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 Lillian Barnard 

African Changemaker

Lillian Barnard

Lillian is a South African tech enthusiast with extensive knowledge and experience in technology

She is currently serving as the President of Microsoft in Africa.

In her role, Lillian is leading Microsoft’s ongoing efforts to drive impact in Africa at scale.

The company’s impactful initiatives range from developing digital skills among African youth to supporting startups and entrepreneurs.

Before her current role, Lillian was the Managing Director of Microsoft South Africa, becoming the first woman to hold the position since the company reinvested in the country in the early 1990s.

Lillian is also playing a vital role in bridging the technology gender gap in Africa.

 

 

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Did you know that over 525 million people used the internet in Africa in 2019? If current growth trends continue, almost 75% of Africans are expected to come online by 2030.
Francophone-focused fintech startup HUB2 has raised €8 million (US$8.4 million) in a Series A funding round to scale its seamless and secure platform that unifies national and cross-border financial services across various payment methods.
Egypt-based logistics platform Nowlun has raised $1.7 million in a seed funding round led by Nama Ventures and A15, with additional contributions from Sanabil 500 Global and prominent angel investors.
Zanele Abraham Matome is a South African entrepreneur and the founder of Welo Health, a healthtech startup launched in 2020.
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Breaking Barriers: Twiga Foods’ Journey to Transforming Africa’s Food System.

StartUp Spotlight

Breaking Barriers: Twiga Foods' Journey to Transforming Africa's Food System

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This week, we shine a spotlight on Twiga Foods, a groundbreaking company that is reimagining the way food supply chains operate in Africa.

With a mission to create efficient, transparent, and sustainable food systems, Twiga Foods has emerged as a catalyst for change, positively impacting farmers, vendors, and consumers alike. Twiga Foods was founded in Kenya in 2014 by Grant Brooke and Peter Njonjo. Their shared vision was to address the challenges faced by small-scale farmers in accessing reliable markets and fair prices for their produce.

 

Starting with a focus on bananas, Twiga Foods gradually expanded its operations to include a diverse range of fresh fruits, vegetables, and staple crops. Since its inception, Twiga Foods has experienced remarkable growth, propelled by its innovative approach and transformative impact.

The company’s commitment to leveraging technology to streamline the supply chain has led to significant advancements in the agricultural sector across Africa.

 

At the core of Twiga Foods’ mission is the belief that everyone deserves access to affordable, high-quality food.

They envision a future where smallholder farmers can thrive, vendors can access a reliable fresh produce supply, and consumers can enjoy nutritious and affordable food options.

Twiga Foods strives to empower farmers by providing them with a fair market for their produce, reducing post-harvest losses through efficient logistics, and offering access to financial services.

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 Shola Akinlade

African Changemaker

Shola Akinlade

Shola is a software engineer and fintech entrepreneur who has played a vital part in revolutionizing online payments in Nigeria.

He is the Co-Founder of Paystack, a company that provides payment solutions to businesses, helping them accept various payment methods, including debit and credit cards, bank transfers, and mobile money. Shola and his old schoolmate, Ezra Olubi, set out to unlock the Nigerian digital economy by offering businesses and individuals new ways to transact online.

 

In November 2015, Paystack was accepted into the Y Combinator accelerator program, helping propel it toward becoming one of Africa’s most prominent tech companies. Paystack’s success led to its acquisition by Stripe, a global online payment processing company, in October 2020. The acquisition marked a significant milestone for the Nigerian tech industry, showcasing the potential and talent within the country’s startup ecosystem. Shola’s entrepreneurial journey and efforts to transform the online payment landscape in Nigeria have earned him recognition as one of the notable figures in the Nigerian tech and business community.

