Since 2013, Forbes has published an annual list of the 30 most promising young African entrepreneurs under the age of 35.
According to Forbes, more than 250 applications came from 23 African countries this year. The top 30 young Africans came from different sectors.
“The shortlist consists of a small group of experienced African entrepreneurs, business journalists, thinkers and thought leaders to select 30 of the most exceptional young entrepreneurs from the lot.”
Promising young entrepreneurs
30. Fahad Awadh
Country: Tanzania
Founder of YYTZ Agro-Processing
Fahad Awadh is the founder of YYTZ Agro-Processing. The cashew processing company has helped create jobs and improve profits for local farmers.
29. Alloysius Attah
Country: Ghana
Founder, Farmerline
In 2013, 27-year-old Aloysius invented a Ghanaian software company and social enterprise called Farmerline.
Farmerline is a tech invention that helps small farmers “connect rural customers to information, financial services and supply chains.”
Alloysius Attah’s goal is to bring greater opportunity to these farmers. Farmerline offices are located in Kumasi and Accra, Ghana and currently employ 23 people.
Farmerline plans to reach 1 million active users by 2020.
28. Gloria Michelle Otieno Muka
Country: Kenya
Founder, Recours Four Kenya Consultants Limited
With $2,000, the 31-year-old entrepreneur founded R4Kenya, a professional HR services company based in Nairobi, Kenya.
With top clients such as the World Bank Group, Kenya National Examination Council, USAID, GlaxoSmithKline and Sportspesa, R4Kenya is one of the fastest growing HR companies in Kenya.
In 4 years, R4Kenya achieves annual sales of $400,000. At the same time, we offer consulting, recruitment, training, psychometric testing and personnel outsourcing services.
27. Brigitha Faustin
Country: Tanzania
Founder, OBRI Company
At 30 years old, Brigitha Faustin is the founder and CEO of OBRI Company, an agro-industrial company engaged in edible oils, manufacturing and fractionation under the OBRI brand.
OBRI, which also operates as a cooperative social enterprise, has supported more than 230 local Tanzanian farmers.
26.Teta Isibo
Country: Rwanda
Founder, Inzuki Designs
Inzuki Designs is a popular Rwandan brand and the brainchild of 32-year-old Teta Isibo. The company creates jewelry, accessories and home furnishings from local materials.
25. Lucia Bakulumpagi-Wamala
Country: Uganda
Founder, Bakulu Power
Lucia Bakulumpagi-Wamala is the 34-year-old Founder and CEO of Bakulu Power, a Ugandan renewable energy company.
Bakulu Power is currently developing three solar minigrids on islands off Lake Victoria and a clean cooking fuel (biomass) production plant in a refugee camp in western Uganda, according to Forbes.
24. Rajiv Mehta
Country: Kenya
Founder of Tangerine Investments
Tangerine Investments was founded 9 years ago by 31 year old Rajiv. The Kenyan advertising and marketing company has annual sales of over 1 million US dollars.
23. Aigbe Omoregie
Country: Nigeria
Founder of Intercontinental Paints
Meet the brains of Intercontinental Paints in Lagos, Nigeria.
At an estimated $100, the 34-year-old Nigerian entrepreneur founded the company in 2006. Aigbe is a serial entrepreneur, the Managing Director of Dutch Construction Limited, promoter and founder of the Young CEO Initiative, and publisher of Young CEO Magazine.
21 & 22. Benson Mengi & Esther Lugoe-Mengi
Country: Tanzania
Founder, Serensic Africa
Serensic Limited is East Africa’s leading independent company specializing in cyber security, software solutions and general IT consulting. The company is founded by the Mengi couple.
Together Benson Mengi (29) and Esther LugoeMengi (26) are co-founders of Serensic Ltd. The vision, according to their website, is to improve the security, resiliency and reliability of our customers’ information and communication infrastructure.
20. Jean Bosco Nzeyimana
Country: Rwanda
Founder Habona
Jean Bosco Nzeyimana , 23 founded a company that produces affordable and environmentally friendly fuel from waste.
Habona is an agro-company specializing in the production of bio-fertilizers, providing consulting and maintenance services related to waste management and energy solutions.
19. Amr Sobhy
Country: Egypt
Founder, PushBots
Along with Sobhy and CTO Abdullah Diaa, Amr Sobhy, 28, founded PushBots, a customer engagement tool that pushes content to app users.
18. Bruce Dube
Country: South Africa
Founder of Nine80 Digital
Bruce Dube, 28, is the founder of Nine80 Digital, a pan-African digital media publisher focusing on youth demographics in countries such as South Africa, Botswana, Zimbabwe, Kenya and Nigeria.
17.Jennifer Shigoli
Country: Tanzania
Founder, Malkia Investments Company Limited
Jennifer Shigoli, 30, is a qualified solicitor, diplomat and founder of Malkia Investments Company Limited.
