Africa’s youngest and most promising entrepreneurs you need to know about

4. Adii Pienaar – South African

Co-Founder, Woothemes

Adii Pienaar, 29, was one of 3 co-founders of Woothemes, a company that designs and develops customizable commercial themes and plugins for WordPress. He and his partners recognized the need for slick, professionally designed WordPress themes with advanced features. Adii and Mark had been developing blogs for their own clients, experimenting with different designs and features, and learning how to make WordPress look great. So they founded WooThemes with the dream of bringing this awesomeness to a wide audience.

Adii built the business on a bootstrap budget, and today the company makes over $3 million in annual revenue selling its themes. Pienaar has since left the company. Now he runs PublicBeta, a service that allows successful entrepreneurs to share knowledge with new startups. In 2013, the company had sales of more than $2 million for that fiscal year. Entrepreneur magazine estimated that 20% of the web was powered by its software.

5. Uche Pedro – Nigerian

Managing Director, Bellanaija

Uche Pedro is a 32-year-old Nigerian entrepreneur, founder of Bellanaija, an entertainment, fashion and lifestyle website. She is one of the most popular bloggers in Nigeria and her website, which she created in 2006, has become one of the hottest destinations for celebrity news and fashion trends on the web, attracting more than 10 million page views per month.

6. Nick Kaoma – South African

Managing Director, Head Honcho Clothing

Nick Kaoma is the CEO of leading streetwear clothing label, Head Honcho Clothing in South Africa. He decided that there was nothing more exciting about earning a certificate in accounting than diving headfirst into building his clothing empire. Nick is one of the young African entrepreneurs who started from scratch. The 29-year-old South African had nothing but serious determination to start and it has paid off as Head Honcho is now at the forefront of the streetwear industry in South Africa with collaborations with brands like Miller and Play, becoming the first local brand to launch nationwide and offered in Shesha and Sport outlets in other African countries such as Nigeria and Zambia.

7. Stephen Sembuya – Ugandan

Pink Food Industries

Sembuya, 28, is the founder and CEO of Pink FoodIndustries, one of Uganda’s fastest growing ready meal companies. Founded in 2011 by Sembuya, PINK FOODS IND is one of the most important branded food companies in the region. Some of the most famous and popular sweets and snacks are made here, including biscuits, non-dairy creams, chocolate, cornflakes and cocoa powder. The portfolio of brands remains unrivaled and continues to meet consumer needs. Favorites include Aby Aby, Chela, etc.

“PFI has a leading or strong position in its core markets in Uganda, Kenya, Tanzania, Rwanda, Burundi, Sudan and Congo. In addition, our brands and products are known worldwide. We have a fast-growing international business unit serving consumers in the region and beyond,” he said.

8. Edose Ohen, Nigerian

Founder, Alfa O&O Networks; Glazed the Donut Cafe

Edose Ohen, who earned his MBA from CT at University of Houston Bauer College of Business in 2013. He is the founder of Alfa O&O Networks, a solid wireless internet service provider focused on serving homes in Benin City, Edo State, Nigeria to connect to the internet to help bridge the digital divide. He opened a gourmet donut cafe on August 29 with a soft opening on July 26 in Houston, USA. Ohen came up with the idea of ​​a gourmet donut shop after seeing a news segment featuring a well-known Seattle coffee shop that helped start the gourmet donut trend. He continued his research by visiting America’s top gourmet donut locations before returning to Houston.

“I’ve noticed that there’s a clear trend for gourmet donut shops,” Ohen said. “Houston doesn’t have that and Houston is the closest world city. I wanted to be the first person to do that,” he said.

This eventual investment is making waves, and will be Houston’s first 24-hour gourmet donut shop to generate sales of approximately $1.2 million this year.

9. Clarisse Iribagiza – Rwanda

Managing Director, Hehe Ltd

Clarisse Iribagiza is the CEO of HeHe Limited, a leading mobile technology company founded in 2010 in Rwanda. HeHe Ltd is now at the forefront of the mobile technological revolution, offering businesses and organizations powerful new ways to reach their audiences faster, more conveniently and yet affordably. The 26-year-old woman studied computer science and information technology at the Kigali Institute of Science and Technology. In 2011, together with other young ICT entrepreneurs, she founded The iHills, Rwanda’s technology start-up network, founded on the simple premise that Rwanda can be the birthplace of the next big technology.

The iHills continues to provide mentoring and access to funding and markets for tech startups in Rwanda. Clarisse Iribagiza rose to fame in 2012 after winning a $50,000 jackpot from Inspire Africa, a sub-regional TV entrepreneurship competition. HeHe Ltd has grown into an IT solutions laboratory with a clientele that includes a range of government agencies.

