An incredible wave of entrepreneurs is transforming economies on the continent and young Africans are creating more and more remarkable businesses that solve critical socio-economic problems, while generating job opportunities and wealth. Each year since 2011, the Forbes list allows you to discover them.
The entrepreneurs selected in 2016 work in various sectors from food manufacturing to technology, engineering and hospitality. “They are incredibly motivated, pan-African in their thinking and have, definitively, global ambitions. “Rejoices the Nigerian journalist @MfonobongNsehe, author of this Forbes list.
Only three nominees from French-speaking Africa among the 30 most promising young African entrepreneurs in 2016:
Clarisse Iribagize, Rwanda, Founder of HeHe Ltd
Iribagize, 27, heads HeHe Limited, a Kigali-based mobile technology company that builds custom mobile apps for businesses, offers 24/7 support and online and offline cloud storage services. Iribagize founded the company in 2010 after winning a grant from Inspire Africa, a TV entrepreneurial contest involving $ 50,000. Iribagize’s client base includes a number of government agencies in Rwanda.
Vanessa Zommi, Cameroon, Founder of Emerald Moringa Tea
When his mother is diagnosed with diabetes, 21-year-old Zommi sets out to find alternative treatments to keep his mother healthy. She soon discovers the Moringa Oleifera medicinal tree that grows in her area, and realizes that, among other medicinal qualities, moringa leaves can reduce blood sugar levels to treat diabetes. She then associates with the moringa farmers who supply her with leaves which she then processes to make teabags with moringa. Emerald Moringa, the company she founded, sells this tea throughout Cameroon.
Yasmine El Baggari, Morocco, Founder of Voyaj
The 22-year-old Moroccan entrepreneur is the founder of the Voyaj online platform, which matches hosts and travelers who want to share an authentic local experience. Voyaj is still in beta but already accepts the creation of profiles including a video publication in which the interests of the member and what he has to offer are described.
In West Africa, only Ghana and Nigeria are represented this year:
Olatorera Oniru, Nigeria, Founder of Dress Me Outlet
Olatorera Oniru, 28, is the founder of Dressmeoutlet.com, a Nigerian online merchant of fashion, health and beauty products and house goods. Dressmeoutlet stocks include more than 1,000 high-end designer products worldwide. Dressmeoutlet ships worldwide and currently has customers in various states in Nigeria, Uganda and the United States of America. The company now employs more than 20 people full-time and is the subject of financing offers from notable investors, including Nigerian investor Tony Elumelu.
Kelvin Nyame, Rashad Seini and Kofi Amuasi, Ghana, Co-founders of MeQasa
MeQasa is one of Ghana’s leading real estate and classifieds websites. It was founded in 2013 by Ghanaian entrepreneurs, Kelvin Nyame, Rashad Seini and Kofi Amuasi, all of whom are graduates of the Technology Entrepreneurship Training Program from Meltwater Entrepreneurial School of Technology (MEST) based in Accra, Ghana. MeQasa provides a free service that helps real estate brokers, owners and other professionals in the real estate business conduct online business effectively, while simplifying the search experience for tenants and potential buyers. Last October, MeQasa received a $ 500,000 investment from Frontier Digital Ventures, a global venture capital firm headquartered in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
Ogunlana Olumide & Chukwuwezam Obanor, Nigeria, Founders of PrepClass
Olumide and Obanor, 24, are the founders of Prepclass, a Nigerian provider of academic solutions offering online test preparation software, comprehensive exams, and cognitive behavior therapy experience similar to that of pre-entry exams. Nigerian academics. PrepClass also offers personalized docimicle tutors in Lagos, Nigeria, qualified to meet individual academic needs. The company was funded by CRE Venture Capital and the Venture Garden Group.
Kasope Ladipo-Ajai, Nigeria, Founder of OmoAlata
Ladipo-Ajai, 29, is a co-founder of OmoAlata, a Nigerian brand that processes and packages local Nigerian spices and peppers. Its flagship product OmoAlata Peppermix, which is a mixture of fresh organic tomatoes, onions and peppers, has been welcomed in the Nigerian market. Kasope Ladipo-Ajai was the 2015 winner of the She Leads Africa competition.
Aisha Ayensu, Ghana, CEO of Christie Brown
Aisha Ayensu, 30, is the founder and chief stylist of Christie Brown, an internationally renowned luxury fashion brand for women. The company subtly infuses a touch of modernity into traditional African fabrics carefully selected to create grandiose dresses with a transcontinental finish.
Abiola Olaniran, Nigeria, Founder of Gamsole
Olaniran, 27, is the founder and CEO of Gamsole, a Nigerian video game company. Olaniran founded the company in 2012, funded by venture capitalist 88mph, a seed fund from Kenya. The company’s games today have more than 9 million local and international downloads from the Windows Phone Store.
The other 21 brilliant entrepreneurs aged 35 and under are from Kenya, South Africa, Zambia, Uganda, Zimbabwe, Swaziland, Tanzania and Malawi:
Simbarashe Mhuriro, Zimbabwe, 31, Founder of OurSun Energy (Private) Ltd, Investment Consulting Company.
Ntombenhle Khathwane, Swaziland, 32, founder of AfroBotanics, a company that manufactures high-end hair care products based on African botanical oils.
Bonolo Ramokhele, South Africa, CEO of the LeoFortis Group, an investment holding company in commodity trading, energy, telecommunications, engineering and mining.
Thato Kgatlhanye & Rea Ngwane, South Africa, both 23, founders of Repurpose School Bags, an eco-friendly company that collects and recycles plastic waste to make school bags for poor South African students.
Lee Grant, South Africa, 32, Founder of Leegra, a field marketing and business promotion company.
Samuel Malinga, Uganda, 26, Tony Elumelu Africa Future Awards 2015 winner and Founder of Sanitation Africa, a structure that has developed a complete complete sanitation solution.
Neo Ramaphakela, South Africa, 32, CEO of Seriti sa Bosotho, a fast growing construction company.
Mutoba Ngoma, Zambia, 31, Founder of Tapera Bio Industries, a company that produces and promotes fuels and biodiesel derived from vegetable oils.
Hilda Moraa, Kenya, 27, Co-founder, Weza Tele, a company that provides value-added mobility solutions in commerce, supply chains, distribution and mobile payment integration.
Eugene Mbugua, Kenya, 25, Founder of Young Rich TV, one of Kenya’s successful television production companies.
Jamie Pujara, Kenya, 33, Founder of BuyRentKenya, one of Kenya’s most popular real estate websites.
Tyrone Moodley, South Africa, 30, CEO of Midbrook Lane (Pty) Ltd, a private equity firm.
Rachel Sibande, Malawi, 30, Founder of mHub, her country’s first technology platform.
Nadeem Juma, Tanzania, 19, Co-founder of AIM Group, a custom software development company with a focus on mobile financial applications.
Mike Chilewe Jr, Malawi, 26, Owner of Star Radio Malawi, a wading private radio station based in Lilongwe.
Trushar Khetia, Kenya, 29, Founder of Tria Group and Society Stores, a street and outdoor advertising firm in Kenya that uses public transport vehicles to advertise consumer goods.
Anda Maqanda, South Africa, 29, Founder of AM Group, an engineering solutions provider.
Source: nextafrique.com
Leave a Reply