Since 2013, Forbes makes an annual lists of top 30 most promising young African entrepreneurs, all under the age of 35.
According to Forbes, this year’s call for nominations attracted more than 250 entries from 23 African countries. The top 30 selected young Africans emerged from various sectors.
“The list comprise of a small group of accomplished 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, YYTZ Agro-Processing
Fahad Awadh is the founder of YYTZ Agro-Processing. The cashew processing company has helped in creating employment and improving profits for local farmers.
29. Alloysius Attah
Country: Ghana
Founder, Farmerline
In 2013, 27-year-old Aloysius invented a Ghanaian software company and a social enterprise called Farmerline.
Farmerline is a tech-invention that helps small-scale farmers to “connect rural customers to information, financial services, and supply chains”.
Alloysius Attah’s target is to help bring these farmers closer to bigger opportunities. Farmerline offices are located in Kumasi and Accra, Ghana with a current number of 23 workers at the moment.
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 started R4Kenya, a professional HR services firm located in Nairobi, Kenya.
With top clients like the World Bank group, Kenya National Examination Council, USAID, GlaxoSmithKline and Sportspesa, R4Kenya is one of the fastest growing HR firms in Kenya.
In 4 years, R4Kenya makes an annual $400,000 in annual revenues; while offering services in consultancy, recruitment, training, psychometric testing and staff outsourcing.
27. Brigitha Faustin
Country: Tanzania
Founder, OBRI Company
At 30 Brigitha Faustin is the founder and managing Director of OBRI Company, an Agro-Industrial company which deals on edible oils, manufacturing and fractionations under the OBRI brand.
Also functioning as a co-operative social enterprise, OBRI has empowered 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 firm produces pieces of jewelry, accessories and Interior decor pieces using 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.
According to Forbes, Bakulu Power is currently developing 3 solar mini-grids on islands off Lake Victoria and a clean cooking fuel (biomass) production plant in a refugee camp in Western Uganda.
24. Rajiv Mehta
Country: Kenya
Founder, Tangerine Investments
Tangerine Investments was founded 9 years ago by 31-year old Rajiv. The Kenyan advertising and marketing firm have annual revenues exceeding $1 million.
23. Aigbe Omoregie
Country: Nigeria
Founder, Intercontinental Paints
Meet the brain behind Intercontinental Paints in Lagos, Nigeria.
With an estimated $100, the 34-year-old Nigerian entrepreneur founded the company in 2006. Aigbe is a serial entrepreneur who happens to be the MD of Dutch Construction Limited, convener and founder of the Young CEO Initiative and publisher of the Young CEO magazine.
21 & 22. Benson Mengi & Esther Lugoe-Mengi
Country: Tanzania
Founders, Serensic Africa
Serensic Limited is East Africa’s leading independent company that specializes in Cyber- Security, Software Solutions and General IT consultancy. The company is founded by the Mengi couple.
Together Benson Mengi (29), and Esther Lugoe Mengi (26) co-founded Serensic Ltd. Their vision according to their website is to enhance security, resilience, and reliability of our client’s Information and Communication Infrastructure.
20. Jean Bosco Nzeyimana
Country: Rwanda
Founder, Habona
Jean Bosco Nzeyimana, 23, founded a company that produces affordable and eco-friendly fuels from waste.
Habona is an agro-firm that specializes in the production of bio-fertilizers, gives consultancy and maintenance services in terms of waste management and energy solutions.
19. Amr Sobhy
Country: Egypt
Founder, PushBots
Together with Sobhy and CTO Abdullah Diaa, 28-year old Amr Sobhy founded PushBots, a tech-customer engagement tool that pushes content to app users.
18. Bruce Dube
Country: South Africa
Founder, Nine80 Digital
Bruce Dube, 28, is the founder of Nine80 Digital, a Pan African digital media publishing company with a focus on youth demography in countries like South Africa, Botswana, Zimbabwe, Kenya and Nigeria.
