the very fuel of your greatness.
Because in Africa, as everywhere else, doing more with less is our greatest power.
✍️ Yannick Rostand Kounga Taptue
Founder & CEO, Africa Venture Group