A baker’s journey from classroom to corporate contracts
At the age of 15, Loago Mokgosi was already experimenting in the kitchen, not out of necessity, but creative curiosity.
Now aged 21, she is the founder of Butter & Batter, a premium at-home bakery brand specialising in handcrafted brownies and cupcakes for corporate clients, events, and bulk buyers.
Mokgosi officially launched her business in July 2020 in a partnership under the name “Treatsbyeeden,” but two months later the business partners parted ways. Mokgosi moved on independently, rebranding to Butter & Batter- a move that shaped the beginning of her solo entrepreneurial journey.
In an interview with Voice Money, the University of Botswana Finance undergraduate said starting her business at a time when the world economy was uncertain was symbolic and a declaration that even in a crisis, one can create.
Mokgosi says she draws her inspiration from her father, having watched him navigate financial strain, pressure, and uncertainty while building his own businesses. His resilience shaped Mokgosi’s understanding of entrepreneurship.
“From him, I learned that entrepreneurship is not about comfort. It is about endurance. It is about vision when circumstances try to narrow your sight. Over the years, it became something much deeper,” she explained.
“Entrepreneurship forced me to grow up in many ways. I learned discipline, financial responsibility, customer relations, resilience, and emotional strength at a very young age. Some wins affirmed me, and challenges humbled me. But every experience shaped me. I can confidently say that entrepreneurship has raised me just as much as I have built it.”
A self taught baker, Mokgosi is currently operating from her home in Gaborone’s Phase 2 location. She funded her first baking venture by selling sweets while she was still 14. She consistently saved the profits which later became the foundation of Butter & Batter.
“I started with the basics; self-funding, self-teaching, home-based production. Butter & Batter is a reminder that strong foundations create lasting brands. But beyond baked goods, Butter & Batter is about experience, intention, and detail. It is about transforming something as simple as flour, butter, and sugar into something that brings people together in boardrooms, at celebrations, in shared moments. The brand is steadily evolving into a refined lifestyle concept that merges elegance, creativity, and business discipline,” said Mokgosi emphasizing that she is deeply interested in business, economic development, and ownership; not just as concepts, but as lived realities.
With a primary target market of corporate clients, event planners, and bulk buyers, Butter & Batter’s standard prices range between P150 and P300, depending on the order.
Custom orders are tailored according to design complexity, packaging and volume. According to Mokgosi while she does accommodate individual orders, the strategic focus remains on scalable and sustainable partnerships.
“The growth has been steady and intentional. Balancing university and business has required sacrifice, but it has also refined my ability to strategise and prioritise. As I approach the completion of my degree, I am preparing to devote myself more fully to scaling the business. My vision is long-term; sustainability over hype, legacy over trends. Competition does not intimidate me; it refines me. The baking industry is saturated, but Butter & Batter positions itself differently. Our focus is primarily corporate, events, and bulk buyers markets that require consistency, professionalism, and reliability. We are building systems and relationships, not just selling products. In business, differentiation is not about being louder it is about being clearer in who you serve and why,” she said.
To date Butter & Batter has managed to secure a contract with Lunchbox Hub- a catering company that supplies school lunchboxes, to supply 200 cup cakes weekly.
According to Mokgosi, this partnership has expanded her visibility and allowed the business to contribute to something greater than profit — supporting initiatives aimed at feeding children across Botswana and contributing toward national development goals.
“For me, business is most meaningful when it intersects with impact,” added Mokgosi.
However, challenges will always be there which is often a hindering factor in the growth of the business.
“Inflation and rising logistics costs have significantly affected operational expenses. Additionally, the broader economic climate has tightened demand, as both individuals and companies are spending more cautiously. However, challenges sharpen strategy. They force innovation, efficiency, and discipline — qualities necessary for long-term survival,” explained Mokgosi.
As a university student, the work is demanding- and so is the business, especially with an obligation to honour the Lunchbox Hub contract.
Quizzed on how she balances school work and business, Mokgosi said, “As a Finance student, I operate in a structured academic environment driven by theory, deadlines, and performance standards. As an entrepreneur, I operate in uncertainty— where results depend on initiative, creativity, and execution. The two worlds are demanding in different ways, but they sharpen each other. Hence, I said my growth has been slow and steady. It is intentional,” she concluded.
