Writing for Forbes.com, contributor Mfonobong Nsehe pulled together a list of 30 African entrepreneurs under the age of 30. Nsehe enlisted a panel of 12 judges from across Africa to help identify this group of outstanding entrepreneurs and innovators. The final list is composed of game changers from all walks of life and a variety of industries including Financial Services, Manufacturing, Media, Tech, Green tech, Healthcare, Agriculture, Fashion, and Real Estate. Correspondingly, the real estate industry, in particular, is currently thriving with more people than ever before investing in property. Are you considering making your first leap into the real estate market? If so, you might want to check out the Roofstock website for a useful guide to investing in real estate. So, that being said, what can people learn from these entrepreneurs from the diverse sectors mentioned previously? Well, all of them would be a good example to look to if you’re wondering how to start a business, considering the wide range of industries that they cover. There must have been a number of different criteria that the judges used to make their decisions, one of which is most likely to be the original business plans of the entrepreneurs and how well they’ve managed to achieve the goals listed on them. Nowadays you can get an OKR tracking software solution to help you keep a close eye on your progress, which could help you do well in future competitions like these. Another criterion on which they were judged is the impact they’re having on the wider world. Nsehe writes:
“They’re solving problems like healthcare and electricity shortages, proffering innovative solutions to waste management, building virtual and physical communities and creating lots of jobs. A few of them are manufacturing the foods we love, designing exquisite clothing for our women and some are developing some cool apps for mobile phones across Africa.”
Check out a few of the Top 30 Under 30 Young Entrepreneurs in Africa below:
Patrick Ngowi, Tanzanian
CEO, Helvetic Solar Contractors
Nine years ago, Patrick Ngowi, 28, received a small loan from his mother to start off a business. He started off selling Chinese mobile phones, but when he discovered that a tiny fraction of Tanzanians enjoyed any access to stable and reliable electricity, he knew he had to rectify that problem. Ngowi set up Helvetic Solar Contractors Limited, a company that is a pioneer in the supply, installation and maintenance of solar systems throughout the Northern Circuit of Tanzania. Helvetic Solar Contractors is the first company in the Northern Circuit to cater for Solar needs. The company did about $3 million in revenues last year. Read more about Patrick Ngowi and Helvetic Solar here.
Lorna Rutto, Kenyan
Green Tech Entrepreneur, Founder, EcoPost
Lorna Rutto, 28 is the founder of EcoPost, a profitable social enterprise which manufactures aesthetic, durable and environmentally friendly fencing posts using plastic waste, a more environmentally friendly alternative to timber. EcoPost collects this plastic waste (such as polypropylene and polyethylene) and manufactures fencing posts from it. Rutto has earned international acclaim for her efforts in providing an alternative waste management solution to Kenya’s plastic menace. Read more about Lorna Rutto and Ecopost here.
Rapelang Rabana, South African
Founder, Yeigo Communications
Rapelang Rabana, 28 is the CEO and founder of Yeigo Communications, an innovative Cape Town-based company which develops software for telecoms-related services including Voice over IP, Instant messaging, SMS messaging and push email services. In 2008, Telfree, a Swiss mobile telecommunications firm acquired a 51% stake in Yeigo. Read more about Rapelang Rabana here.
Opeyemi Awoyemi, Olalekan Olude & Ayodeji Adewunmi, Nigerian
Founders, Jobberman
The trio founded Jobberman, Nigeria’s biggest job search engine and aggregator. Jobberman went live in August 2009, and today the site attracts over 50,000 unique users each day. Through simple, yet cutting-edge technology, Jobberman helps link qualified personnel to the right job opportunities. Jobberman is one of the few companies in Nigeria’s tech space that enjoy venture capital backing. Read more about Awoyemi, Olude and Adewunmi and Jobberman here.
Sandra Appiah and Isaac Boateng, Ghanaian
Co-founder, Face2Face Africa
Sandra Appiah, 23 and Isaac Boateng, 28, both Ghanaian nationals are the founders of Face2Face Africa (F2FA), a New York city-based new media company with a mandate to restore Africa’s image within the global community. The company has three divisions: an outfit that publishes a magazine which explores African development, culture, entertainment and fashion, an events business and a thriving website. Read more about Sandra Appiah, Isaac Boateng and Face2Face Africa here.
View the entire list at Forbes.com.
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I am proud of my brothers and sisters who are putting Africans out there to be seen because in the past we were’nt taken seriuos in terms of business and creating things…..with that been said all my words were its people like these that make young and old Africans proud and given courage to make it in life.
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