Entrepreneur Cris Njoki has shared how she started her business journey with just Ksh200, saying that small beginnings can grow into successful ventures.
On Wednesday, April 15, 2026, she explained that her company, Ikojn, began from simple thrift selling and later expanded through online platforms.
She said her early days in business were focused on buying low-cost items and reselling them for profit. She explained that she used Facebook as her main selling platform at a time when online selling was still new.
Cris Njoki added that this experience taught her how to use available tools to reach customers.
“I started Ikojn with 200 shillings, yeah, no one wants to talk about that,” Cris Njoki said.
Early hustle and simple beginnings
Cris Njoki explained that her business started with buying clothes for very low prices and selling them at higher prices. She said she was able to grow her idea by observing what people wanted and using social media to reach them. She added that this approach helped her understand how online markets work.
“I started thrifting: I was buying things for 50 shillings, selling them for Ksh1,000, and I was doing it all on Facebook,” Cris Njoki said.
She said that many people believe starting a business requires large amounts of money. She explained that this mindset stops many from beginning their journey.
“You mean I can sell items to people who have not seen it yet, that was 12 years ago, you know, Facebook was different then,” Cris Njoki said.
She further explained that today’s digital tools make it even easier to start a business. She said people now have access to platforms and technology that did not exist before. She added that this makes starting a business more possible than ever.
“Now imagine what you can do now. In this whole speech, you need all this big money. You need funding,” Cris Njoki said.
She encouraged people to stop overthinking and begin with what they already have. She said not every business requires large funding, especially at the beginning stage. She added that simple ideas can grow if they are nurtured properly.
“Are you trying to solve world hunger? Maybe if you are. Yeah, you do need funds, but if you’re just trying to start a business, start with what you have, start where you are,” Cris Njoki said.
