Shirley Kandabu’s Post

The one thing that absolutely thrills me about being a Founder is the networking events. I had completely opted out of these for 2024, but they’re surprisingly more energizing than I remembered.

I had a tendency to get stuck on one thing. Until one day my former Board Chair introduced me to a simple but powerful concept for overcoming such struggles. She would always ask, “Is this the hill you really want to die on?” I cannot express how invaluable that one short phrase has been whenever I find myself clinging to a particular thing, concept or idea. Simply put, when good things are trying to find you, make room for them. Do not deny yourself better experiences just because they are unfamiliar and I hope you never look back and realize that you were the biggest obstacle standing in your own way.

The goal is to ideate and kill fast. I am not sure what I will end up building at Antler but My ideation approach often draws from personal experiences that I then work to validate. One particular experience that I am exploring is support for people recovering from conflict and disasters. I must have been 16, when my father who was a logistics contractor for the WFP, took me to my first refugee settlement. I wont lie, I was mad because it cut our family vacation short, but the one thing I will never forget was the drive to Rwamwaja refugee settlement left a distinct yearning in my mind on how to make life better for displaced persons. I vividly remember the searing heat as we drove across a vast land with barely any trees or vegetation. When I asked my father about it, he explained that most of the trees had been cut down for charcoal and firewood to be sold within the camp and to nearby host communities. I was struck by the long winding lines for rations and food. I would not even call it food—it was dried beans that needed hours of sorting to remove the stones, along with some flour for making cornmeal. I could not go to the toilet because it was a makeshift structure at the far end. A decade later, in 2017, I led the Hack4Refugees Accelerator at Uganda's largest innovation hub. An initiative, in partnership with UNCDF, Mercy Corps, and Danish Church Aid, aimed to address the challenges faced by refugees and host communities in the BidiBidi settlement. Looking back these experiences have peaked my interest to dive into finding solutions that contribute to improving the quality of life for those in similar situations. I would like to explore how to enhance access to finance, optimize value chains, and boost agricultural productivity within such settlements, among other areas.

Was it difficult to make the decision to become a Founder? Not really. Over the past 18 months, I have spent a lot of time with founders in Uganda, Kenya, Tanzania, and Ethiopia. Eventually, it hit me—I was tired of feeling like my soul was not where it was meant to be. When you are surrounded by such driven and talented individuals, it’s impossible not to want to create something yourself. You begin to crave change the way flowers crave sunlight.

I got a DM asking how I got into Antler. While there were likely several factors at play, I believe my pitch truly sealed the deal. This is how my pitch went; For the past two years, my mother has bravely battled a life threatening condition and just a few weeks ago, she underwent a life-saving surgery.My mother has two daughters. I asked the interviewer to estimate how much they thought my sister and I had spent on her care. Their estimate was in the thousands. The correct answer is 0. My mother lives in the UK and is covered under NHS. But what if she lived in Kenya or Uganda? Where my sister and I are based the reality would be starkly different. In Kenya alone the cost of care for her condition would amount to about KES 50,000 per week. This means that families could spend over KES 2.5M annually, just to keep their loved ones alive. And this doesn't even cover the cost of medication, transportation, or other essential care needs. Now, imagine a family that where the monthly income amounts to KES 100,000. These costs are not just high—they are exorbitant and devastating. Many are forced to make impossible choices: Do they pay for treatment or put food on the table? Do they save their loved ones or send their children to school? This is a painful, recurring, and urgent crisis that millions of families across Africa face daily. I saw an opportunity to create solutions that can dramatically reduce the financial burden of healthcare in Africa. I am passionate about exploring how to solve such health care challenges that touch on the very essence of human dignity as no one should have to make such tough choices. To get into Antler I had to think about a problem that I was passionate about, that was interesting, truly painful, recurring and urgent enough to consider building a startup around.

The Boba Tea🧋 Pact to Build. A few months ago, a friend and I went in search for the perfect cup of Boba Tea which has easily become my favorite drink to-date. 🧋🤗🥰 When we finally sat down, we found ourselves diving into a deep conversation about our hopes, dreams, and expectations for the year. The one thing we could agree on was: this was our year to Build. Looking back on it , I definitely underestimated the weight of that one single proclamation—perhaps it was the sugar rush from the Caramel Biscoff talking. Fast forward to today, and I walked into Antler to begin my Build journey. Antler is a day zero investor that backs the world's most driven founders. I never in a million years anticipated that I would end up here, but I am thrilled to be starting this new adventure. #Entrepreneurship #FounderJourney #BuildingTheFuture

I love getting to the airport early just to watch the planes take off. It is the one time I will sit still and let my mind wander. Entebbe does not have the best viewing deck, but the thrill of watching the planes taxiing, never gets old. For some reason my mind wondered to Amelia Earhart the American aviator, who was the first woman to fly solo across the Atlantic Ocean. For a moment, I wondered how it must have felt to be her Was she scared? Did she feel prepared? Did she understand the brevity of her actions ? Where did she find the courage? May we all summon a dose of Amelia’s courage and strive to do brave and scary things every day of our lives. ✈️

I am just here to say it is not always as easy as it seems. I had an incredible conversation with a headhunter last week probably one of the best discussions I have had in a long time. If you are in search of a top-notch recruiter, feel free to message me, and I will gladly share her contact. But anyway before I digress any further when she asked me what my key strength is, I replied without missing a beat: Problem-Solving. See the thing is I will always figure it out. First I will probably shed a tear or two but as soon as I wipe those tears and my mind is clear I will get it done—even if it means hopping on a plane to another country with just a few hours notice. Looking back on my experiences, my first instinct is to pat myself on the back, but in hindsight, all the glory and honor belong to God. His grace is my constant companion, guiding me through every challenge. 🤗🤗🤗

Hello Monday 🤗 If there’s one thing I am certain of, it is that I am no longer plagued by the Monday scaries. Today, I can’t stop smiling and feeling grateful. What’s made the difference? I have been reminded that life is what we make of it. We have the power to break the rules, live on our own terms, and create our own path. Embrace challenges, laugh in the face of adversity, and dance through life with confidence. Remember, you don’t have to fit in—march to the beat of your own drum and make this week uniquely yours. #MotivationMonday #LiveBoldly #Gratitude