For KNUST alumnus Evans Kofi Kumi, entrepreneurship began with a simple personal decision: to make a healthier choice.
Concerned about his excessive consumption of fizzy drinks, Evans began exploring healthier alternatives and soon developed an interest in the benefits of coconut. What started as a personal lifestyle change eventually evolved into Coconut Boss, a business he launched at Republic Hall and has since grown beyond the University campus.
Through Coconut Boss, Evans has sought not only to provide an alternative to conventional soft drinks but also to encourage young people to make healthier choices. Over time, he has expanded the business through improved packaging, new product offerings such as Coconut Active with Lime, and distribution to organisations, supermarkets and other retail outlets.
His entrepreneurial journey has also come with important lessons. Evans identifies waste management, particularly the disposal of coconut shells, as one of the challenges facing the business. He believes there is an opportunity for greater innovation in recycling and finding productive uses for coconut waste. Staffing has also been a challenge, which he partly attributes to the continued preference among many young people for conventional white-collar employment.
Looking back on his experience, Evans encourages young people and student entrepreneurs to remain committed to their goals while learning to manage their time effectively. For him, building a business alongside other responsibilities has been an exercise in discipline, resilience and continuous learning.
Today, the KNUST alumnus is focused on taking Coconut Boss to the next level. His ambition is to build a multimillion-cedi enterprise capable of creating jobs, contributing to Ghana’s economy and making a lasting impact within the University community.
Evans’ story reflects the entrepreneurial possibilities that can emerge when passion is matched with initiative, and how a simple idea can grow into a meaningful venture long after the KNUST experience.