 

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Did you know that over 525 million people used the internet in Africa in 2019? If current growth trends continue, almost 75% of Africans are expected to come online by 2030.
Francophone-focused fintech startup HUB2 has raised €8 million (US$8.4 million) in a Series A funding round to scale its seamless and secure platform that unifies national and cross-border financial services across various payment methods.
Egypt-based logistics platform Nowlun has raised $1.7 million in a seed funding round led by Nama Ventures and A15, with additional contributions from Sanabil 500 Global and prominent angel investors.
Zanele Abraham Matome is a South African entrepreneur and the founder of Welo Health, a healthtech startup launched in 2020.
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 Ory Okolloh

African Changemaker

Ory Okolloh

Ory is a Kenyan activist, lawyer, and a strong advocate for using technology to promote democracy and human rights.

Born in Kenya, Ory has been at the forefront of leveraging technology to advance good governance and transparency in Kenya. She was formerly the Policy Manager for Africa with Google. She is currently a Partner at Verod-Kepple Africa Ventures, a pan-African-focused venture capital firm that backs exceptional founders in and from Africa.

 

Her contribution to promoting good governance has earned her global recognition and honour. In 2011 Ory was named a Young Global Leader by the World Economic Forum and one of Africa’s Most Powerful Women by Forbes Magazine. In 2014 she was named one of Time magazine’s 100 Most Influential People in the World.

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Did you know that over 525 million people used the internet in Africa in 2019? If current growth trends continue, almost 75% of Africans are expected to come online by 2030.
Francophone-focused fintech startup HUB2 has raised €8 million (US$8.4 million) in a Series A funding round to scale its seamless and secure platform that unifies national and cross-border financial services across various payment methods.
Egypt-based logistics platform Nowlun has raised $1.7 million in a seed funding round led by Nama Ventures and A15, with additional contributions from Sanabil 500 Global and prominent angel investors.
Zanele Abraham Matome is a South African entrepreneur and the founder of Welo Health, a healthtech startup launched in 2020.
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 Ifeoluwa Dare-Johnson

African Changemaker

Ifeoluwa Dare-Johnson

Ifeoluwa Dare-Johnson is a Nigerian health tech entrepreneur paving the way for a healthier and brighter future for all.

She is the Founder and CEO of Healthtracka , a health tech company making medical diagnostics accessible and affordable with at-home lab testing in Africa. Founded in 2021, Healthtracka offers API infrastructure for tele-health service providers, hospitals, and pharmacies, empowering them to provide at-home blood testing for their patients. Through Healthtracka, Ifeoluwa Dare-Johnson is championing a new era of healthcare management by providing accessible tools and resources, all at the touch of a button.

You may also like...

Did you know that over 525 million people used the internet in Africa in 2019? If current growth trends continue, almost 75% of Africans are expected to come online by 2030.
Francophone-focused fintech startup HUB2 has raised €8 million (US$8.4 million) in a Series A funding round to scale its seamless and secure platform that unifies national and cross-border financial services across various payment methods.
Egypt-based logistics platform Nowlun has raised $1.7 million in a seed funding round led by Nama Ventures and A15, with additional contributions from Sanabil 500 Global and prominent angel investors.
Zanele Abraham Matome is a South African entrepreneur and the founder of Welo Health, a healthtech startup launched in 2020.
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Katlego Maphai

African Changemaker

Katlego Maphai

Katlego is a South African fintech entrepreneur passionate about creating opportunities for African entrepreneurs.

He is the Co-Founder and CEO of Yoco, an African technology company revolutionizing the payment landscape for small, medium and micro enterprises in Africa. Launched in 2015, Yoco is building tools and services to help small businesses get paid, run their business better, and grow.

The fintech offers card payment acceptance, software-driven business tools and working capital for SMEs. Yoco is on a mission to break down barriers and create access so that more businesses can participate in the economy and thrive by establishing new markets; building business tools and financial services that work for entrepreneurs. Katlego’s previous work involved venture development at Rocket Internet, helping to set up Jumia in Nigeria in 2012. His earlier career was in telecoms, media and technology management consulting at Accenture and Delta Partners.

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Aida Diarra

In a world where financial inclusion and digital transformation are at the forefront of global progress, we can’t help but shine a spotlight on one remarkable leader who has been driving positive change in Sub-Saharan Africa.

