Kahuto Pacific are using drone technology to make a difference

What are some of the challenges you have faced during COVID-19, in general as an entrepreneur and as a business?

Our operation was severely impacted with national lockdowns restricting movement around the country. In addition, our services were impeded by Fiji’s Civil Aviation Authority placing a halt on all flying not related to essential services. With our existing client base (loyal, returning Business to Business customers) also feeling the brunt of COVID-19, we experienced a stark decline in projects and cash flow. Amidst the uncertain landscape, it was challenging to maintain staff morale. 

As an entrepreneur the biggest challenge was the uncertainty of everything around us, COVID19 – how long will it last? When will the borders open? How will the economy in Fiji be affected? What will the government do to assist Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs)? So many questions, and not knowing the answers to all of them and trying to lead our company in this unique time was a huge challenge. We were constantly asking ourselves, should we close the business for the year 2020 to reduce our costs and spending and return next year? Therefore leading a team whilst trying to reassure yourself that everything will be okay is tricky and presents a challenge in itself. Also, since we’ve established our primary services after setting up the business COVID-19 made us think of how we would “pivot” or survive with our current services. The next challenge was then trying to decide what other services we could offer or how we could be supporting essential services.

 How has your business changed or evolved due to COVID-19?

Thankfully Fiji has now entered a period of COVID-19 containment – restrictions have lifted considerably, allowing us to resume work. 

COVID-19 initially seemed very gloomy and depressing for our business and I assume for many business owners. However, as we start to adjust to this “new normal” living with COVID-19, it has allowed our business to realign, reset and reboot ourselves through programs such as the ygap Re-Accelerator Program. 

Our business now has a bit more clarity of what direction we wish to move forward in. We feel that COVID-19 has allowed us as business owners to evaluate our business, customers, and services and has made us better for it. Our business is evolving through a few of our services and has also evolved through getting re-started again after restrictions have eased.

In your own opinion, what is the most significant change that took place with your venture in the past 3 or 6 months?

As a business we’ve had to regroup and retarget our approach, particularly our marketing push – identifying new audiences and sectors, bolstering our brand, and amplifying our voice.

I definitely feel that the most significant change for our business is that we’ve had time (forced time during lockdown and the quiet period) to re-evaluate our business, identify areas that need the most attention and time. The Re-Accelerator Program has allowed us to focus on one of areas that we identified, especially online presence. 

This process has allowed us as business owners to reset ourselves, and has given us more focus on the business than ever. So I think the change in mindset and being presented with the right tools, such as the program, has been the most significant change during the past 3 – 6 months. 

Why was this particular change the most significant to you?

Given the uncertain times, it’s vital we diversify our customer base, secure alternative revenue streams and grow our reputation. 

The change in mindset is allowing us to survive during this unique time and enabling us to discover news services and also focus on our areas of attention. 

What role has ygap played in those changes and / or what are some outcomes your venture has achieved as a result of being supported by ygap and/or participating in the re-accelerator?

The Re-Accelerator Program is helping us enhance our brand and rejuvenate our online platform – a new website, improved content, a more holistic online marketing strategy and tactics. 

This program has played a significant role in providing a platform not only to improve our online presence and branding but through the process of rejuvenating our online presence. It has reminded us of our ‘why’ and made our identity stronger and clearer. 

The assistance provided through the program has been immensely helpful for us as business owners. It’s taken us back to the foundations of our businesses and has helped us make it a firmer foundation! 

Since the program started we have been able to solidify our branding as a company, identify the best way to capture content for our website and explore many ways for improving our marketing. 

I just want to emphasize that although the outcome of the program will be a new website and improving our online presence, the biggest outcome I will take from the program is it has allowed me to establish our why, and has made it clear for us on how to move forward.

Is there anything you’re finding particularly enjoyable and/or valuable during the process?

The process has been simply amazing. It allowed us to identify our weaknesses and then it helped us strengthen a particular weakness. Being able to look at it from that point of view and then seeing the progress from the start has been great for myself. Talei has been absolutely outstanding and is so knowledgeable in this area, I feel very confident that we will achieve the outcome we want. 

The 1 on 1 sessions are extremely beneficial as they allow us to share our thoughts and then worked with our scrambled thoughts and arranged it to make sense!

How do you see these outcomes improving your venture over the next 6-12 months?

Identity/Our Why

• Solidifying our identity through our branding and reminding us of our why will steer us in the right direction for our business. Having a clear vision of how we see ourselves as a company will then provide a clear path of where we want to go. 

Online Presence/Branding/Website/Marketing

• The program has taught us so much and in particular of how we view our website and that it’s the hub of all our online presence. Knowing this will help us develop content and drive our online presence through our website. Our rejuvenated website will help us drive our quotes through the website and hopefully convert them to sales. That is the dream!

What does the future of your venture look like post COVID-19?

In terms of branding, we are much stronger now as who we are and how we present ourselves to our clients. Our future is still uncertain as we have no idea how long COVID-19 will last and when we move into “post COVID!” – but we feel somewhat confident that through focusing on our branding and making certain pivots, we will be able to survive!

Do you have any advice you’d like to offer other entrepreneurs in regards to adapting/coping during a pandemic?

It’s all in the mindset! 

How likely would you be to recommend other early-stage impact entrepreneurs to look to programs like ygap for support to help grow their ventures? Also why? 

100%

ygap focuses on the process and encourages you to think of your WHY? Knowing and identifying this brings clarity of how you will move forward as an entrepreneur. 

Kahuto Pacific is a yher Pacific Islands alumni, and recently completed the ygap Re-Accelerator Program, designed to support ventures through the effects of COVID-19.

To learn more about Kahuto Pacific, head to https://www.kahutopacific.com/