Kavita Sports Performance bags N$50 000 prize at OM SEED

Converting passion into a resource to help his community develop
Jamie-Lee Loss
Three entrepreneurs each won their share of N$85 000 through the Old Mutual Sustainable, Economic and Empowerment Drive (OM SEED) initiative on 13 August in Keetmanshoop.

Old Mutual Namibia, along with Launch Namibia, the Financial Literacy Initiative (FLI) and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Accelerator Lab, completed the second edition of the OM SEED initiative on 11 August, with the top 20 Keetmanshoop entrepreneurs taking to the stage to pitch their ideas to a panel of three judges.

During the award ceremony, Unomasa Kavita, of Kavita Sports Performance, walked away with the first prize of N$50 000.

"I feel truly humbled by the whole experience. I am so grateful to Old Mutual for having provided us with this opportunity to learn and grow," Kavita said.

Building strength

Kavita Sports got its start when he competed internationally in rugby and athletics, representing Namibia.

He was always aware of the lack of specialised trainers and fitness centres in Mariental, his home town.

He began training independently because there weren't any specialists or facilities available, and, as he developed, Kavita Sports Performance was born.

"I identified a gap in the market and decided to act and share my experience and knowledge with junior and senior athletes," he said.

It took him seven years to start the company, but fear held him back. He finally took a leap of faith in 2021 and chose to launch the project and find solace in discomfort.

Kavita Sports Performance is there to embrace athletes and take their performance to the next level by offering athletes specialised strength and conditioning programmes that are suited to their demands.

Fresh start

Athletes are trained to increase their overall strength, speed, agility, and mobility, which translates to their specific sport code and significantly boosts performance.

"I saw the brilliant opportunity offered by Old Mutual as a chance to not only learn from the training they offered, but to network with aspiring entrepreneurs within the ecosystem," Kavita said.

The prize money will be used to buy more equipment, to help boost sales and to enable the company to establish a broader income source with a new product they are introducing soon.



The product is aimed at providing services to less fortunate athletes.

Not only will the Keetmanshoop winners get the opportunity to grow their businesses, but they will also be incubated for a three-month period to assist them in utilising their training and capital in the most effective way to better position their businesses in the market.

All photos contributed.

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Namibian Sun 2024-11-08

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