Target Sarl hosted an exclusive webinar on Thursday, 26 February, bringing together both experienced and aspiring entrepreneurs to discuss entrepreneurial failure in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC): diagnostics and solutions.

The session was led by Mr. Serge Mumbu, drawing on his 25 years of experience in entrepreneurship and his leadership roles within major business and professional networks, including Fédération des Entreprises du Congo (FEC), Chambre de Commerce et d'Industrie France Congo (CCIFC), United Nations Global Compact, Makutano Network, and ESOMAR.

At the outset of his presentation, he clarified that the diagnostics and solutions addressed during the webinar focused on endogenous factors — those within the entrepreneur’s control — as opposed to exogenous factors related to the broader environment, such as political instability, economic crises, or the general business climate. He strongly emphasised the common mistake of entering a sector without prior analysis or sufficient knowledge of the industry.

Mr. Mumbu also highlighted frequent errors in the selection of business partners and the structuring of share capital — issues that can prove particularly damaging for entrepreneurs aiming to build and scale ambitious enterprises. He distinguished between “survival entrepreneurs,” such as small-scale informal traders, and entrepreneurs seeking to establish high-growth businesses that require diverse and complementary competencies. In the latter case, he stressed, the careful selection of partners is critical.

Addressing daily management practices, Mr. Mumbu advised entrepreneurs to avoid involving family members or close relatives in business operations whenever possible, especially in the absence of a strong corporate culture. He noted that maintaining a clear boundary between family and professional spheres remains particularly challenging in the Congolese context.

To conclude, Mr. Mumbu shared practical recommendations to minimise the risk of failure. These included appointing a managing director or establishing a board of directors as the business grows, implementing a formal procedures manual and internal regulations, and fostering a performance-driven culture supported by both incentives and accountability mechanisms.

The session concluded with an interactive question-and-answer segment, allowing participants to engage directly with the speaker. This webinar marked the second session of Target Sarl’s 2026 webinar series.

Full replay available here: https://urls.fr/PbiVre