17. Jennifer Shigoli
Country: Tanzania
Founder, Malkia Investments Company Limited
Jennifer Shigoli, 30, is a trained lawyer, diplomat and founder of Malkia Investments Company Limited.
Malkia makes and distributes personal hygiene products. One of their most known product is the Elea Reusable Sanitary Pads in Tanzania. Shigoli was last year’s winner of a $150,000 prize at the BMCE African Entrepreneurship Award.
16. Sonia Mugabo
Country: Rwanda
Founder, Sonia Mugabo
Sonia, 26, is the founder of Sonia Mugabo (SM) fashion brand. She is an enthusiast 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 agro-processing enterprise that makes dairy products and confectioneries. The manufacturing company uses raw materials in making their products and “increases local jobs by hiring low-income local farmers”.
14. Prinesh Naidoo
Country: South Africa
Founder, Geco Cam
Geco cam was launched at the International CES in Las Vegas in 2015. The tech-product made history for being the only hardware start-up from South Africa to exhibit. The Geco cam has become the world’s first glasses-mounted action cam.
Prenesh Naidoo won the FNB ROCCI Business Entrepreneur of the Year Award in 2015.
13. George Mtemahanji
Country: Tanzania
Founder, SunSweet Solar
23-year-old George Mtemahanji is the founder of SunSweet Solar, a solar photovoltaic company based in Tanzania. SunSweet Solar designs and installs Solar Off-Grid Systems, Solar Mini 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 to avoid endless queues at the bus station. The invention helps people book for tickets in 10 languages as well as 25 currencies.
11. Calvin Mathibeli
Country: South Africa
Founder, Calvin & Family Group
Calvin Mathibeli is the founder of the construction company known as the Calvin and Family Group (CFG). The company was launched in 2005 with concerns in developing residential properties and later into commercial, retail and industrial developments.
Calvin also founded the Unique Lifestyle Café – a high-end restaurant at the heart of the leafy surburb of KZN, Durban.
10. Nichole Onome Yembra
Country: Nigeria
Managing Partner, GreenHouse Capital
Meet the Chief Financial, Risk and Investment Officer for Venture Garden Group (VGC) and a Managing Partner at GreenHouse Capital; VGC’s investment arm, Nicole Onome Yembra, 29.
9. Onyekachi Ekezie
Country: Nigeria
Founder, Kaptain 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 to eat tomato stews using locally grown fresh produce and spices.
8. Mubarak Muyika
Country: Kenyan
Founder, Zagace
Young Mubarak invented a custom-built app store for small-medium size enterprise packages called zag apps. The zag apps help with sales, manufacturing, storage, HR at a price affordable to 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 Kenya’s most popular property listing sites.
A 2012 reports had it that the site enjoys 150,000 visitors every month and over 15,000 listings of residential and commercial properties.
5. Nadeem Juma
Country: Tanzania
Co-founder, AIM Group
The AIM Group was founded by Juma, 31, in 2014. It has become a leading digital agency in the East African country.
4. Anda Maqanda
Country: South Africa
Founder, AM Group
29-year-old Maqanda owns the AM Group – a provider of engineering solutions, focusing mainly on Engineering Consulting, Design and Construction of Electrical Overhead Power Lines, Renewable Energy, Automation and Research and Development.
3. Mutoba Ngoma
Country: Zambia
Founder, Tapera Bio Industries
Mutoba Ngoma is a 31-year old aeronautic engineer. In 2009 he founded Tapera Bio Industries Limited which produces biofuels and also processes vegetable oils into consumer products like natural soaps, washing paste and organic shampoo.
1&2. Chude Jideonwo & Adebola Williams
Country: Nigeria
Founders, Red Media
Jideonwo (32) and Williams (31) are partners and co-founders of Red Media Africa. The Public Relations company covers media services with other subsidiaries focusing on youth development and social change. They are the figures behind The Future Project.