10. Julie Alexander Fourie – South Africa

CEO, iFix

Fourie is the founder of iFix, which repairs and services all Apple products and Samsung smartphones. iFix has offices in Johannesburg, Cape Town and Durban. Julie Alexander Fourie’s company currently employs 40 people who serve around 4,000 customers a month. Fourie is the founder of iFix, a company responsible for the repair and maintenance of Apple products. Fourie founded the company in 2006 from his dormitory at the University of Stellenbosch, helping colleagues and friends fix broken and malfunctioning iPods and computers. There are iFix offices in Durban, Johannesburg, Durban and Cape Town. Alexander is just 26 years old.

11. Ronak Shah – Kenyan

Kronex Capital Ltd

The founder is 26-year-old Asian Shahvon Kronex Chemicals Ltd, a fast-growing manufacturer of inexpensive household cleaning products. Shah founded Kronex in January 2013 and the company has two products – a dishwashing detergent and a multi-purpose detergent, both of which are gaining market share in Kenya’s lower middle class.

Also Read: 21 Homemade Billionaires Who Are College Dropouts

12. Eric Kinoti – Kenyan

CEO, Shades System East Africa

Eric Kinoti is a 30-year-old Kenyan entrepreneur, founder of Shades System, East Africa, based in the Kenyan capital of Nairobi. Shades System is a company that manufactures and exports military and auxiliary tents, branded pavilions, restaurant canopies, parking screens, awnings, luxury tents, wedding party tents and bouncy castles throughout the region. The company has a full-time workforce of 18 and estimated annual sales of $1 million. Eric’s company is mainly supported by NGOs and humanitarian organizations and its main export destinations are Somalia, Rwanda and Congo.

13. Christian Ngan – Cameroonian

Managing Director Madlyn Czalis

Christian Ngan is a 32-year-old entrepreneur, businessman and financier in Cameroon who owns Goldsky Partners and the Madlyn Cazalis Group interested in the bio-cosmetics industry. The company designs, manufactures and transports natural cosmetics products and operates in Central Africa with more than 50 distributors (drugstores, beauty institutes and retail outlets). Mr Ngan is the first Cameroonian businessman ever to be included in a Forbes list. He has been included in The Choiseul 100 Africa: Economic Leaders for Tomorrow, named among the “Top 35 Africans under 35 in 2014” by Young People in International Affairs (YPIA), and named West Africa Young Business Leader of the Year by CNBC Africa.

Now the company has more than 20 references and more than 60 retail stores in Africa. Madlyn Cazalis’ main goal is to launch various investment projects in Africa, raise awareness and make Africans proud of their identity by producing quality African owned products.

14. Senai Wolderufael – Ethiopian

Managing Director, Feed Green Ethiopia Expert Company

Senai Wolderufael is a 28-year-old Ethiopian entrepreneur behind Feed Green Ethiopia Exports, which harvests, packs and exports Ethiopian spice mixes and other staple foods. A graduate of Addis Ababa University, he was a customer service representative at Ethiopian Airlines before founding the company in 2012, where he noticed members of the Ethiopian diaspora carrying bags filled with Ethiopian spice concoctions – such as berbere and shiro – traveling back west. Realizing the demand, Wolderufael came up with the idea of ​​acquiring his export license and making Ethiopian spice blends to supply his compatriots living in the US and Europe. Feed Green also exports other popular spices, staples,

15. Issam Chleuh-Malian

CEO of the Africa Impact Group

Mister. Chleuh, a 27-year-old Malian national, graduated from Suffolk University, Boston in 2008 with a degree in Global Business, Finance and Accounting and received his Masters of Science in Accounting from the University of Notre Dame in 2010. Mr. Chleuh’s passion and vision have driven the organization since its inception in 2011, and the Forbes profile recognizes that work. The Africa Impact Group has been identified as the leading impact investing firm across the continent. It invests in funds, organizations and companies in order to achieve measurable social and environmental impact as well as a financial return. The company’s services include data & research, news, consulting services and start-up incubation.

16. Trushar Khetia – Kenyan

CEO of the Tria Group

Trushar is a young Kenyan businessman who is just 28 years old but has left an indelible mark and contributed to the growth of his country’s and Africa’s economy as a whole. He is the Founder and CEO of Tria Group, a Kenyan outdoor advertising company that markets leading consumer goods in Kenya using public transport. The almost two-year-old company generates annual sales of 1.3 million US dollars.