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Aziz Yérima

Aziz is a Senegalese fintech entrepreneur on a mission to build the next African PayPal by providing daily services, including payment solutions and an artificial intelligence-based personal assistant.

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Regina Honu

Regina is a Ghanaian social entrepreneur and software developer harnessing the power of technology to promote social change in West Africa.

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Strive Masiyiwa

African Changemaker

Strive Masiyiwa

Strive Masiyiwa is a prominent Zimbabwean businessman, entrepreneur, and philanthropist.

He is best known as the founder and executive chairman of Econet Group, a telecommunications and technology company in several African countries. Masiyiwa played a pivotal role in revolutionizing the telecommunications industry in Africa by introducing mobile phones and wireless services to the continent. He is also the founder of Cassava Technologies.

 

Apart from his business ventures, Masiyiwa is recognized for his philanthropic efforts. He established the Higherlife Foundation, which focuses on providing educational scholarships, healthcare support, and leadership development programs to young Africans. He has also been actively involved in initiatives to improve access to education and technology across the continent. Masiyiwa’s entrepreneurial achievements and contributions to society have earned him several accolades and honours, including being listed on Forbes’ list of Africa’s billionaires. He is widely regarded as one of Africa’s most influential business leaders and a champion for social and economic development on the continent.

You may also like...

Did you know that over 525 million people used the internet in Africa in 2019? If current growth trends continue, almost 75% of Africans are expected to come online by 2030.
Francophone-focused fintech startup HUB2 has raised €8 million (US$8.4 million) in a Series A funding round to scale its seamless and secure platform that unifies national and cross-border financial services across various payment methods.
Egypt-based logistics platform Nowlun has raised $1.7 million in a seed funding round led by Nama Ventures and A15, with additional contributions from Sanabil 500 Global and prominent angel investors.
Zanele Abraham Matome is a South African entrepreneur and the founder of Welo Health, a healthtech startup launched in 2020.
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Kenyan end-to-end fundraising startup, Raise, has secured undisclosed funding from San Francisco-based firm, Carta

New Investments

Kenyan end-to-end fundraising startup, Raise, has secured undisclosed funding from San Francisco-based firm, Carta

| Article

Kenyan African ecosystem’s end-to-end fundraising startup, Raise, has secured undisclosed funding from San Francisco-based firm, Carta.

Founded in 2018, Raise is on a mission to help African startups to manage equity, seed rounds, legal compliance, and close deals faster. Raise’s platform is designed to simplify cap table management for startups and companies operating within the African ecosystem by providing a comprehensive solution for managing shareholding structures before and after fundraising.

 

This allows businesses to focus on growth and building a successful future. Carta’s investment in Raise underscores the immense potential of the African fundraising ecosystem. The capital injection will fuel Raise’s technological advancements, enhancing the platform’s capabilities and enabling it to serve its users better. By combining their expertise and resources, Raise and Carta aim to unlock new opportunities, foster sustainable growth, and amplify the impact of social initiatives across the region.

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Cameroon-based fintech Nkwa App secures $15,000 in funding to accelerate financial inclusion and promote a saving culture

New Investments

Cameroon-based fintech Nkwa App secures $15,000 in funding to accelerate financial inclusion and promote a saving culture

| Article

Cameroon-based fintech startup Nkwa App has raised $15,000 in Seed Funding to accelerate financial inclusion and promote a saving culture

The funding came from local angel investors called Cameroon Angels Network (CAN). Launched in 2020, Nkwa allows its users to regularly save money directly from their mobile phones simply and more safely for their future projects. The startup, which is supported by Cameroon’s Ministry of Finance, plans to invest the latest round of funding in onboarding more customers and scaling operations. Nkwa was among 15 African fintech startups selected to participate in the fifth edition of “CATAPULT: Inclusion Africa,” organized by the Luxembourg House of Financial Technologies (LHoFT) last October.

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