Malkia manufactures and sells personal hygiene products. One of their best-known products is the Elea Reusable Sanitary Pads in Tanzania. Shigoli was recognized with a $150,000 prize at the BMCE African Entrepreneurship Awards last year.
16. Sonia Mugabo
Country: Rwanda
Founder Sonia Mugabo
26-year-old Sonia is the founder of fashion brand Sonia Mugabo (SM). She is a supporter of Rwandan fashion, entrepreneurship and women’s leadership.
15. Heritiaina Randriamananatahina
Country: Malagasy
Founder, Fiombonana
Randriamananatahina, 22, is the founder of Fiombonana and the 2016 recipient of the Anzisha Prize for Young African Entrepreneurs.
Fiombonana is an agricultural processing company that makes dairy and confectionery products. The manufacturing company uses raw materials to make its products and “increases local jobs by hiring low-income local farmers.”
14.Prinesh Naidoo
Country: South Africa
Founder, Geco Cam
Geco Cam was unveiled at International CES in London, Las Vegas in 2015. The technology product made history when it was the only hardware start-up from South Africa to exhibit. The Geco camera is the world’s first goggle-mounted action camera.
Prenesh Naidoo received the FNB ROCCI Business Entrepreneur of the Year Award in 2015.
13.George Mtemahanji
Country: Tanzania
Founder of SunSweet Solar
23-year-old George Mtemahanji is the founder of SunSweet Solar, a solar photovoltaic company based in Tanzania. SunSweet Solar develops and installs solar off-grid systems, solar mini systems and micro-grid systems.
12. Issam Darui
Country: Moroccan
Founder, Lagare.ma
Darui is the founder of Lagare.ma, Morocco’s first e-bus station. This helps bus users to book tickets online and avoid endless queues at the bus stop. The invention helps people book tickets in 10 languages and 25 currencies.
11. Calvin Mathibeli
Country: South Africa
Founder, Calvin & Family Group
Calvin Mathibeli is the founder of the construction company called Calvin and Family Group (CFG). The company was founded in 2005 with a focus on residential property development and later commercial, retail and industrial developments.
Calvin also founded the Unique Lifestyle Café – a high-end restaurant in the heart of the leafy KZN area of Durban.
10. Nichole Onome Yembra
Country: Nigeria
Managing Partner, GreenHouse Capital
Meet the Chief Financial, Risk and Investment Officer of Venture Garden Group (VGC) and a Managing Partner at GreenHouse Capital. Nicole Onome Yembra, 29, Investment Arm of VGC.
9. Onyekachi Ekezie
Country: Nigeria
Founder, Captain Foods
Onyekachi Ekezie, 33, is the founder of Kaptain Foods, a Nigerian food processing company that produces a range of pre-cooked and packaged foods including Eat Tomato Stews using locally grown fresh produce and spices.
8. Mubarak Muyika
Country: Kenya
Founder, Zagace
Young Mubarak invented a bespoke app store for small and medium business packages called zag apps. The zag apps help with sales, production, storage and human resources at a price affordable for small businesses.
7. Knight Ganje
Country: Zimbabwe
Founder, H&G Advertising
Knight Ganje is the founder of H&G Advertising and one of Africa’s most promising young entrepreneurs. H&G works with clients such as Unilever, Emirates, Coca-Cola and Samsung.
6.Jamie Pujara
Country: Kenya
Founder, BuyRentKenya
Pujara, a 33 year old Kenyan entrepreneur, is the founder of BuyRentKenya, one of the most popular real estate sites in Kenya.
According to a 2012 report, the site receives 150,000 monthly visitors and over 15,000 listings of residential and commercial properties.
5. Nadeem Juma
Country: Tanzania
Co-founder of the AIM Group
The AIM Group was founded by Juma (31) in 2014 and has grown into a leading digital agency in the East African country.
4. Anda Maqanda
Country: South Africa
Founder of the AM Group
Maqanda, 29, owns AM Group – an engineering solutions provider specializing in engineering consulting, overhead electrical power line design and construction, renewable energy, automation and research and development.
3. Mutoba Ngoma
Country: Zambia
Founder of Tapera Bio Industries
Mutoba Ngoma is a 31-year-old aeronautical engineer. In 2009 he founded Tapera Bio Industries Limited, which produces biofuels and processes vegetable oils into consumer products such as natural soaps, laundry paste and organic shampoo.
1 & 2. Chude Jideonwo & Adebola Williams
Country: Nigeria
Founder, Red Media
Jideonwo (32) and Williams (31) are partners and co-founders of Red Media Africa. The PR company covers media services with other subsidiaries dealing with youth development and social change. They are the characters behind The Future Project.