17. Barclay Paul – Kenyan

Barclay Paul is the founder of Impact AfricaIndustries, a company based in Kitale in western Kenya that manufactures affordable, reusable sanitary pads. He was previously the founder of two other tech startups in Nairobi that had mixed success. He holds a Bachelor of Commerce / Finance from the University of Nairobi. His idea was inspired by the problem he encountered as a volunteer teacher at a state secondary school. He noted that most girls miss classes during their monthly periods because they can’t afford pads.

The company started selling the pads informal settlements in Kenya three years ago and they are now selling the pads as far away as Uganda and South Sudan. The company is based in Kitale, a small town in western Kenya, and employs 23 people, 15 of whom are women who help manufacture and distribute the hygiene products. The fast-growing company is currently generating sales of $300,000 per year. Amazingly, Paul is only 22 years old.

18. Kelvin Macharia Kuria – Kenyan

Founder, Sunrise Tracking

Kelvin Macharia Kuria is the founder of SunriseTracking, a Kenya-based auto security company. Macharia’s company designs security systems such as GPS and CCTV systems and then installs them in its customers’ cars. “Every time we add a tracking system to a vehicle, we can track it using our fleet management system. Also, the customer has access to their own account to see how the vehicle is moving from when to when and to get reports on where the vehicle has been moving from,” he explains. One innovation Macharia has added to its system is the ability to disable a car’s engine via SMS. He has eight full-time employees.

19. Rex Idaminabo – Nigerian

Founder, Achievers Media

Tonye Rex Idaminabo, a 29-year-old Nigerian lawyer and entrepreneur, is the founder of the African Achievers Awards, a series of annual awards recognizing Africa’s most successful achievers in the fields of politics, diplomacy and entrepreneurship. Now in its fourth year, the African Achievers Award recognizes individuals and organizations who have volunteered their time and talent to raise Africa’s international profile and build stronger, more inclusive communities in Africa. Tonye Rex Idaminabo, the Main Partner of the African Achievers Awards, holds an LLM from Glasgow Caledonian University in Glasgow, Scotland.

20. Tom Manners – South African

Founder of Clockworld Media

The 26-year-old South African runs Clockwork Media, a Johannesburg-based integrated communications agency. As an entrepreneur, Manners has violently coaxed Clockwork Media, one of South Africa’s fastest growing integrated communications agencies, from a one-man show in a bedroom in Killarney to steady annual growth of over 1000%. Working with clients such as Philips, PlayStation, SAP, Tata Motors and Ster-Kinekor, he assembled a team of South Africa’s best content, digital and creative minds to work on multiple global accounts. The company is growing rapidly, currently employing 11 people and expanding to London.

21. Anda Maqanda – South African

Founder of the AM Group

Anda Maqanda is one of the recognized young and successful African entrepreneurs who founded the AM Group in 2008. The AM Group is a multifaceted provider of engineering solutions with a focus on engineering consulting, design and construction of overhead electrical power lines, renewable energy, automation and research and development. His clients include Volkswagen, BMW, Eskom, Kumba Iron Ore and several other blue chip companies in South Africa. 30-year-old Maqanda founded the PE-based AM group in 2010, employs more than 25 people and works nationwide.

22. Iyinoluwa Aboyeji – Nigerian

Managing Director, Andela

Born on March 28th, 1991 in Iyinoluwa Samuel Aboyeji, better known as “E”, is really just another overly optimistic 24 year old entrepreneur yearning for a change in Nigeria. He has held various leadership positions at various local and international organizations including the World Youth Alliance, Imprint Publications, Harambe Africa and Empowerment Squared. Currently, Samuel Aboyeji is the CEO of Andela, a global talent accelerator that trains young smart Africans to become world-class developers and then matches them with top employers around the world who are looking for top tech talent. Andela’s supporters include the founders of Facebook, eBay and AOL.

23. Duran De Villiers – South African

Co-founder of SteadiDrone

Duran de Villiers is co-founder of SteadiDrone, a technology company based in Kynsna, South Africa. 29-year-old Duran de Villiers discovered that the technology he was looking for wasn’t readily available. The tech enthusiast toyed with the idea of ​​developing his own drone that could lift a camera to start filming events in and around Knysna. He and his young technical team of 11 have firmly placed Knysna on the high tech list with their pioneering design and manufacture of drones with cameras, which are now exported worldwide. The company expects to launch a new mid-size drone that will accommodate a wider range of cameras and appeal to a much wider audience in the near future.

24. Mubarak Muyika – Kenyan

CEO, Zagace Limited

Mubarak Muyika is an orphan who has started business since he was in high school. Because of his passion for entrepreneurship, he turned down a fully-paid scholarship to the prestigious Harvard University in the US last year to pursue the unbeaten path of building a computer company. His main passion was computers. In January 2012 he registered Hype Century Technologies and Investments Ltd, a company dealing in web design and domain registration. He soon brought two of his friends into the business and within three months the business grew into a highly profitable business.

After a few months he formed another company, Zagace Ltd, which I refer to as an expanded version of the former. Zagace is an enterprise management platform that uses enterprise resource planning (ERP) and web hosting resources to create a foundational forum for business systems and processes. Mubarak will conquer the world and may never back down until he achieves his purpose.

25. Abiola Olaniran – Nigerian

CEO, Gamsole

Abiola Olaniran is the Founder and CEO of Gamsole, a mobile gaming company based in Lagos, Nigeria. Its success can be attributed to the introduction of the Windows Phone platform. He was fortunate to have these thoughts and ideas around the same time the Windows Phone platform was launched. He then went on to win the Microsoft Imagine Cup and represent Nigeria at the World Finals. At the World Finals, Microsoft announced the release of the Windows Phone platform. There were people showing applications at the event and that gave him more opportunity to learn the platform. As a programmer, he gained more attention. From developing almost any type of application to focusing on mobile gaming.

26. Catherine Mahugu – Kenyan

Co-Founder, Soko

Catherine Mahugu graduated from the University of Nairobi with a bachelor’s degree in computer science. She has been involved in various ICT for Development projects, including Stanford University’s Nokia Africa Research Center Design Project, which developed mobile applications for informal communities. She co-founded SasaAfrica to provide a widespread, lightweight e-commerce platform for mobile internet, connecting micro-manufacturers in emerging economies to the global market, enabling economic growth and bridging the digital divide.

Catherine Mahugu is also the co-founder of Soko(www.shopsoko.com), an online platform for shoppers to discover stunning handmade accessories from around the world and buy them directly from their designers and artisans. Catherine was recognized as one of the Top 5 Upcoming Women in Technology in Kenya, one of the World Bank’s Top 11 Inspiring Women and a Leader of Tomorrow at the 44th St.Gallen Symposium in Switzerland. She has been featured by CNN, the World Bank and other mainstream media.

27. Ali-shah Jivraj – Ugandan

Founder of Royal Electronics

Jivraj, a third-generation Asian-Uganda entrepreneur, has worked very hard to become one of Africa’s most successful young entrepreneurs. He is the Founder/CEO of Royal Electronics, a Ugandan company that assembles and distributes electronic home appliances such as TVs, radios, speakers and DVD players under the Royal brand. Ali-shah still is, and his business has already grown to the point of generating $15 million annually. He also owns a real estate development company developing more than 50 apartments in Kampala.

28.Teresa Mbagaya – Kenyan

Co-founder of Econet Education

Teresa started her career at Econet Wireless as the youngest executive to found and lead Econet Education. Since joining Econet, Mbagaya has established three education services in Zimbabwe with a goal of further international expansion: Econet Zero targets 5 million Econet Broadband subscribers, providing free access to over 50 education websites including Coursera, EdX, Wikipedia, and Codecademy other. A world first for every mobile operator of its size. Aimed at all higher education institutions in Zimbabwe, EcoSchool is an education platform that offers mobile, affordable and reliable access to world-class educational content through the EcoSchool tablet.

Recently, the company launched EcoSchool Academy, an interactive mobile learning environment for all 9 million subscribers, with 50 short courses on various topics. Econet Education has reduced costs for medical students in Zimbabwe, providing tablets to access their textbooks at significant savings.

29. Mark Essien – Nigerian

Founder, Hotels.ng

Mark Essien is an engineer at heart and a passionate entrepreneur. As a young boy, he watched in amazement at his Nigerian father as he built various mechanical devices from scratch like a maniacal inventor. More than 20 years later he is following in his father’s footsteps. He has developed software products and companies that have been bought by major corporations in Europe and the US such as Walt Disney and the US military. The maker is now the founder and CEO of the most successful online hotel booking platform Hotels.ng, Nigeria’s largest hotel booking website. Via the online portal, users from all over the world can book rooms from over 6000 hotels. The company has raised more than $250,000 from the Spark Fund among other investors to date. Essien is 31 years old.

30. Hasnain Noorani – Kenyan

CEO of the Pride Group

Noorani, 32, inherited a small driving school and car rental business from his father just four years ago. He is widely credited with expanding this business into today’s Pride Group, a Kenyan conglomerate that owns a portfolio of six 3-star hotels across Kenya under the “PrideInn” brand, bakeries, restaurants, a tour company and other assets.